Caleb Harris
2024 NFL Schedule is officially here. The league announced all 272 regular-season matchups on Wednesday, and the opening week is packed with marquee contests, including the Kansas City Chiefs’ opener against the Baltimore Ravens and the Philadelphia Eagles’ historic showdown with the Green Bay Packers in Brazil. But week 1 is just the beginning.
Here’s our take on the best matchup from each week on the 2024 schedule:
Date: Monday, September 9th | Time: 8:20pm ET | TELEVISION: ESPN, ABC
Aaron Rodgers’ long-awaited return under the bright lights of Monday night against his boyhood team? Brock Purdy with the chance to once again assert his place among the NFL best defenders and kickstart San Francisco’s attempt to return to the big game? This one is made for prime time.
Week 2: Bengals at Chiefs
Date: Sunday, September 15 | Time: 4:25 pm ET | TELEVISION: CBS
A rematch of the 2021 and 2022 AFC championships that will pit a presumably healthy Joe Burrow against Patrick Mahomes for the first time since the most recent conference title game.
Week 3: Ravens at Cowboys
Date: Sunday, September 22 | Time: 4:25 pm ET | TELEVISION: Fox
Good, bad or somewhere in between, America’s team is always a stunning draw, and Jerry Jones’ team could be under even more pressure this year thanks to the uncertainty of Dak Prescott’s future. The Ravens, meanwhile, boast reigning MVP Lamar Jackson, now paired with Derrick Henry.
Week 4: Bills at Ravens
Date: Sunday, September 29 | Time: 8:20pm ET | TELEVISION: NBC
Lamar. Josh Allen. What else should be said? This is a prototypical AFC fireworks show for Sunday night.
Week 5: Cowboys at Steelers
Date: Sunday, October 6th | Time: 8:20pm ET | TELEVISION: NBC
Pittsburgh may or may not be ready for a true playoff run after welcoming Russell Wilson and Justin Fields into the revamped quarterback room, but Mike Tomlin’s old-school ruggedness creates an intriguing contrast to the flashy, flashy Cowboys. This could be a prime spot for a primetime twist.
Week 6: Lions at Cowboys
Date: Sunday, October 13th | Time: 4:25 pm ET | TELEVISION: Fox
Dallas again? Clear. But the real attraction here is probably Detroit, which will try to avenge last year’s narrow loss to the Cowboys while also working to return to – and surpass – the NFC championship.
Week 7: Chiefs at 49ers
Date: Sunday, October 20th | Time: 4:25 pm ET | TELEVISION: Fox
A mid-season rematch Super Bowl LVIII, this should be as much or more fun than the title game they just played in February. Love them or hate them, the Chiefs feel inevitable in the AFC. The 49ers, in turn, still have one of the most balanced and talented lineups, from top to bottom.
Week 8: Eagles at Bengals
Date: Sunday, October 27th | Time: 4:25 pm ET | TELEVISION: CBS
The Cowboys visit the 49ers this week, treating NFL fans to a showdown of historic franchises on Sunday night. But this will be the first time Jalen Hurts and Joe Burrow, fellow 2020 draft picks who are two of the league’s coolest prospects, face off. Could this be a possible Super Bowl preview?
Week 9: Texans at Jets
Date: Thursday, October 31 | Time: 8:15 pm ET | TELEVISION: Main video
Few players have captivated the rest of the NFL like CJ Stroud in 2023. Now the young gunslinger also has Stefon Diggs at his disposal. Assuming Aaron Rodgers is still standing at this point, however, the Jets could also be in contention near the top of the AFC playoff race. Talk about a Halloween special.
Week 10: Lions at Texans
Date: Sunday, November 10 | Time: 8:20pm ET | TELEVISION: NBC
This is a good time to reflect on the Lions’ meteoric rise in recent years. It would have been crazy to include them in so many must-see matchups at the start of the Dan Campbell era. Now? The showdown with CJ Stroud and Co. could pit two of the best teams in the NFL against each other.
Week 11: Bosses in Accounts
Date: Sunday, November 17th | Time: 4:25 pm ET | TELEVISION: CBS
The Texas Bowl – Cowboys vs. Texans – also takes place this week. But since when did we discount Bills-Chiefs? Whether in the regular season or postseason, these two clubs are dynamite when thrown into the ring. By the way, Buffalo is pretty much following the Chiefs’ roster-building model around Josh Allen.
Week 12: Ravens at Chargers
Date: Monday, November 25th | Time: 8:15 pm ET | TELEVISION: ESPN
The Harbaugh bowl! Jim and John met at Super Bowl XLVII when John’s Ravens narrowly lifted the trophy. Now, Jim is finally back in the pros, looking to infuse some old-fashioned physicality into Los Angeles. This looks like a sensational contest under the Monday night lights.
Week 13: Dolphins at Packers
Date: Thursday, November 28th | Time: 8:20pm ET | TELEVISION: NBC
Thanksgiving weekend features a number of intriguing heavyweight matchups, including Eagles vs. Ravens and Bills vs. But Thanksgiving itself ends with a bang: Miami remains an all-star team on offense, and Green Bay has one of the game’s most attractive and rising gunslingers in Jordan Love.
Date: Sunday, December 8 | Time: 1pm ET | TELEVISION: Fox
Will this be the most competitive game of the week? Perhaps. Maybe not. It’s hard to say where Minnesota will be due to the quarterback questions; Will rookie JJ McCarthy supplant Sam Darnold sooner or later? Either way, this could/should mark Kirk Cousins’ return to the city that let him walk.
Week 15: Dolphins at Texans
Date: Sunday, December 15th | Time: 1pm ET | TELEVISION: CBS
As you may have noticed, many of these games come down to high-profile quarterback matchups. But both Miami and Houston also have full rosters. The high-scoring potential is through the roof here, with Tyreek Hill, Stefon Diggs, Jaylen Waddle, and Odell Beckham Jr. all on target.
Week 16: 49ers at Dolphins
Date: Sunday, December 22nd | Time: 4:25 pm ET | TELEVISION: CBS
Kyle Shanahan vs. his former disciple, Mike McDaniel? Purdy versus Tua Tagovailoa, another “system” signal caller with video game-like production? This could be an early Christmas gift for a game.
Week 17: Lions at 49ers
Date: Monday, December 30th | Time: 8:15 pm ET | TELEVISION: ESPN, ABC
A rematch of the last NFC title game, this won’t carry as much weight, but it could still mean a lot for Detroit as the Lions look to put their bitter end to 2023 to rest and advance to the 2024 playoffs with momentum. Could we be looking at another race for the NFC’s No. 1 seed?
Week 18: Dolphins on Jets
Date: TBD | Time: TBD | TELEVISION: TBD
You can replace this with basically any divisional contest: Eagles-Giants, Rams-Seahawks, Bengals-Steelers. But the AFC East could be especially tight if Rodgers is healthy and the Jets reach their potential. Ultimately, this could be a win-win, you’re-in scenario.
