Here are the Top 20 games to watch on the 2024 NFL slate, starting with the very first game of the season in Week 1.
Week 1
Baltimore at Kansas City
Thursday, Sept. 5, 6:20 p.m., NBC
As is often the case, the NFL scheduled a dandy of a season opener with Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson facing off in a rematch of January’s AFC Championship. Note to the Ravens: Hold on tight to that ball around the goal line.
Green Bay vs. Philadelphia in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Friday, Sept. 6, 6:15 p.m., Peacock
Friday night football in the NFL? We’re really doing this? In the NFL’s quest to shake every last nickel out of its bottom line, the answer, sadly, is yes. And in this case, Roger Goodell’s pals even put it on subscription TV. Time to take another dip in the money bin!
Week 2
Pittsburgh at Denver
Sunday, Sept. 15, 2:25 p.m., CBS
Are Buffalo-Miami or Cincinnati-Kansas City better games? No doubt. Will the Broncos or Steelers be any good? Our Magic 8 Ball says, “Outlook not so good.” Still, there’s no way we pass on the Mile High return of Russell Wilson, who will almost assuredly be booed by the orange-and-blue faithful … again.
Week 3
San Francisco at L.A. Rams
Sunday, Sept. 22, 2:25 p.m., FOX
The Rams won seven of their last eight to sneak into the playoffs last season and are a chic pick to make even more noise this fall. A significant early test for Kyle Shanahan’s club as the 49ers aim for a third straight NFC West title and return trip to the Super Bowl.
Week 4
Philadelphia at Tampa Bay
Sunday, Sept. 29, 11 a.m., FOX
The Eagles’ once-promising 2023 spiraled into disaster after a 10-1 start last fall. The upstart Buccaneers and Baker Mayfield mercifully put it to an end with a 32-9 playoff rout. With Philly returning to the scene of its demise with free-agent addition Saquon Barkley in tow, redemption starts here.
Week 5
Carolina at Chicago
Sunday, Oct. 6, 11 a.m., FOX
The Bears swindled Carolina when the Panthers traded up to select Alabama QB Bryce Young No. 1 overall in the 2023 NFL draft. Part of that return? Carolina’s first-rounder a year later — which the Bears used to pick USC QB Caleb Williams, also at No. 1 overall. Tough times in Charlotte.
Week 6
Buffalo at N.Y. Jets
Monday, Oct. 14, 6:15 p.m., ESPN
Aaron Rodgers’ 2023 lasted four snaps before he tore an Achilles tendon in the Jets’ Week 1 Monday Night Football matchup with the Bills. Round 2 against Josh Allen and Co. arrives in Week 6, also on MNF. One need not ingest ayahuasca to envision fireworks.
Week 7
Kansas City at San Francisco
Sunday, Oct. 20, 2:25 p.m., FOX
With all due respect to Sean Payton’s return to New Orleans, the game of the week resides in Levi’s Stadium. The last time these two met, we needed four quarters and an entire overtime to determine the winner. And it ended with Patrick Mahomes hoisting another Lombardi Trophy.
Week 8
Chicago at Washington
Sunday, Oct. 27, 11 a.m., CBS
The Bears on this list twice? What can we say, we’re suckers for young quarterbacks. This one features the last two Heisman Trophy winners, not to mention the first (Caleb Williams) and second (Jayden Daniels) overall picks in the 2024 NFL draft.
Week 9
Detroit at Green Bay
Sunday, Nov. 3, 2:25 p.m., FOX
Packers quarterback Jordan Love just got his big contract. Now it’s time to prove he’s not just a one-year wonder. Of course, a few people are wondering the same thing about Dan Campbell’s kneecap-biting Lions.
Week 10
Miami at L.A. Rams
Monday, Nov. 11, 6:15 p.m., ESPN
Two of football’s most innovative offensive minds — and former colleagues under Mike Shanahan in Washington — meet with Smoky Hill High School grad Mike McDaniel taking his Dolphins to the Southland to face Sean McVay’s Rams. Prediction: There will be touchdowns.
Week 11
Houston at Dallas
Monday, Nov. 18, 6:15 p.m., ESPN
This is the first time Texas’ two NFL teams didn’t have to wait four years between meetings. Texans QB C.J. Stroud swept Rookie of the Year honors last year en route to a playoff appearance. Could he surpass Dak Prescott as the Lone Star State’s top QB in Year 2?
Week 12
Baltimore at L.A. Chargers
Monday, Nov. 25, 6:15 p.m., ESPN
The third installment of the Harbaugh Bowl — the last was Super Bowl XLVII when John’s Ravens beat Jim’s 49ers — comes in prime time just days before Thanksgiving. At this point, we’ll know whether or not Jim’s in for an instant turnaround or long rebuild in L.A.
Week 13
N.Y. Giants at Dallas
Thursday, Nov. 28, 2:30 p.m., FOX
It isn’t Thanksgiving without turkey, stuffing and falling asleep to Cowboys football. Don’t worry if the tryptophan kicks in during the latter stages of this one. The end of the Daniel Jones era in the Big Apple is nigh.
Week 14
Atlanta at Minnesota
Sunday, Dec. 8, 11 a.m., FOX
If Kirk Cousins is still taking snaps for Atlanta at this point in the season, we get the return of a former Pro Bowl QB to his old stomping grounds. If, perchance, it’s Michael Penix instead, then it’s a revenge game against last January’s College Football Playoff title game winner J.J. McCarthy … who will be watching from the sidelines after suffering a season-ending injury.
Week 15
Green Bay at Seattle
Sunday, Dec. 15, 6:20 p.m., NBC
In honor of Russell Wilson’s Fail Mary, it has been codified into law that any prime-time meeting between the Packers and Seahawks must be classified as must-see TV.
Week 16
Cleveland at Cincinnati
Thursday, Dec. 19, 6:15 p.m., PRIME VIDEO
The Browns managed to reach the playoffs with Joe Flacco turning back the clock last season. Is Deshaun Watson still capable of playing at a Pro Bowl level? If so, the Battle of Ohio should be a doozy for years to come.
Week 17
Kansas City at Pittsburgh
Wednesday, Dec. 25, 11 a.m., Netflix
As if Friday night football in Week 1 wasn’t enough of an abomination, the cash-strapped suits inside the NFL offices decided it was a good idea to force two of their storied franchises to meet on a Wednesday near the end of the regular season. On Netflix. Happy holidays, everyone.
Detroit at San Francisco
Monday, Dec. 30, 6:15 p.m., ESPN
A rematch of last year’s NFC Championship, where the Lions were a few fourth-down conversions away from giving their eternally abused fanbase their first trip to the Super Bowl. Will this decide home-field advantage through the NFC playoffs?
Week 18
Jacksonville at Indianapolis
Sunday, Jan. 5, TBD, TBD
If we’re guessing which division will still be up for grabs in the last week of the regular season, the reliably mediocre AFC South is as good a dart throw as any. (Unless, of course, we’re talking about the horrifyingly awful NFC South. But who wants to watch that?)
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