The most intriguing game for each week of the 2024 NFL season

All the schedule release videos have been posted, and all the memes have been generated.

Of course, we are still looking through the Los Angeles Chargers’ “Sims” release video for all the Easter eggs, but now that the schedule is out, we can start talking about the games themselves.

Here is the most intriguing game for each week of the 2024 NFL season, at least in the opinion of one singular sports blogger.

Week 1: Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs
Is the best game of Week 1 the first game of the entire 2024 NFL season?

You could make a strong case that it is. The 2024 NFL schedule kicks off with the traditional Thursday night opener featuring the defending Super Bowl Champions. This year, that means a home game for the Kansas City Chiefs, as they welcome Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens to town.

In a rematch of the AFC Championship Game from a few months prior.

Week 2: Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles
There are a number of intriguing games during Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season. One option is the Thursday Night Football game that kicks off the second week of the schedule, between the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins, as that game likely has big AFC East implications.

Then there is the renewal of the Chiefs-Bengals rivalry in the late Sunday afternoon window.

But the week comes to a close with the Atlanta Falcons taking on the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football. With Kirk Cousins joining the Falcons, Atlanta has some playoff aspirations this season. Of course, so do the Eagles, who are hoping to shake off last year’s late-season swoon.

Week 3: Detroit Lions at Arizona Cardinals
Last year, the Detroit Lions were a team on the rise. Despite missing out on the playoffs at the end of the 2022 season, the Lions were viewed by many last summer as a team to watch for a playoff run. As you know, the Lions lived up to those expectations, advancing to the NFC Championship Games.

A team hoping for a similar rise? The Arizona Cardinals. Kyler Murray will be back and fully healthy after returning to the field last November following his knee injury. The Cardinals added Marvin Harrison Jr. at the top of the draft, and could be a sneaky team to watch this year. This game against Detroit will be a fascinating early test for Arizona.

Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

Week 4: Buffalo Bills at Baltimore Ravens
Sunday Night Football in Week 4 features two dynamic quarterbacks, and two teams hoping to advance to the Super Bowl out of the AFC.

Not a bad way to end the weekend.

Week 5: Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles Rams
Both of these teams made the playoffs a year ago, and while the Rams lost their first game against the Detroit Lions, the Packers advanced to the Divisional Round by throttling the Dallas Cowboys.

As you might expect, both teams have aspirations beyond simply making the playoffs in 2024. But this Week 5 clash will be a great measuring stick for both teams.

Week 6: San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks
Week 6 of the 2024 NFL season kicks off with an NFC West showdown between the 49ers and the Seahawks on Thursday Night Football.

This week of the season offers some … intriguing options, such as the London game between Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars against Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears. But games between these division rivals tend to be fascinating, and here is hoping this installment lives up to expectations.

Week 7: Kansas City Chiefs at San Francisco 49ers
A Super Bowl rematch?

Yeah this qualifies as a “Game of the Week.”

Week 8: Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans
Week 8 has a number of fascinating games on the slate. A tilt between the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football is certainly an option, as is a late-afternoon game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Philadelphia Eagles. Then there is the division battle between the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens.

But this game between the Colts and the Texans — and the two young and talented quarterbacks for both teams — stands out to me.

Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images

Week 9: Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
With the calendar flipping to November, the playoff run begins.

And what better way to kick that into overdrive than a rivalry game between NFC North foes?

Week 10: New England Patriots at Chicago Bears
Let’s face it: The NFL is a quarterback-driven league.

And this game features a pair of rookie quarterbacks drafted in the top three selections just a few weeks ago.

In all likelihood this will be a matchup between Drake Maye and the Patriots, against Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears. Week 10 has other games on the slate that look to have bigger playoff implications, such as Eagles-Cowboys, Lions-Texans, Bills-Colts, and Bengals-Ravens, but by this time both rookies should be deep into their first years as starters, and this matchup will be a great time to check in on their progress.

Week 11: Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills
Last year was supposed to be the Buffalo Bills’ year. Finally, the Bills were going to be able to slay the dragon that is the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs.

However, Patrick Mahomes and company had other ideas, as the Chiefs went into Buffalo in the Divisional Round and knocked off the Bills, by a final score of 27-24.

In the late Sunday window of Week 11, that rivalry is renewed.

Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Week 12: Baltimore Ravens at Los Angeles Chargers.
Harbaugh Bowl. Monday Night Football.

Need we say more?

Week 13: Miami Dolphins at Green Bay Packers
On paper, Week 13 looks fantastic.

Let’s start with the fact that it is Thanksgiving Week in the United States, which means you get three games on Thanksgiving Day, a “Black Friday” game between the Raiders and the Chiefs, and then games to close out your extended holiday weekend on Sunday. But there are some tremendous games on that Sunday slate, such as Eagles-Ravens and 49ers-Bills.

But the Thanksgiving night game between the Dolphins and Packers is not only a fascinating matchup, but a great way to end the holiday triple header.

Week 14: Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings
The schedule makers absolutely know what they are doing.

Kirk Cousins returning to Minnesota with the Falcons to take on the Vikings? Sign us up.

There are other intriguing games on this week’s slate, including Lions-Packers on Thursday Night Football, as well as Bengals-Cowboys to close out the week on Monday Night Football. But as far as revenge games go, this one looks to be an instant classic.

Week 15: Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns want to take the next step in the AFC.

To do that, they need to win a game like this one. At home, against the defending Super Bowl Champions.

Week 16: Los Angeles Rams at New York Jets
This was another tough week to pick.

There are no shortage of options in Week 16. The slate begins on Thursday Night Football with an AFC North clash between the Bengals and the Browns. Week 16 also begins the annual Saturday games, and with Texans-Chiefs and Steelers-Ravens on Saturday you have two more great options.

The Sunday slate is also good, with games between the 49ers and Dolphins as well as the Buccaneers and Cowboys.

But when it comes down to it, Matthew Stafford versus Aaron Rodgers — perhaps with serious playoff implications for both teams on the line — jumps out to me.

Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Week 17: Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers
Good luck picking a game this week.

Not only does Week 17 begin with a pair of games on Christmas Day that are options (Chiefs-Steelers and Ravens-Texans) but you also have Jets-Bills, Cowboys-Eagles, and Dolphins-Browns on Sunday Night Football.

But as you can tell we are big on rematches around here, so closing out the week with an NFC Championship Game rematch on Monday Night Football is the pick here.

Week 18: Whatever game lands on SNF

Week 18 is, as is custom, filled with divisional matchups.

So every game is a good game.

But as is often the case, the league will set a game with critical playoff implications in for the final game of the season.

When the time comes, that will be the choice here.