NFL Most Intriguing Matchups in 2024
The 2024 NFL draft have concluded in Detroit. Teams now look forward to the future as they prepare for September 5th when the NFL regular season kicks off. Whether you are a fan of the Chicago Bears or the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs. You should be very excited for the annual NFL schedule release that is reportedly going to be announced this week on Thursday, May 9th 2024. Here I will give you guys some key games we should look forward to during the 2024 NFL season. So let’s get it started:
- Baltimore Ravens vs Kansas City Chiefs
This game was already on fans radar due to the game being a rematch of the AFC Championship game back in late January, when the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Baltimore Ravens 17-10 in Baltimore. On their way to another Super Bowl Championship. This game has battles of top players at their positing in Lamar Jackson vs. Patrick, Mark Andrews and Travis Kelce. One question lies ahead: How can New Ravens Defensive coordinator Zach Orr replicate the success they had in 2024. On the other hand, how can Andy Reid deploy this newly revamped Wide receiver group for the Chiefs? Whether this game is played week 1 or late in the season, this game will be highly anticipated and hyped during the week. Better yet, this game might be in a primetime slot.
2. Detroit Lions vs Houston Texans:
A battle of two young teams that most would say overachieved in 2023. The Lions are a team that’s coming off a NFC Championship game where they blew a huge lead to the San Francisco 49ers. Dan Campbell will have his team ready for any fight on Sunday afternoons no matter the opponent. For the Texans, CJ Stroud has another new weapon in Stefon Diggs after being traded from the Buffalo Bills to the Houston Texans early April. The Texans themselves are looking to improve what was an incredible season for them finishing 10-7; 1st in the AFC South. The NFL would be great to have these two alpha coaches with their teams in the national spotlight more starting in 2024. This is a game that showcases two of the overachieving teams in 2023. This game would be great for a 4:25pm time slot on CBS.
3. All of the NFC South division matchups:
The NFC South has the making to be the best division in football. Yes! I said it. This division might give you a playoff team that goes 7-10. But, this division is up for grabs. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8) are looking to repeat as champions in 2024 with the return of Baker Mayfield, and resigning Mike Evans back. This should help the Buccaneers with some type of stability. Next, the New Orleans Saints are coming off a second place finish last season in the division. The Saints are looking to bounce back in 2024 after losing the division last season when they were a favorite to win it in 2023. The Saints have a well-rounded team that can win the division in 2024. Although, the Saints are going have to win games they are supposed to win if they have a chance to win the division as they play teams such as Washington Commanders, New York Giants. The Atlanta Falcons, They are the most equipped team in the division to get the job done and finish over .500 for the first time since 2017. They have a quarterback in Kirk Cousins who has a track record of putting up good numbers and leading a high flying offense. Especially with the weapons the Falcons have with Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson. Lastly, we have the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers finished last in the AFC South last season with a 2-15 record. The only way I can see the Carolina Panthers making a strong push for the NFC South crown is if they can play hard enough to stay in games against their out of conference opponents. Specifically during away games. The Panthers’ away games aren’t nearly as hard on paper as their home clashes. Besides the three home games versus their NFC South foes, Carolina travels to face rookies Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears, Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos, Gardner Minshew and the Las Vegas Raiders, Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles.
4. New York Jets vs. Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins:
People have forgotten about Aaron Rodgers since his Achilles injury last season. Last season, the New York Jets were a team of destiny by a lot of pundits to make a deep playoff run in 2023. That was until Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles in Week 1 vs. The Buffalo Bills. Aaron Rodgers can will his team to wins when he is healthy and at the helm for the Jets. The season for the Jets will come down to the health of Aaron Rodgers again. The Talent is there on both sides of the ball for the Jets, they are going have to build on that preseason hype from last season before Rodgers went down. The Bills took a huge hit this offseason with trading Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans, cutting half of their roster to create cap space for the future. Also the Miami Dolphins should be favored to win the AFC East this upcoming season but this Jets team might have something to say about it because they can make the case they have the better overall roster from top to bottom. In conclusion, this division is going to be 3 horse race and the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets will be fighting it out for the AFC East crown. Hopefully we get some national games including primetime for at least 2 of these games.
5. Carolina Panthers vs. Chicago Bears:
Hear me out! If I am the Carolina Panthers, I am looking to get payback against the Chicago Bears. The Bears sent the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft to Carolina in exchange for DJ Moore, the No. 9 pick in the 2023 draft, the No. 61 pick, plus a 2024 first-round pick and a 2025 second-round pick. The Panthers did everything in their power last season to tank games away just for the overall NO.1 pick to be rewarded back to the Chicago Bears in 2024, which they drafted Caleb Williams first overall. The Panthers had to trade back in to the first round to draft WR Xavier Legget from South Carolina. Now on the Bears side, they have a rookie quarterback in Caleb Williams who is better set up for early success with weapons such as Keenan Allen, DJ Moore, rookie Rome Odunze at the Wide receiver position. This is a fun game to watch if you love storylines even though the records won’t be as impressive.
