The NFL released their official 2020 schedule last night, making it official when and where each rookie Badger will make their NFL debut.
Now diving deeper, here are games to circle for Badger fans on the newly-released schedule, ones which see head-to-head matchups between Wisconsin products both young and old.
- September 13, 2020: Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars
Wisconsin legend Jonathan Taylor begins his NFL career against the Jaguar defense and middle linebacker Joe Schobert, a Badger from 2013-2015.
- September 20, 2020: Denver Broncos at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Broncos and their newly-signed running Melvin Gordon travel to Pittsburgh Week 2 and face T.J. Watt and the Steelers’ defensive line.
Though the two were never teammates on the field in college, it is a matchup of two former Badgers who are both premier players in the league at their position.
- September 27, 2020: Green Bay Packers at New Orleans Saints
Right tackle Rick Wagner and the Packers travel to New Orleans in Week 3 to battle against the Saints and their rookie linebacker Zack Baun.
Baun will be used all over the field for the New Orleans defense but his most likely role will be on the edge as a pass rusher. Though the Packers somehow only have one former Badger on their roster, this matchup should see their right tackle Wagner–a Badger from 2009-2012–face off head-to-head with the rookie Baun as he works to protect quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
- September 27, 2020: Las Vegas Raiders at New England Patriots
This is one of my favorite matchups to watch as the Raiders and fullback Alec Ingold look to find success in the run game against the Patriots and defensive tackle Beau Allen, a Badger from 2010-2013.
- October 11, 2020: Philadelphia Eagles at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers and newly-acquired fullback Derek Watt look to open up their ground game against an Eagles defense led at linebacker by former Badger T.J. Edwards.
- October 25, 2020: Houston Texans at Green Bay Packers
Like the Packers’ Week 3 matchup against the Saints, their October 25 contest against the Texans will see Wagner trying to block a former Badger in J.J. Watt.
- November 30, 2020: Seattle Seahawks at Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles and starting middle linebacker T.J. Edwards will look to slow down the Seahawks and Wisconsin legend Russell Wilson.
- December 6, 2020: New York Giants at Seattle Seahawks
For the second consecutive week Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson will stare down a former Badger across the line in Giants middle linebacker Ryan Connelly.
- December 6, 2020: Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans
This is an intriguing matchup between two former Wisconsin legends in running back Jonathan Taylor and defensive end J.J. Watt.
Nobody really knows how the rookie Taylor will perform in the NFL but if his talent and college production is any indication, Watt will have his hands full when the Colts come to town in December.
- December 10, 2020: New England Patriots at Los Angeles Rams
The Patriots and newly-signed defensive tackle Beau Allen look to get past Rams right tackle Rob Havenstein, a Badger from 2010-2014, and put pressure on quarterback Jared Goff.
- December 27, 2020: Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers
The same story as the Colts’ December 6 contest in Houston, Taylor will look to finish his rookie year on a strong note as he faces the Steelers and former Badger T.J. Watt.
This list may change as the season progresses, as current depth options including Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus, Eagles running back Corey Clement, Cowboys center Tyler Biadasz, Panthers linebacker Chris Orr, Raiders cornerback Nick Nelson and others could move into starting roles and set themselves up for head-to-head matchups against fellow Wisconsin products.