Only 112 days to go until the next meaningful NFL game.
Amid the frenzy of the NBA and Stanley Cup playoffs, the all-powerful NFL still made its mark Wednesday by announcing its 2024 schedule.
Here are 10 must-see games, excluding those featuring the Giants and Jets:
Packers vs. Eagles, Week 1
The NFL extended opening weekend by adding a Friday game — the first ever held in Brazil. What a game it should be as Jordan Love — one of last season’s breakout stars — looks to put behind him a bad interception in a playoff loss. The Eagles, who melted down at the end of last season, start the Saquon Barkley Era and try to justify unconventional big spending on a running back.
Cowboys at Browns, Week 1
Call it the “QB Pressure Bowl.” The Browns’ Deshaun Watson ($63.7 million) and Cowboys’ Dak Prescott ($55.4 million) carry the NFL’s two largest salary-cap charges in 2024. Watson is coming off shoulder surgery and three straight wasted seasons. Prescott could be playing for a free-agent contract, to define his legacy and to save head coach Mike McCarthy’s job. Tom Brady, Fox’s $375 million analyst, makes his booth debut.
Bengals at Chiefs, Week 2
It’s hard not to wonder if the 2023 playoffs would’ve looked different if not for Joe Burrow’s season-ending wrist surgery. He is 3-1 (including the playoffs) against Patrick Mahomes. It feels like go-time for the Bengals — like it did for the Bills last season — now that Joe Mixon already is gone and this could be Burrow’s final season throwing to Tee Higgins. Orlando Brown Jr. was poached from the Chiefs in 2023 to protect Burrow.
Steelers at Broncos, Week 2
Russell Wilson is quarterbacking the Steelers but making $37.8 million from the Broncos this season. All the assets that the Broncos traded for 2022 and the $124 million paid to him for an 11-19 record as a starter are bad enough. The indignity of paying Wilson to beat rookie replacement Bo Nix — after trying to force Wilson to alter his contract at the threat of a benching and then cutting him — is so much worse.
Bills at Texans, Week 5
Have the Texans surpassed the Bills in the AFC hierarchy? C.J. Stroud, the 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year, can go throw-for-throw with Josh Allen. And while the Bills are cutting costs, the Texans spent an NFL-high $144.5 million in guaranteed money during the first three weeks of free agency. That included trading for Pro Bowl receiver Stefon Diggs, who was disgruntled with the Bills. Will he shift the balance of power?
Chiefs at 49ers, Week 7
As the Bills have proven, beating the Chiefs in the regular season is one thing. Doing it in the postseason is another. But, in case they are about to meet in the Super Bowl for the third time in six years, here is a chance for the 49ers to build a little confidence after Mahomes led fourth-quarter-comeback victories in Super Bowls LIV and LVIII. The Chiefs are trying to become the first team to win three straight Super Bowls.
Bears at Commanders, Week 8
Not only a quarterback duel between the first two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft — the Bears’ Caleb Williams versus the Commanders’ Jayden Daniels — it’s also a homecoming for the capital-born Williams (No. 1 pick). The Bears and Commanders both were big free-agent spenders and appeared to ace the draft all the way through. Will one — or both — make the jump from last place to the NFC playoffs?
Ravens at Chargers, Week 12
The last “Har-Bowl” was in Super Bowl XLVII. Eleven years later, John still is coaching the Ravens and Jim is back in the NFL — where he went 44-19-1 with the 49ers from 2011-14 — after coaching Michigan to the national title. Lamar Jackson is defending his second MVP award, but there is greater focus on how quickly Jim can get the Chargers — including Justin Herbert — to stop annually underachieving.
Falcons at Vikings, Week 14
Would Kirk Cousins like a free-agent do-over? He spurned the Vikings after six seasons, reportedly because of their plan to draft his successor. He signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons, who promptly drafted his successor without warning. Cousins is expected to lift the Falcons to a NFC South title with Michael Penix Jr. waiting in the wings. Rookie J.J. McCarthy could be his opposite number.
Lions at 49ers, Week 17
Is caffeine-fueled Dan Campbell going to sleep at all this week? Will he be haunted by memories of bypassing two field goals and failing on fourth down when the Lions blew a 17-point halftime lead in last season’s NFC Championship game? Returning to the scene is a chance for the Lions to make a statement that they now have the poise to beat the battle-tested 49ers and reach their first Super Bowl.
