2024 NFL schedule release: Complete slate of Week 1 games

Baltimore Ravens

AT

Kansas City Chiefs

• WHERE: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, Mo.)
• WHEN: 8:20 p.m. ET | NBC, NFL+

The first Week 1 rematch between AFC Championship Game combatants since the Colts and Patriots in 2004 pits Patrick Mahomes against Lamar Jackson. Steve Spagnuolo blitzed the pants off Jackson in the title game, holding the Ravens to a season-low 10 points and befuddling the MVP quarterback. The Ravens added super-human stiff-arm machine Derrick Henry this offseason to provide a bully to the backfield in hopes that teams like the Chiefs can’t zero in on Jackson so easily. We’ll get to see how that plays out and whether Mahomes’ new speedy weapons make a difference out of the gate.

Green Bay Packers

VS.

Philadelphia Eagles

• WHERE: Corinthians Arena (São Paulo, Brazil)
• WHEN: 8:15 p.m. ET | Peacock

The first international game in South America is a doozy. The Eagles attempt to overcome last season’s plummet with new offensive and defensive coordinators as Nick Sirianni enters the season under immense pressure. After playing banged up last season, Jalen Hurts should be at full force against a Packers defense that also changed coordinators. Jordan Love and the Packers essentially enjoyed the inverse of the Eagles’ season, starting slow but coming on strong at the end and narrowly falling to the eventual NFC Champions in the Divisional Round. If the QB picks up where he left off with his young pass-catching corps, Green Bay could be one of the most entertaining teams in 2024. 

Pittsburgh Steelers

AT

Atlanta Falcons

• WHERE: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
• WHEN: 1 p.m. ET | FOX

Hello, Week 1 REVENGE GAME! Arthur Smith returns to Atlanta without a single game being played since his dismissal. How will the Steelers’ new offensive coordinator attack a defense he knows well? Does Pittsburgh have enough receiver help? On the flip side, the Kirk Cousins era in Atlanta kicks off against the reigning sack leader, T.J. Watt. Given everything that transpired in the Falcons QB room this offseason, how Cousins comes out of the gate in Zac Robinson’s offense will be under the microscope. 

Arizona Cardinals

AT

Buffalo Bills

• WHERE: Highmark Stadium (Buffalo, N.Y.)
• WHEN: 1 p.m. ET | CBS

The two clubs enter the season with plenty of questions. The Bills are undergoing a remake — restoration? — after jettisoning several veterans on both sides of the ball. After losing his top two receiving targets, Josh Allen will be asked to carry the load. Talent remains in Buffalo, but it remains to be seen if the changes will cost the Bills a year of contending or if they’ll continue to steamroll in the AFC East. Meanwhile, the Cardinals had a more traditional rebuild last season, stripping down the roster. The addition of rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. has the offense on a good trajectory behind Kyler Murray, but significant question marks remain on defense. The last time the Bills and Cards faced off, we witnessed the “Hail Murray” walkoff by DeAndre Hopkins. Let’s hope for a similarly thrilling ending. 

Tennessee Titans

AT

Chicago Bears

• WHERE: Soldier Field (Chicago)
• WHEN: 1 p.m. ET | FOX

The Caleb Williams era kicks off at Soldier Field. We’ll get our first proper look at the chemistry between the No. 1 overall pick and his trio of stud wideouts — DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze — when Chicago faces a revamped Titans squad. How will the Bears’ interior offensive line hold up against Jeffery Simmons? And who doesn’t want to see new Titan L’Jarius Sneed battling Moore, Allen and Odunze? For the Tennessee offense, how has Will Levis developed entering Year 2? Will he come out slinging or once again find himself on his back behind a struggling offensive line? Montez Sweat could be in for a big first game of the season if the Titans’ O-line isn’t significantly improved. 

