The spring equivalent of Christmas occurred on Wednesday, when the NFL announced its 2024 season schedule. Now we'll start analyzing the winners and losers of the schedule and predicting which teams have the best chance of advancing to the championship.
The regular season schedule has some highs, some lows, and no shortage of interesting elements. Here are some upcoming highlights and lowlights.
Biggest primetime draw: Jets, 49ers, Cowboys. The trio leads the league with six games each in the night schedule. Let's hope Aaron Rodgers doesn't get hurt again. Because as everyone saw last season, that might make the Jets tough to watch. In addition to these six prime-time games, the Jets will play one more nationally televised game in Week 5 against the Vikings in London. Nine other teams, including the Super Bowl champion Chiefs, have held five prime-time contests.
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Why are the Jets featured so often on the NFL's prime-time schedule?
Worst primetime draw: Panthers. Last season's worst team (Carolina is 2-15) will not host a single primetime contest in 2024, but that could change after that thanks to the flex schedule if the Panthers exceed expectations. .
Thursday night's best matchups: The NFL season opens on September 5th with Ravens vs. Chiefs on NBC, but there's also plenty of good programming on Amazon Prime Video's “Thursday Night Football.” Twelve of those 16 games are divisional, but give the highest bid to his Week 10 AFC North showdown between Lamar Jackson's Ravens and Joe Burrow's Bengals.
Thursday night's worst matchup: Week 7, Broncos vs. Saints. Yes, Sean Payton is coming back to New Orleans, but neither the Broncos nor the Saints are expected to be candidates. This can be painful to watch.
“Sunday Night Football” Best Matchups: Bills at Ravens in Week 4. This could be a preview of the AFC Championship Game.
Worst SNF matchup: The Bengals play the Giants in Week 6. Why? Why?
“Monday Night Football” Best Matchups: Week 17, Lions vs. 49ers. It stinks we have to wait until Week 17 for a rematch of last season's NFC Championship Game, but this game shouldn't be a disappointment.
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Detroit Lions 2024 Schedule: Mind your business, Week 17 at the 49ers could be great.
Worst MNF matchup: Will it be the Bengals against the Commanders in Week 3, or the Saints vs. Chiefs in Week 5? Both relationships can be one-sided.
Best International Contest: Packers vs. Eagles in Brazil, Week 1. These two NFC contenders will play on Friday night, September 6th, kicking off this season's five-game international series with a bang.
Worst international contest: Giants vs. Panthers in Munich. Sorry, Germany. This is unlikely to become a classic anytime soon, as the Panthers are going through growing pains and the Giants are on shaky ground due to Daniel Jones' lack of development.
The most taxing trip: The Chargers would have to travel 26,803 miles and play five times in the Eastern time zone.
Lightest travel slate: The coaches will travel just 10,550 miles while playing nine home games, one more in Baltimore and one Pacific Time Zone game (Arizona).
CRAZIEST STRETCH: Chiefs home stretch of Weeks 14-17. The defending champions will host the Chargers in prime time before traveling to Cleveland to host C.J. Stroud and the Texans six days later, before taking four days off before traveling to Pittsburgh for a Christmas Day game.
Best revenge game: Chiefs vs. 49ers, Week 7. Sure, a rematch of the AFC title game between Baltimore and Kansas City from Week 1 would be nice. And in Week 2, Russell Wilson returns to Denver as Pittsburgh's new quarterback. Or Minnesota's home showdown in Week 14 vs. Kirk Cousins and Atlanta. But Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs absolutely ripped the 49ers' hearts out in their overtime march to victory in the Super Bowl, so Kyle Shanahan and his buddies will be left to bleed.
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Biggest overall winner: NFL and its streaming subscription broadcast partners. Add Netflix to the mix that also includes YouTube TV, Peacock, and Amazon Prime Video. For the NFL and its owners, this is a case of the rich getting richer. Last year, the Peacocks paid more than $100 million for exclusive rights to playoff games. Amazon reportedly paid more than $100 million for the rights to the first Black Friday game last season. Currently, Netflix reportedly paid around $150 million for two 2024 NFL Christmas Day games, and plans to air at least one more Christmas Day game in 2025 and 2026.
Biggest loser: A soccer fan who is struggling with money. Fans will have to pay between $800 and $1,000 to access every NFL game this season.that's tough all It costs more now.
(Top photo of Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes: Rob Carr, Jeff Dean/Getty Images)
