The NFL released its schedule for the 2019 season on April 17. With that in mind, there are plenty of juicy storylines for the league's 100th season. Several intriguing Week 1 matchups should whet every football fan's appetite.

Singling out the five best matchups in Week 1 is not an easy task. Nonetheless, it is an exciting one, to say the least. We will base our criteria on the teams' competitiveness and the games' ability to draw a massive following on television.

A century of NFL football is upon us. There's no better way of kicking off 100 years of gridiron glory with a great slate of Week 1 games.

Sean McVay Jared Goff
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5. Los Angeles Rams at Carolina Panthers

The Rams enter the 2019 NFL season with a bad taste in their mouths. After losing to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII, Sean McVay and Co. will settle for nothing less than the Vince Lombardi Trophy in 2019.

As for the Panthers, they missed the postseason for the second time in the last three years. It certainly hasn't been smooth sailing for Ron Rivera's crew after they made it to Super Bowl 50 three years ago.

It will be interesting to see how Cam Newton fares against two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald and the pass rush.

On the flip side, the Panthers' passing defense ranked just 18th in the league last year. Slowing down Rams quarterback Jared Goff is anything but easy.

It will be fun matchup pitting the Rams, a Super Bowl contender, against the Panthers, a team which should rise from the ashes in 2019.

Odell Beckham Jr., Browns
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4. Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns

Without question, the NFL's hottest ticket is the Cleveland Browns. Charismatic wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. can fill up the stadium seats by his lonesome.

Moreover, these Browns are not the “Cleveland Clowns” of years past. With the likes of Beckham, Baker Mayfield, Jarvis Landry, Antonio Callaway, and Kareem Hunt, Cleveland is stacked in 2019.

On the other hand, the Titans narrowly missed the postseason with a 9-7 win-loss record in 2018. Derrick Henry is one of the best running backs in the league – it certainly brings back memories of the great Eddie George.

This matchup presents a great showdown at quarterback between Cleveland's Baker Mayfield and Tennessee's Marcus Mariota. Plus, don't act surprised if Beckham and Henry rack up yardage in the air and on the ground, respectively. It will be one heck of a game, for sure.

Drew Brees
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3. Houston Texans at New Orleans Saints

The Houston Texans have won three of the past four AFC South division titles. Unfortunately, these won't mean a thing unless Houston wins its first postseason game in franchise history.

As for the Saints, memories of that missed defensive pass interference call against the Los Angeles Rams in the 2018 NFC Championship Game still linger. We're certain they will take out their anger and frustration on every team which stands in their way in 2019.

Can Texans quarterback DeShaun Watson build on his recent success? It will depend in large part on Houston's leaky offensive line.

Despite their 13-3 record in 2018, the Saints can't stop the pass: they finished 29th in the NFL in pass defense last season. Something's got to give in this Week 1 matchup.

Whatever the outcome, this Texans vs. Saints game pits two teams who should compete for another division title in 2019. Drew Brees and Jared Cook competing against J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney is a fun storyline.

Andrew Luck
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2. Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Chargers

Many experts thought the Indianapolis Colts were goners after their 1-5 start in 2018. Well, not so fast.

The Colts promptly won nine of their next 10 games to earn their first postseason berth in four years. It's a young and exciting squad with a rejuvenated Andrew Luck and 2018 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Darius Leonard as the centerpieces. Who would've thought Frank Reich's first season as Colts head coach was going to be that successful?

The Chargers' 12-4 win-loss mark tied them with the Chicago Bears and Kansas City Chiefs for the second-best record in the NFL last season. Thirty-seven-year-old Phillip Rivers turned in an MVP-caliber season. His supporting cast of Melvin Gordon III, Austin Ekeler, and Keenan Allen should help the Chargers make huge strides in 2019.

These two squads should finish with at least 10 wins in the 2019 NFL season. Plus, they have a little playoff history. If you want a Week 1 matchup which should put you on the edge of your seats, it's this one.

Tom Brady
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1.Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots

There's no better way of kicking off 100 years of NFL football than with the two winningest teams in the Super Bowl era.

No team has won more Vince Lombardi Trophies than the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots (six). It's a bit odd the league's schedule makers didn't arrange this game's kickoff on the first Thursday of the regular season.

Nevertheless, Pats vs. Steelers should remain an intense matchup, as always.

This game has several intriguing storylines. How would the Patriots' thin receiving corps fare (despite the acquisition of Demaryius Thomas)? Who will step up in the wake of Rob Gronkowski's unexpected retirement?

As for the Steelers, can they remain competitive now that Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell are gone?

We can't find out soon enough. Simply put, Steelers vs. Patriots is must-watch TV in Week 1 of the 2019 NFL season. Get your popcorn ready. This is going to be fun.