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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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

Canelo Alvarez is truly king in the ring. The super middleweight champion towered over Jaime Munguia in their much-anticipated fight on Saturday (May 4), and he scored a unanimous win. So, who are the best boxers in the world right now, pound-for-pound?

Before we get to the best boxers in the world right now, let's look closer at Alvarez and his win. Now that he's consistently pulled off definitive wins, the public wants to see him fight David Benavidez, "The Mexican Monster," who caught everyone's attention after beating both Caleb Plant and Demetrius Andrade.

After the May 4 fight, Alvarez was asked about fighting Benavidez, who has been talking smack about him, as they say. "If the money's right ... I can fight [Benavidez] right now," Alvarez said in a post-fight press conference. "I don't give a s---. It's only a matter of money at this point. Everybody is asking for everything. When I fought [Erislandy] Lara, Austin Trout, Miguel Angel Cotto, [Floyd] Mayweather, Billy Joe Saunders, GGG, everybody said I don't want to fight them, and I fought all of them. So right now ... I can do whatever I want."

It's true that Alvarez can do whatever he wants, as he's very successful. But, is he really the best if he won't fight the one guy that everyone wants him to fight? Hey, I can't contest Alvarez's record and legacy. But, give the people what they want, Alvarez. Everyone would love to see some of the best boxers in the world duke it out.

Benavidez wants the fight with Alvarez. He wants it badly. He was there Saturday, promoting his June 15 Las Vegas fight vs. Oleksandr Gvozdyk. "The fans now are getting upset because this is the biggest fight on the table," Benavidez told ESPN during a news conference. "And why are we going to leave it on the table for no reason? This is a fight that has to happen. ... And I'm going to keep putting these types of performances on where people are going to want to see it. The demand of this fight is really high. It's bad blood. I don't like him. He doesn't like me."

So, we all want to see the fight. If it happens, it will draw a lot of money and interest. For now, lots of interest rests on Benavidez's upcoming fight against Gvozdyk. He's moving up to light heavyweight for the fight. I'm such a fan of boxing, since it's so classic and old-fashioned. My dad was actually a boxer in Detroit when he was in high school, and I've always loved the sport. Now, let's get into some of the best boxers in the world right now, pound-for-pound. Reach out to me with your thoughts, too.

Dmitry Bivol is the current light heavyweight champion. The Russian currently lives in California and has been in the spotlight for years, but especially took the limelight when he beat Canelo Alvarez in 2022 in a controversial fight. He's super fun to watch in the ring.

Canelo Alvarez just upped his game with another win, as he took down Jaime Munguia in the two's much-anticipated fight on Saturday (May 4). I want to see him fight David Benavidez. Make it happen, guys and agents.

Oleksandr Usyk has held the the unified heavyweight titles since 2021. The Ukrainian professional boxer is one of the best Ukrainian boxers and cruiserweights of all time. He has a May 18, 2024, fight against Tyson Fury. He also takes on David Benavidez June 15, 2024, in Las Vegas.

Naoya Inoue is such a versatile boxer. The Japanese boxer is actually only the second male boxer, behind Terence Crawford, to be the undisputed champion in two weight classes in the four-belt era. He has also won multiple world championships in four weight classes.

It shouldn't be a surprise that Terence Crawford is ranked No. 1 on this list. He has won multiple world championships in three weight classes and multiple World Boxing titles. On Aug. 3, 2024, he'll go up against Israil Madrimov.

He's not one of my top five, but David Benavidez absolutely deserves a mention. He's more than proven himself after beating both Caleb Plant and Demetrius Andrade. He talks a lot of smack, too, which fans love. Let's see if he finally gets his fight with Canelo Alvarez.