Projecting the first loss of every NFL team for the 2017 season

The Cardinals have a semi-rough opening at Detroit. Arizona has struggled to find wideouts, which is an area the Lions defense was exposed last season, ranking in the bottom half of the NFL in passing yards allowed. The matchup looks neck-and-neck on paper.

Oddly, the defending NFC Champs open their schedule against three NFC North opponents (at Chicago, vs. Green Bay, at Detroit) before home games against Buffalo and Miami. Their biggest tests in the early going will be Green Bay and Detroit back-to-back. Going to the Patriots will be a much-hyped matchup, and one that could be too tough in Foxboro.

The Ravens have suffered through a brutal offseason and training camp, particularly on offense. Joe Flacco suffered a back scare, there have been several key losses on the offensive line, and key contributors from 2016 Kenneth Dixon and Dennis Pitta will miss the year due to injuries. A visit to Cincy is winnable, but the Bengals are in much better shape.

Buffalo gets a gimme in Week 1 with a home game against the Jets before visiting the Panthers. While new Bills head coach Sean McDermott knows Carolina like the back of his hand after serving as defensive coordinator, Carolina's talent will simply be too much for a Bills squad that has been bleeding talent and is in a new system.

Some say this is the matchup that should have been in Super Bowl 50. Cam Newton will need to play his best football to have any chance of beating the Patriots. Leading up to the game, the Panthers have three very winnable games at San Francisco, vs. Buffalo, and vs. New Orleans.

Beating the NFC Champs in Week 1 would be a great way for the Bears to break-in their 2017 season, but new quarterback Mike Glennon's exhibition season play has left much to be desired. The Falcons have been favored by a touchdown in the early going.

The Bengals open the season with two toss-up home games vs. Baltimore and Houston. They're rewarded for their effort with a visit to Lambeau Field in Week 3, a nearly impossible task for any team in the league. Green Bay is 21-5 at home over the last three seasons, including the playoffs.

After winning only one game last season, the Browns are set to open the season with rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer. He will have a tough time in the first two weeks against Pittsburgh and Baltimore, two teams known for the pass rush.

Owner Jerry Jones probably wasn't pleased with Ezekiel Elliott's six-game suspension to open the year, and the team's opening schedule adds insult to injury. Over the first five weeks, Dallas plays vs. Giants, at Denver, at Arizona, vs. Rams, and vs. Green Bay. They could easily open the year 1-4 over that stretch. They're favored in Week 1 against the Giants, but that might not be the case in Week 2 in one of football's toughest environments.

Don't be shocked if Denver "surprises" early in the season. Four of their first five games are at home, with a bye in Week 5, as well. The only road game in that stretch couldn't be much easier, against a rebuilding Buffalo squad. Denver will host an excellent Oakland offense in Week 4, but home games vs. the Chargers and Cowboys in the first two weeks won't be easy, either.

Detroit's opening schedule is as tough as anyone. Their first half of their schedule features vs. Arizona, at Giants, vs. Atlanta, at Minnesota, vs. Carolina, at New Orleans, vs. Pittsburgh, and at Green Bay. Lions fans should be happy with a .500 record over that stretch.

The schedule makers didn't do Green Bay any favors to open the year. The open the year vs. Seattle before visiting the NFC Champs. Both games could be brutal in different ways for Aaron Rodgers and company. A visit to Atlanta could be particularly difficult for the Pack if they're not able to establish the run and keep the clock running.

How far can the Texans go with Tom Savage at quarterback? They've managed three consecutive 9-7 seasons despite shaky quarterback play each year. After a home opener against Jacksonville, who has even bigger quarterback issues, a visit to Cincinnati could be especially difficult for a team without the ability to move the ball downfield.

Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is very questionable for Week 1 after offseason shoulder surgery. Without Luck, the Colts really don't have a viable alternative and have plenty of holes on their roster. Sean McVay might have been gifted a win in his Rams debut.

The Jags made several offseason splashes, but they failed to address quarterback. It's likely that Chad Henne will open the year behind center, which is a crime given the talent that the team has on the roster. Visiting last year's No. 1 ranked defense in Week 1 will be difficult.

