We’re back at full speed for the NFL regular season, with the schedule released on Thursday, May 9th for the 2024 season. All we are waiting for now is the date and time, with the opponent to be announced in January.
It remains to be seen how the schedule will fit together, but be prepared to mark these games on your calendar once they’re released. Because these games absolutely dominate.
Kansas City Chiefs vs Buffalo Bills
We’ve done this many times before and it never gets old. The Chiefs vs. Bills is one of the NFL’s great rivalries of modern times, and what started out as an offensive shootout became more interesting as Kansas City played defense.
These matches are always like boxing heavyweight title matches. Whenever two heavy hitters circle each other and land little jabs, all hell breaks loose and we see the haymakers end the match all at once.
It’s just fun to have Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen doing their jobs, but this year they also have the addition of Xavier Worthy, a first-round pick the Bills traded to the Chiefs in the draft.
Baltimore Ravens vs. Los Angeles Chargers
This means the return of Harbaugh vs. Harbaugh in the best way possible. I hope this happens a little later in the year. charger There’s some time to set up and get used to the system, but you’ll find it appealing either way.
Los Angeles signed the Ravens’ top two running backs, J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, in free agency, and Jim knows what kind of players he and his brother value. We’ll also see two great defenses go head to head with two great quarterbacks in Lamar Jackson and Justin Herbert.
Not much more to ask for here.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Denver Broncos
Drama!
The Russell Wilson experiment in Denver was disastrous not only for the Broncos’ record, but also for the salary cap. In the end, Wilson was unceremoniously dumped, but not before he agreed to his contract. steelers And try to be the missing piece for them.
This is a statement game for both teams. Sean Payton will want to prove he was right and that Russ was the problem, and Wilson will try to dismantle the rebuilding Broncos and prove he still gets it.
Don’t expect this to be a particularly good match. Because Denver has what it takes. a lot It will be a lot of work, but it will still be fun.
Carolina Panthers vs. Chicago Bears
How can two teams that were the worst in the NFL a year ago end up in a matchup worth watching? Simply put, there’s a conspiracy behind it all.
There was (understandably) a lot of excitement behind the Bears’ backs after they drafted Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick and added Roma Odunze to a receiver room that already included DJ Moore and Keenan Allen. This is Chicago’s best effort to turn the corner. But the real reason this is so appealing is because of the trade history between these teams.
The Panthers remain adamant that taking Bryce Young with the No. 1 pick in 2023 was the right decision, and incoming head coach Dave Canales believes he has the same magic for Young as he did for Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay. I believe that I can demonstrate this. Here’s the timeline, and the No. 1 pick traded two years in a row could easily have been replaced by QBs on these teams had the Bears pulled the plug on Justin Fields a year ago and acquired Young. It means there is a possibility.
These two franchises are in desperate straits as they try to rebuild, but this will be a great litmus test for how things will go.
Atlanta Falcons vs. Minnesota Vikings
Need I say more here? The NFL really designed this schedule with beef in mind, as this is the first time Kirk Cousins will play against his old team.
The free agency decision sent shockwaves around the league, as Cousins was expected to re-sign with the Vikings and make a comeback. This put Minnesota in the position of having to make a move to acquire a quarterback, while the Falcons looked like they had a chance until they took Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick.
This decision needs to be mentioned in any discussion surrounding the 2024 Falcons.
Either way, this would be really fun to watch. He doesn’t have a bad pedigree, but it will be interesting to see if Cousins bet on the right horse by moving to the NFC South in search of wins, or if he would have been better off staying in Minnesota.
Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowl rematches are always fun to watch, but this year it’s even more exciting.
While Kansas City had a very successful offseason by solidifying the receiving position with Hollywood Brown and Xavier Worthy, they also addressed their biggest challenge by re-signing Chris Jones to a long-term extension. KC is going full steam ahead and is expected to rejoin the team.
The situation feels even more tenuous in San Francisco. I’m tired of being a bridesmaid, 49ers There have been dozens of offseason rumors surrounding Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, and they seem to be nearing a breaking point. This match will go a long way in determining whether this team can once again become a world power, or whether the rifts are starting to widen.
New York Jets vs… Anyone
Literally circle every Jets game this season. 2024 will be the year that shows if this Aaron Rodgers experiment was worthwhile or if it descends into chaos. Everything on paper points to New York being in contention, but there is a growing feeling that perhaps Robert Saleh doesn’t have what it takes to put all this together.
This season will either be Rodgers’ final big performance in his NFL career, or he’ll throw it all out and send the Jets back into the Stone Age with no hope for the future. There’s no way to predict which direction this will go, which makes the football can’t be missed.
