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Anne Erickson

2024 NFL Schedule: Rivalry Games You Won’t Want to Miss

Author Anne Erickson
(Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)

While fans wait patiently for the 2024 NFL schedule, the good news is that we already know the NFL season’s top rivalry games that you won’t want to miss. So, start to get excited, because the upcoming season has some doozie matchups.

2024 NFL Schedule: Rivalry Games You Won’t Want to Miss

The wait for the full 2024 NFL schedule is almost over. According to the NFL experts at the Sports Business Journal, the league has informed teams via a memo that the new schedule will be released on Wednesday, May 15. That’s actually the longest fans have had to wait for the schedule in decades, which is why it’s good that we at least already know about the biggest matchups this season.

If you want to watch the NFL schedule unfold in real time, the tally will be unveiled on May 15 at 8 p.m. ET on the NFL Network. This year will mark the fifth consecutive year that the schedule has dropped in May. Before then, it arrived in April, but the date got moved to May due to the pandemic. Now, the powers at the NFL are sticking with that May date. Releasing the schedule in May has a few benefits. It helps keep the momentum going a few weeks after the NFL Draft wraps up, and it also gives the NFL time to book prime time games featuring the league’s newest stars. For example, at the 2024 draft, a bunch of teams picked up quarterbacks. Fans will want to see some of those guys, especially the Chicago Bears’ Caleb Williams, in prime time. Now, onto these rivalry games. I’m so excited to watch a bunch of these games. It’s going to be a wild season, so buckle up. Which games are you most excited to watch? Reach out to me, and listen to my NFL podcast, featuring an interview with Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff.

Here are some top NFL rivalry games you won’t want to miss in 2024:

Chiefs at 49ers (Super Bowl LVIII rematch)
Lions at 49ers (NFC title game rematch)
Buccaneers at Lions (NFL divisional round rematch)
Raiders at Saints (Always a big game, and this time with the Derek Carr factor)
Ravens at Chargers (The Harbaugh brothers go up against each other)
Panthers at Bears (Bryce Young vs. Caleb Williams)
Rams at Lions (Matthew Stafford rematch in Detroit after losing a big playoff game to the Lions)
Eagles at Giants (Saquon Barkley goes up against his former team)
Jets at Rams (Aaron Rodgers against Matthew Stafford)
Falcons at Vikings (Kirk Cousins against his former team)
Bills at Texans (Stefon Diggs faces his former team)
Ravens at Chiefs (AFC title game rematch)
Steelers at Broncos (Russell Wilson against his former team)

Ranking Every NFL Coach Hired for 2024

  • 8. Dan Quinn, Commanders

    The Commanders looked like favorites to get Ben Johnson from the Detroit Lions as their new head coach, but Johnson decided to stay in the Motor City. So, they snagged Dan Quinn. Of course, Quinn got the Falcons all the way to Super Bowl 51, so he has experience. But, it’s not really an exciting hire. Sill, Quinn could deliver the goods.

  • 7. Brian Callahan, Titans

    Brian Callahan is the new head coach of the Tennessee Titans, and he comes with football in his blood. His father, Bill, once took the Raiders to the Super Bowl. Brian stands on his own, though, and helped take Cincinnati on the Super Bowl run with Joe Burrow. Let’s see if he can bring that magic to Nashville.

  • 6. Jerod Mayo, Patriots

    Jerod Mayo has big shoes to fill as the new head coach for the New England Patriots. He’s replacing the great Bill Belichick. They’re keeping it in the family, though, as Mayo has been with the Patriots for years. Robert Kraft promoted the former Patriots star from within, much like former player Dan Campbell was given the head coaching role with the Detroit Lions.

  • 5. Raheem Morris, Falcons

    Like many of the coaches on this list, Raheem Morris has his work cut out for him with the challenging Atlanta Falcons. He’s no stranger to the NFC South and was with the Buccaneers years ago. Of course, Morris’ name got big as the defensive coordinator for Sean McVay when the L.A. Rams won the Super Bowl. Let’s see if he can make it happen in Atlanta.

  • 4. Antonio Pierce, Raiders

    Antonio Pierce helped Las Vegas come back at the end of last season, after Josh McDaniels was let go after his short time there. The players and fans seemed to really love Pierce and what he was doing in just a few games. So, this pick definitely makes sense.

  • 3. Jim Harbaugh, Chargers

    Well, Jim Harbaugh finally got back to the NFL. Every year, it seemed like Harbaugh was flirting with the NFL, trying to snag a gig and leave the Michigan Wolverines. Well, hot off a national championship win with the Wolverines, he’s back, now with the Chargers. He’s super motivated to get a Super Bowl. He also already has a good roster. So, this could go up quickly.

  • 2. Mike Macdonald, Seahawks

    The Seattle Seahawks let go of a great coach in Pete Carroll, but they got a great one, too. What’s more, the Seahawks knabbed a defensive-minded coach, which is a rare gem in the NFL. I mean, the NFL is usually so offensive-minded, so it’s nice to see someone on the defensive side of things leading the pack. MacDonald has a lot on his side, including some strong players and a great GM in John Schneider. He’s also known to be well-liked by players, which can go a long way.

  • 1. Dave Canales, Panthers

    It’s ironic that one of the most challenged teams has the No. 1 new coach on this list. But, it’s true. Dave Canales is a great fit for the Panthers, and boy, do they need the help. Canales has lots of history with the Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He should be a great QB-coaching fit with Bryce Young, too.

Anne Erickson started her radio career shortly after graduating from Michigan State University and has worked on-air in Detroit, Flint, Toledo, Lansing and beyond. As someone who absolutely loves rock, metal and alt music, she instantly fell in love with radio and hasn’t looked back. When she’s not working, Anne makes her own music with her band, Upon Wings, and she also loves cheering on her favorite Detroit and Michigan sports teams, especially Lions and MSU football. Anne is also an award-winning journalist, and her byline has run in a variety of national publications. You can also hear her weekends on WRIF.

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