The Chiefs have Super Bowl hopes this season, but they get the brutal task of visiting the Patriots in Week 1. The Pats have added several of offensive weapons in the offseason, and should unleash several wrinkles in their initial gameplan. While a spread of nine points from some sportsbooks seems very optimistic, the Pats are the clear favorites.

The Chargers have suffered some major injuries to their rookies during training camp, but most prognosticators still expect improvement this season. However, a visit to Denver in Week 1 will be very difficult, as the Broncos were 5-3 at home last season, even in a down year.

New head coach Sean McVay has a great shot at starting 3-0 with home games vs. Indianapolis (possibly without Andrew Luck) and Washington, followed by a visit to San Francisco to open the year. Going to Dallas in Week 4 won't be nearly as easy, even without Ezekiel Elliott.

Miami's Week 1 game was postponed due to Hurricane Irma, so they head to LA for their season opener. The Chargers will be feeling their way into the new home, but present a formidable opponent with solid talent on both sides of the ball. Jay Cutler will also be making his Dolphins regular season debut.

The Vikes are slight favorites in a Monday Night opener against New Orleans before visiting the Steelers. Dalvin Cook's ability to establish himself early on could be the difference in the team's early-season success.

Some analysts are making ridiculous 16-0 predictions for the Patriots after their strong offseason. They could fuel that talk with five of their first eight games of the season at home. However, if there's one place Tom Brady doesn't fare well, it's at Denver. He's just 2-7 during his career in one of the NFL's roughest environments.

Adrian Peterson gets to back to visit his former team in Week 1. Opening night could be a chance for rookie Minnesota running back Dalvin Cook to establish himself against a Saints defense that has consistently struggled in recent seasons. Even if the Saints survive, the rough schedule continues over the next three weeks vs. New England, at Carolina, and at Miami.

The possibility of missing Odell Beckham Jr. early in the year after a knee injury should make Giants fans nervous with a critical opener at Dallas. If the Giants can survive, the Lions at home in Week 2 won't be a walk in the park, either. Visits to Philadelphia and Tampa Bay in Weeks 3 and 4 cap off a tough opening to their season.

The Jets are in a complete rebuilding mode, and a winless season isn't out of the question. The good news is that the team does have some winnable games early in the year, at Buffalo in Week 1, vs. Jacksonville in Week 4, at Cleveland in Week 5, and vs. Buffalo in Week 9.

The Raiders are a sweetheart pick in Vegas to win the Super Bowl, but a tough schedule could halt their hopes. They're just a pick'em in most Vegas sportsbooks at Tennessee in Week 1.

The Eagles have a rough stretch to open the year, going on the road in four of their first six games, with home games against the Giants and Cardinals. They'll be tested at Washington in Week 1 before former Chiefs offensive coordinator Doug Pederson travels to KC in Week 2.

Fantasy football owners will be happy to know that the Steelers have an extremely favorable early schedule. Their first five games are at Cleveland, vs. Minnesota, at Chicago, at Baltimore, and vs. Jacksonville. If they survive that stretch, a visit to Kansas City to knock them off their perch. The Chiefs have likely circled the matchup after losing to the Steelers in a heartbreaking AFC Divisional Round loss last season.

New head coach Kyle Shanahan has his work cut out with a roster that's seen plenty of offseason turnover. He does have winnable early games vs. Carolina in Week 1 and vs. the Rams in Week 3 before three straight road games. Something has to give, and a Colts roster with plenty of holes could be it.

Seattle is treated with a visit to Lambeau Field in Week 1, in what should be an epic early-season game. The Packers open as field goal favorites. If the Seahawks pull out the win, they could go on a run with games vs. San Francisco, at Tennessee, vs. Indianapolis, and at the Rams to follow.

The Bucs have Week 1 off and then some relief in Week 2 vs. Chicago. They'll need the offense to step up in Week 3 while visiting a tough Vikings defense.

Not many teams have as much young, promising talent as the Titans. Their early schedule still doesn't do them any favors, opening the year vs. Oakland. A visit to Jacksonville in Week 2 is very winnable, but hosting Seattle in Week 3 presents another challenge for Marcus Mariota and company.

Washington had major offseason losses at wide receiver and offensive coordinator, and it still remains to be seen if Rob Kelley is the answer at running back. Their Week 1 matchup is considered a toss-up in Vegas before a visit to the Rams and then brutal back-to-back games vs. Oakland and at KC.