Ranking best games on 2024 NFL schedule for every team: Chiefs-49ers rematch, Steelers-Ravens rivalry, & more | Sporting News United Kingdom

Every team in the NFL has a lot of great games on their schedule through a 17-game season, but in 2024, like every other year, 32 of those combined 272 regular-season matchups shine a little brighter on the marquee, either because of established off-field narrative or expected on-field excitement.

If you’re a big-time fan of a particular team, you can consider this the one game you absolutely cannot miss, whether it’s going to the stadium or getting glued to the TV.

If you love the entire league and just want to know when you should watch each team, consider this your projected NFL viewing guide:

Every NFL team’s best game in 2024

1. San Francisco 49ers. vs. Chiefs and … 

… Kansas City Chiefs: at 49ers

Super Bowl 54 was pretty good between these teams. Super Bowl 58 was an awesome overtime thriller. They are both also favorites to meet for a third time in Super Bowl 59. Now let’s see if the 49ers can get the Chiefs number at home to feel better about their chances for “third time’s a charm.”

3. Los Angeles Chargers: vs. Ravens

The Harbaugh Bowl comes back to the NFL with Jim’s Chargers hosting John Harbaugh’s Ravens. This is not only a Super Bowl 47 coaching rematch from when Jim was with the 49ers, but it’s also a revenge game for former Ravens contributors Greg Roman, Gus Edwards, and JK Dobbins. Oh yeah, it’s also Justin Herbert vs. Lamar Jackson.

4. Buffalo Bills: vs. Chiefs 

This is premier AFC powerhouse matchup with the two most dynamic improvisational QBs, Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes. The passing rivals are much like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, sharing a friendship off the field. Allen is 3-1 against Mahomes in the regular season but Mahomes is 3-0 against Allen in the playoffs.

5. Baltimore Ravens: at Steelers and … 

… Pittsburgh Steelers: at Ravens

Speaking of Jackson, he will now get to duel a different starting QB for the Steelers, either savvy Russell Wilson or that other great young runner, Justin Fields. Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin both have teams that can go toe-to-toe for AFC North supremacy again. That restores this two-game series as the best rivalry in the NFL.

7. Houston Texans: at Chiefs

This is a big opportunity for C.J. Stroud and a buzzy, rising Houston offense to prove it belongs on the same field as the reigning Super Bowl champions. The Texans haven’t had this vibe since Deshaun Watson’s best days.

8. Green Bay Packers: vs. 49ers

The Packers had many choices, including the Week 1 opener against the Eagles in Brazil, but in the end, here’s going with the classic playoff rematch of the 2023 division round when the 49ers survived Jordan Love and the Packers 24-21.

9. Denver Broncos: vs. Steelers

Sean Payton is doing things his way in Denver, and Russell Wilson didn’t belong in those plans. Now, Payton will work to prove his team was right to give up on Wilson and turn the page to Bo Nix, while Wilson will be motivated by trying to exact sweet revenge.

10. Minnesota Vikings: vs. Falcons

The Vikings also moved on from their veteran starting QB, Kirk Cousins, in the offseason, replacing him with rookie J.J. McCarthy. They will likely need to win this swing game to have a shot of returning to the playoffs with Kevin O’Connell.

11. Detroit Lions: vs. Packers

The Lions had an exceptional 2023 season, making it all the way to the NFC championship after winning the NFC North. But they did not defeat the Packers at home in the traditional Thanksgiving matchup. That will keep the Lions hungry to take care of some unfinished business.

12. Cincinnati Bengals: vs. Eagles

The 2020 NFL Draft class was loaded with QBs. Joe Burrow and Jalen Hurts stand out from Jordan Love, Justin Herbert, and Tua Tagovailoa as the two MVP-caliber passers who have each been to Super Bowls.

13. Washington Commanders: vs. Bears

The Commanders have No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels. The Bears have No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams, a Washington, D.C. native. This should be a fun matchup of the last two Heisman-winning quarterbacks.

14. Miami Dolphins: vs. 49ers

What happens when Kyle Shanahan and Mike McDaniel match wits with similar high-flying offenses? A lot of points and big plays thanks to Christian McCaffrey, Tyreek Hill, and more.

15. New York Jets: vs. Bills

This is the only game in which Aaron Rodgers appeared as the Jets’ starting QB last season before tearing his Achilles’ in Week 1. He’ll be looking to deliver another win against the team that took him down.

16. Dallas Cowboys: at Eagles

The Cowboys are still treated like America’s Team with plenty of big matchups, but their epic battles with the Eagles with NFC East supremacy still on the line are their most important, most compelling games.

17. Chicago Bears: vs. Packers

Caleb Williams vs. Jordan Love should be an exciting new edition of this long-time NFC North rivalry. 

18. Philadelphia Eagles: vs. Packers (in Brazil)

The Eagles also have plenty of marquee games, but what kind of carnival atmosphere will there be when they open the season in Brazil in an early battlle affecting the NFC playoff race?

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: vs. Eagles

The Buccaneers have two big recent wins over the Eagles in the playoffs and will hope to keep it up.

20. New Orleans Saints: vs. Raiders

Fire up the Derek Carr revenge game at home vs. his former team.

21. Los Angeles Rams: at Lions

Fire up the Jared Goff revenge game at home vs. his former team. Oh yeah, it’s also Matthew Stafford coming back to Detroit to face his former team again.

22. Cleveland Browns: vs. Steelers

The Browns have an in-state beef with the Bengals and a franchise-name feud with the Ravens, but the Steelers are still the team to circle most on their slate.

23. New York Giants: vs. Eagles

The Giants will face Saquon Barkley as an opponent at home for the first time, while Jalen Hurts and the Eagles try to hold their big edge in the division.

24. Seattle Seahawks: at Jets

Geno Smith gets a chance at the team that drafted him in the second round in 2013. He will also get to duel Aaron Rodgers, who gets another crack at a big-time former NFC rival.

25. Atlanta Falcons: vs. Steelers

The Falcons will feature Kirk Cousins vs. Russell Wilson in a QB redemption battle. It’s also a revenge game for former Falcons coach Arthur Smith, now the Steelers’ offensive coordinator.

26. Indianapolis Colts: vs. Texans

Anthony Richardson was hurt in his only rookie matchup vs. Stroud. He will hope to make up for lost time and get the Colts into contention.

27. Arizona Cardinals: vs. Commanders

The Cardinals will put Kyler Murray on the field vs. the dynamic Jayden Daniels, but it’s also a revenge game for his former coach Kliff Kingsbury, now the Commanders’ OC.

28. Jacksonville Jaguars: at Eagles

Coach revenge games count, too. Doug Pederson will try to beat the team he led to Super Bowl glory with Trevor Lawrence trying to outduel Jalen Hurts.

29. Las Vegas Raiders: vs. Chargers

This has been one of the most entertaining division series, and it takes on a new chapter with Antonio PIerce vs. Jim Harbaugh.

30. New England Patriots: vs. Bills

Drake Maye compared himself to Josh Allen. We’ll see about that when they are head-to-head for the first time in Foxborough.

31. Tennessee Titans: vs. Bengals

It’s another coach revange game with Tennessee’s Brian Callahan battling the team for which was offensive coordinator under Zac Taylor.

32. Carolina Panthers: at Bears

The Panthers and Bears have a draft-based rivalry, as the last two No 1 overall QBs, Bryce Young and Caleb Willams, will duel here.