The 2024 NFL schedule release is nearly here as fanbases across the country and world will at long last know when their respective teams will play each of their opponents this upcoming season. What are some of the biggest storylines to watch ahead of the schedule’s release?
What To Watch for Ahead of the NFL Schedule Release
The NFL schedule release date has been up in the air for some time, but it was finally solidified when Sports Business Journal’s Ben Fischer reported that the schedule will come out at 8 p.m. ET on May 15, per a memo sent out to teams.
The release date is a bit later than teams expected, as the previously anticipated date was Thursday, May 9, 2024. A reason for the delay was not mentioned in the memo, according to Fischer.
The date will also make this the latest schedule release since 1990, according to CBS Sports.
Let’s take a look at some key aspects of the release.
Weeks of All 32 Teams’ Games Will Be Set
The most important aspect of the schedule release is that it will finally set which weeks teams will play one another. All 32 teams’ home and away opponents for the 2024 season have been known for some time but not the order in which they will play them, tentative game times, or where their bye week will fall within the schedule.
All of those key details will finally be made public with the schedule release and allow fans to begin making plans around games ahead of the season.
Details Finalized for International Games
Five games will be held internationally once again this NFL season, with three scheduled to be played in London, one in São Paulo (a first-time host city), and another in Munich, Germany.
Some details for these games are already known. The Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles will play the game in São Paulo, the Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Minnesota Vikings will each serve as designated home teams for the London games, and the Carolina Panthers will be the home team for the game in Munich.
MORE: Eagles and Packers Set To Square Off in Brazil Week 1
Those latter four teams’ foes for their games have not yet been officially released; however, it’s expected that the Jaguars will play back-to-back games in London for a second consecutive season and serve as the designated road team for one of those contests, according to the Florida Times Union.
The São Paulo game is also set for Week 1, but it’s unclear specifically in which weeks the other contests will fall on the docket.
Those details will be made official with the schedule’s release.
Where Will the Top Matchups Fall on Schedule?
The schedule release will also finally solidify when some of the season’s most anticipated games will be played.
One of the big ticket items in that regard will be a rematch of Super Bowl 58 as the San Francisco 49ers are set to host the Kansas City Chiefs after Kansas City won its second straight Super Bowl over San Francisco back in February in a 25-22 overtime contest. The rematch should certainly draw plenty of interest with both teams expected to be contenders once again in 2024.
Kansas City will also likely play host to the NFL’s first game of the season on Thursday Night Football as the defending Super Bowl champion. Three potentially juicy opponents for that contest could be an AFC Championship game rematch with the Baltimore Ravens, a clash with the Joe Burrow-led Cincinnati Bengals, or a battle with the resurgent Houston Texans.
MORE: NFL Schedule Predictions
Another significant piece of the schedule will be if any teams end up having two short-week games after a new rule was approved allowing the practice back in March of 2023. The NFL is set to play two games on Christmas, with those four teams expected to play the Saturday before the holiday as well, which could mean one or more of them get stuck with another short week elsewhere in the season for scheduling purposes.
Those are just a few of the big games to look out for on schedule release day.
Which Team Puts Out the Best Schedule Release Video?
Finally, social media teams across the league will continue their annual tradition of duking it out to see who can put together the best schedule release videos.
The Los Angeles Chargers’ social media team has stolen the show over the last few years with anime-themed releases taking jabs at their various opponents, including shots at Zach Wilson, the Lions having multiple players suspended due to gambling, and many more league-wide references.
should we REALLY make our schedule release video an anime AGAIN?
yes yes yesyes
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yes yes yesyes pic.twitter.com/z7qyNGyWHp— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) May 12, 2023
Others like the Tennessee Titans asked random people on the street to guess their opponents’ team names based on their logos, which garnered some hilarious responses.
Time will tell what creative ideas teams come up with this year.