Predicting the NFL Schedule is No Easy Task
The NFL plans to release its 2024 schedule on Wednesday, May 15, but that hasn’t slowed down many fans from projecting what the schedule will look like when it drops. Unlike the other major sports, the NFL schedule release is an event.
Look Ahead to The NFL Schedule
From the Opening night game on the first Thursday in September to the full Week 1 slate, international games, Thanksgiving Day games, and yes, even Christmas Day games (sorry NBA), everyone rifles through each team’s list of opponents as if they have opened up a fresh new jigsaw puzzle.
Where will the pieces fit?
Well go onto X and you can find many different sites dedicated toward predicting leaks and schedule possibilities. Some are better at it than others. Some claim to have legit “sources.” Who knows really.
Even Amazon created their own fan interactive site where people can predict at least the Week 1 match-ups, and compare with their friends. Give it a try.
So I thought what the hell, let’s give this the good old college try and make some best guesses as to what we could see when the schedule is unveiled Wednesday night.
Thursday Night Season Opener: Ravens at Chiefs
Depending on who you want to believe, rumors have abounded that the Super Bowl champion Chiefs could face either the Ravens, Texans, or Chargers in the opener. Let’s roll with the Ravens. It would be a rematch of last season’s AFC title game; it would feature two of the best quarterbacks in the sport: Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson; and it would match wits between Andy Reid and John Harbaugh. Would the NFL want to feature such a big matchup this early? We’ll know soon enough.
GIANTS OPEN AT HOME AND NOT VS. DALLAS
It seems like it’s an automatic pilot that the NFL schedules the Giants to face the Cowboys in Week 1 every year. In fact, since 2012, the Giants and Boys met up in Week 1 seven times. Time to end that trend. The Giants also haven’t opened a season against an NFC opponent outside their division since 2010 when they matched up with Carolina. So let’s say the G-Men get the 1 p.m. window on Sunday, September 8 against the New Orleans Saints.
JETS OPEN ON THE ROAD, BUT NOT IN PRIME TIME
A lot of people out there think the Jets could open the season in primetime, but I’ll say that won’t happen. The NFL will play a ‘wait and see’ on the Jets after the Aaron Rodgers injury last season during Week 1. Gang Green still gets a featured game at 4:25 against their division rival, the Miami Dolphins down in South Beach. Two teams that figure to play a prominent role in the AFC East this year. Why not?
SUNDAY NIGHT OPENER
Let’s be honest, the NFL loves having the Cowboys in prime time to start the year. At the same time, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a new quarterback former Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson. Why not open the Sunday night schedule with a classic battle between the Steelers and Cowboys? These two historic rivals met in three Super Bowls. What a way to open the primetime slot. Dallas at Pittsburgh on Sunday night.
MONDAY NIGHT OPENER
San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams. Two arch rivals with dreams of getting back to the Big Dance. That sounds like a Monday Night match-up that ESPN would love.
INTERNATIONAL GAMES
We already know that the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers will meet in Week 1 on a Friday night in Brazil. We also know that the Jaguars, Vikings and Bears are hosting games in London, while the Panthers host a game in Germany.
So let’s say…
Packers vs. Eagles – Brazil Sept 6.
49ers vs. Vikings – London, Oct. 6
Jaguars vs. Bears – London, Oct. 13
Jets vs. Jaguars – London, Oct. 20
Falcons vs. Panthers – Germany
There have been a lot of rumors that the Niners, Jets, Patriots or Browns could all be heading to England as an opponent to the Jags and Vikings this season. This is our best guess.
Thanksgiving & Black Friday
Who will be this year’s Turkey’s, I mean Thanksgiving participants? We know the Cowboys and Lions always play on Turkey Day. It is also a fact that the Jaguars have never played on Thanksgiving, while the Rams and Browns haven’t played on that day in many decades. Something has to give, right?
Jaguars @ Lions 12:30
Texans @ Cowboys 4:35
Las Vegas Raiders @ L.A. Rams 8:25
Black Friday: Cleveland Browns @ Philadelphia Eagles – 3 p.m. Philly gets to wear their all black uniforms.
CHRISTMAS
For the first time in NFL history games will be scheduled on a Wednesday to accommodate Christmas. The NFL is planning two games on this holy holiday, so let’s think of some snowy places. How’s New York and Green Bay sound?
Buffalo Bills @ NY Jets – 4:30
Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers 8:30.
Everyone loves the holidays in New York, and what better way to celebrate than a divisional clash between the Bills and Jets. And, imagine the snow globe Green Bay would be on Christmas.
Until we know for sure next week, well let me quote the great comedic genius Larry David…
MORE NEW YORK JETS & NEW YORK GIANTS