New England Patriots

AT

Cincinnati Bengals

• WHERE: Paycor Stadium (Cincinnati)
• WHEN: 1 p.m. ET | CBS

Joe Burrow‘s return to the field comes against a New England defense that brings back the bulk of its playmakers. It’ll be a fun matchup between Bengals head coach Zac Taylor and new Pats defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington. Last year, Burrow opened the season dealing with a calf injury that slowed Cincy’s start. We got about a handful of healthy Burrow games in 2023 before he was shut down due to a wrist injury. Hopefully, he’s fully healthy entering Week 1 this go around. The Drake Maye era kicks off in Southwest Ohio against a defensive coordinator who could have the rookie’s head spinning. Lou Anarumo has been known to cause even the savviest of veteran QBs to have brain craps. Imagine what he’ll bring the rookie in Week 1. We need to see how the Patriots’ receiver room shakes out in training camp, but it profiles as a young group surrounding a young QB. 

Houston Texans

AT

Indianapolis Colts

• WHERE: Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis)
• WHEN: 1 p.m. ET | CBS

The offseason chatter from Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin regarding Texans QB C.J. Stroud provides a fiery backdrop for this season opener. Anthony Richardson‘s return to the field ups the ante in the division bout. The Indy QB looked dynamic in his four tilts last season, but Richardson couldn’t finish games before being sidelined in early October. His health is critical to the future in Indy. Meanwhile, the Texans surrounded Stroud with more playmakers this season, bringing in Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon to a now-stacked offense. If Stroud continues his upward trajectory, Houston will be a contender not only for the division but the entire AFC. 

Jacksonville Jaguars

AT

Miami Dolphins

• WHERE: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)
• WHEN: 1 p.m. ET | CBS

Will Trevor Lawrence put last season’s disappointment behind him and leap into the upper echelon of QBs? That’s the central question surrounding Jacksonville entering this season. With several of the Dolphins’ key defenders coming off injury, facing Miami early could be a benefit. Tua Tagovailoa has even more weapons to play with after adding Odell Beckham Jr. in free agency and running back Jaylen Wright in the draft. Mike McDaniel’s offense can never have too much speed. How will the new-look Jags defense slow down that high-powered offense?

Carolina Panthers

AT

New Orleans Saints

• WHERE: Mercedes-Benz Superdome (New Orleans)
• WHEN: 1 p.m. ET | FOX

The Dave Canales era in Carolina kicks off against a team he should know well after spending last season in Tampa. The Panthers spent the offseason improving things around Bryce Young, including bolstering the interior O-line and upgrading the receiver corps. Will that be enough against a veteran-laden Saints defense that didn’t allow Young to throw for 160 yards in either of the teams’ meetings last season? I’m very interested to see Klint Kubiak’s system fully unveiled in New Orleans after the Saints tried to run Sean Payton’s scheme the past two years without the master. It will either work out swimmingly, and the Saints will go scorched earth, or Derek Carr will have a conniption and implode like a dying star. 

Minnesota Vikings

AT

New York Giants

• WHERE: MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, N.J.)
• WHEN: 1 p.m. ET | FOX

A rematch of the 2022 wild-card contest that feels like it happened a decade ago. Can Daniel Jones, coming off injury, recapture the form he showed in Brian Daboll’s first season? Facing a Brian Flores defense off the bat is a stiff test. The Vikings DC is sure to bring heaps of pressure to find out if Jones has any answers. For Minnesota’s offense, will it be rookie J.J. McCarthy under center in the opener, or will Kevin O’Connell give Sam Darnold the nod early? Either way, Justin Jefferson will be the best player on the field and should see the ball plenty against a revamped Giants D that is young on the back end. 

Las Vegas Raiders

AT

Los Angeles Chargers

• WHERE: SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, Calif.)
• WHEN: 4:05 p.m. ET | CBS

The Jim Harbaugh era in L.A. kicks off against a division rival that’s fans generally take over SoFi Stadium when the two clubs play. There is a ton of intrigue regarding how the Chargers offense will operate. Harbaugh and Greg Roman want to run the ball, but how much will they sideline Justin Herbert to achieve that goal? A bolstered Chargers offensive line against Maxx Crosby could be the matchup of the week. Then there is the Raiders QB situation, where Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell are set for a training camp battle. Whoever wins steps into a good situation with weapons Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker, Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer. 

