Caleb Harris
O NFL Schedule launch is just a few hours away. We’ll soon have a full look at what the 2024 regular season will look like. While we teams have gotten to know their opponents over the past few months following the end of last year, when these games happen is an important piece of the puzzle.
Naturally, this means that clubs have some preference over how the calendar plays out. This could revolve around wanting a certain number of primetime games, less cross-country travel and when they want certain important games to appear on the calendar. In that spirit, let’s quickly fire through the NFL and identify one wish each team might have about how the 2024 schedule unfolds.
- Face the Patriots or Commanders at home in Week 1 for a winnable game from the start.
- Minimal exposure to primetime games to avoid Kirk Cousins’ struggles on the national stage.
- Early stretch of divisional games to increase lead in AFC North.
- Home games were postponed until later in the season to take advantage of Buffalo’s weather.
- Host the Giants in Munich, Germany for a better chance of an international victory.
- A number of sub-.500 teams (Broncos, Giants, Panthers, Patriots, etc.) to start the year for Joe Burrow to shake off the rust.
- Having the majority of home games down the stretch (Cleveland is 8-1 at home in 2023).
Denver Broncos
- For one of their Chiefs games to fall in Week 18 (possibly resting starters).
- Host the Dolphins late in the season to enjoy the cold weather at Lambeau Field.
Houston Texans
- Host the Bills early in the season for Stefon Diggs’ showdown against his former team.
- Avoid international travel (Jaguars and Vikings will host an international game in 2024).
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Easier opponents later in the season to avoid another collapse.
Kansas City Chiefs
- Midseason bye week.
- The Harbaugh Bowl will be in prime time.
Miami Dolphins
- I hope they avoid cold weather games later in the year.
Minnesota Vikings
- Host the Falcons in prime time for the return of Kirk Cousins.
New England Patriots
- Easy stretching of opponents to create a soft landing spot for Drake Maye to start strong.
Saints of New Orleans
- Host Sean Payton on Thursday Night Football.
New York Giants
- Promote games against Dallas, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Cincinnati.
- End-of-season trips to Miami and Jacksonville to beat the summer heat.
- Avoid a short week and/or tough opponent after West Coast trip against Rams.
- Avoid two “Thursday Night Football” games, unlike in 2023.
San Francisco 49ers
- There are not many games in prime time (face several high-level opponents).
- Not playing an international game against the Bears and enduring a flight from Seattle to London.
- Open the 2024 season against the Falcons to set the tone in the NFC South.
- Host the Bengals (Brian Callahan’s former team) after the bye week.
Washington commanders
- Cowboys and Eagles games later in the year to allow Jayden Daniels to enter the league before fights with division rivals.
