New York Jets vs San Francisco 49ers, Week 1

Aaron Rodgers’ Jets debut lasted just four games in 2023, as he missed the rest of the season after tearing his Achilles tendon on the team’s opening drive. Schedule makers are throwing him into the fire in Week 1, almost as if they were personally challenging Rodgers to prove right away that he still has it.

New York will face not only the reigning NFC champions, but a physical defense as well as one of Rodgers’ personal foes, the 49ers, a team that regularly knocked him out of the playoffs during his time with the Packers. San Francisco, meanwhile, will try to prove that its own offseason drama – namely players wanting new contracts – won’t stand in the way of it finally getting over the hump.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Denver Broncos, Week 2

Let’s face it, we all love revenge, and that’s why everyone will be watching this game. Will the Steelers be good? Well, they’ll probably win 10 games and nobody will be thrilled. Will the Broncos be good? There’s probably a reason new quarterback Bo Nix wanted to spend so many years in college. But this game is must-see TV because it’s a chance for Pittsburgh quarterback Russell Wilson to get revenge on Denver coach Sean Payton, who unceremoniously benched Wilson in Denver last season.

The Broncos parted ways with Wilson in the offseason, giving up tens of millions of dollars to clear the salary cap. They basically paid him to leave. If Wilson was ever motivated to put on a truly throwback performance, it would be for this game.

Buffalo Bills vs Houston Texans, Week 5

More revenge! The Bills traded receiver Stefon Diggs this summer despite him posting four straight 1,000+ receiving yards seasons in Buffalo. Diggs wears his emotions on his sleeve, and it would be surprising if he hid his disdain for his former franchise.

In addition, this is also a great quarterback matchup. Buffalo’s Josh Allen will face off against rising superstar CJ Stroud, who made a splash last year and is already entering the “elite” conversation now in his second season.

Kansas City Chiefs vs San Francisco 49ers, Week 7

A Super Bowl rematch! The Chiefs are the bogeyman of everyone in the NFL, but especially the 49ers, who have lost to Patrick Mahomes and Co. in the Super Bowl twice in the last five years. A regular season win won’t make up for San Francisco’s two championship losses, but it would sure be nice for them to know they could beat Kansas City for the first time since 2014.

Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers, Week 11

Caleb Williams, the Bears’ first draft pick and new quarterback, will be heading to Lambeau Field for the first time and has a chance to make a statement early in his career. Not only did the Packers get another quarterback prospect in Love after Rodgers left, who may be a generational talent, but it came while the Bears – supposedly a worthy rival – continued to struggle at the position.

Justin Fields has shown promise, but Williams is even more exciting. And we should root for Williams to be good, if only to bring some bite back to the Bears-Packers games. Green Bay has dominated this top-tier matchup for too long. Williams is the league’s best chance to reignite the competition between these historic franchises.

Bills vs. Chiefs, Week 11

Remember when we said the Chiefs were everyone’s bogeyman? That applies to no one more than the Bills, who have lost to Kansas City in three of the last four postseasons. Buffalo has come close to knocking off the Chiefs several times, but never quite managed to do so.

Will this game be another taste of the playoffs? It’s not just about looking forward, though, because even without all the baggage of the postseason, Mahomes vs. Allen is the best quarterback rivalry in the game today.

Baltimore Ravens at Los Angeles Chargers, Week 12

Sometimes you just have to tip your hat to the game plan makers, and that’s exactly what we have here. This is a coaching duel between brothers John and Jim Harbaugh – their first since February 2013, when they were on opposite sidelines in a little game called Super Bowl XLVII – and it comes three days before Thanksgiving.

John of the Ravens still has the upper hand in the sibling rivalry thanks to his victory in the aforementioned Super Bowl. Jim now has a new team in Los Angeles and a new quarterback in the talented Justin Herbert, who needs a coach to help him reach his potential. This game isn’t just about who gets to pull the turkey first; it should also show whether the Chargers will become a threat in the AFC.

Ravens vs. Texans, Week 17

Speaking of the Ravens trying to keep AFC challengers at bay, they’ll do so again a few weeks later against the Texans. This is another playoff rematch that will serve as a measuring stick for Stroud and Houston. The Texans lost 34-10 in the Divisional Round at Baltimore last season. If they want to prove how far they’ve come, and if Stroud wants to firmly place himself on the list of the best quarterbacks, then he and the Texans need to win this game.

Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers, Week 17

This is a rematch of arguably the best playoff game of last season, but perhaps the most dramatic game of the season overall. The Lions came close to beating the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game in San Francisco, but lost 34-31 after blowing a 24-7 lead. Detroit went 1-3 on fourth down attempts, giving fans an offseason full of “what ifs?” This late in the season, we’ll know for sure if the Lions have recovered from that devastating loss. And if so, can they beat the 49ers while sticking to their aggressive style of play?