Denver Broncos

AT

Seattle Seahawks

• WHERE: Lumen Field (Seattle)
• WHEN: 4:05 p.m. ET | CBS

Two teams ushering in new eras kick off in Seattle. After 14 seasons under Pete Carroll, Mike Macdonald takes over a Seahawks squad that boasts talent but hasn’t been able to get over the hump the past few years. How will Ryan Grubb unleash Geno Smith to spray the ball around to DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba? Meanwhile, the Broncos open the Bo Nix era. Given how Sean Payton has talked about the former Oregon QB since the draft, it seems safe to pencil in the rookie for the Week 1 start. Nix could be the QB who jumpstarts Payton’s offense after last season’s struggles under Russell Wilson. But will he have total command in Week 1? 

Dallas Cowboys

AT

Cleveland Browns

• WHERE: Cleveland Browns Stadium (Cleveland)
• WHEN: 4:25 p.m. ET | CBS

The Cowboys’ “all-in” season starts in Cleveland against one of the top defenses in the NFL. Tom Brady, making his broadcasting debut, gets an up-close look at Myles Garrett testing a reshuffled Cowboys offensive line as he chases after Dak Prescott. How will the Cowboys backfield shake out with Ezekiel Elliott in the lead? Meanwhile, Deshaun Watson returns from a season-ending injury in a pivotal season for his future in Cleveland. The Browns upgraded the weapons around Watson by adding Jerry Jeudy. In the opener, the quarterback must avoid getting wrecked by Defensive Player of the Year favorite Micah Parsons. Having Garrett and Parsons on the same field on a Sunday afternoon is a defensive lover’s dream. 

Washington Commanders

AT

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• WHERE: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Fla.)
• WHEN: 4:25 p.m. ET | FOX

The Jayden Daniels era in Washington starts against the NFC South champions. Todd Bowles’ defense has been known to befuddle young quarterbacks. If the reworked Washington O-line struggles, Daniels’ first game in the NFL could involve him scrambling to save plays. How Daniels looks in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense will be one to monitor through training camp and up to Week 1. The Bucs kept most of their core together, including the key pieces on offense, with Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans re-signing. Was Mayfield’s improved play last season an aberration or a sign that it finally clicked for the former No. 1 overall pick? The Bucs are betting on the latter. He’ll face a Dan Quinn defense that imported an interesting conglomeration of veteran and young talent this offseason. 

Los Angeles Rams

AT

Detroit Lions

• WHERE: Ford Field (Detroit)
• WHEN: 8:20 p.m. ET | NBC

A rematch of an epic wild-card game, Matthew Stafford heads back to Detroit as the lesser-paid quarterback this time around. The most interesting matchup in the SNF opener is the Rams’ weaponry, with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua leading the way, against a revamped Lions secondary that includes first-round pick Terrion Arnold. Nacua had his way with Detroit in the WC meeting. Will he torch Aaron Glenn’s D again, or will the rebuilt unit be more forceful this time? The Lions paid Jared Goff like a top-tier signal-caller this offseason. He’ll have to prove his worth again in 2024 against a Rams D that no longer has Aaron Donald but imported two rookies with upside to an already interesting, young defensive front. The biggest question for the Lions offense in Week 1 is whether Jameson Williams will finally take a step forward as the No. 2 or will always be a supplementary player. 

New York Jets

AT

San Francisco 49ers

• WHERE: Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, Calif.)
• WHEN: 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN/ABC, NFL+

Aaron Rodgers returns to prime time after missing all but four snaps in 2023. It’s apropos that his comeback begins in the Bay Area, where he played college ball at Cal and against the team that passed him in the draft eons ago. Rodgers slinging it to Garrett Wilson, Mike Williams (when healthy) and rookie Malachi Corley has the potential to be the best Jets passing offense we’ve seen in years. The Jets’ roster improved on paper from a year ago but gets a stiff test out of the gate. Nick Bosa against the aging tackles Gang Green brought in could tell plenty about how the Jets’ season will go. The 49ers boast as much weaponry as any offense in the NFL, with ever-steady Brock Purdy dishing it to Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, and first-round pick Ricky Pearsall. That crew makes life difficult for any defense, even a stout unit coached by Robert Saleh, who returns to San Francisco, where he served as defensive coordinator for four seasons under Kyle Shanahan.