The NFL’s 2024 regular season schedule has finally been canceled. What was once a run-of-the-mill “event” now has all the pomp and circumstance that only this league can produce.
This year’s record 272 games includes new distribution partners, games played on unusual days of the week, debut international venues, and various other oddities including ESPN coverage. four All but one Monday Night Football doubleheader will have kickoffs shifted 45 minutes.
But a closer look at the lineup reveals clear winners and losers from the 2024 schedule, so let’s take a closer look at the winners and losers on both sides of the equation.
winner
NFL Social Media Department
The annual schedule announcement has become a de facto digital Super Bowl for those spreading the upcoming calendar on Instagram, X, TikTok and more on the club’s behalf. Common themes are the use of celebrities, pop culture, fans, and outright creativity. USA TODAY sports social media guru Jordan Mendoza lists the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots among this year’s players to watch.
NFL Stats Central: Latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
cord cutter
It’s not like the NFL hasn’t yet embraced streaming games in conjunction with major broadcast partners. But many more are available exclusively on platforms like Prime Video, Peacock, and ESPN+. Netflix also joined the party with an announcement on Wednesday that it will have Christmas packages for the next three seasons. This includes this year’s Christmas contest between the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers, followed by the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans.
caleb williams
The Chicago Bears have been out of the playoffs since 2020, but as expectations for the team skyrocket, we’ll likely see a lot of the rookie quarterback drafted No. 1 overall last month and a new-look offense. The Monster of the Midway will be included in his five exclusive broadcast slots, including Detroit on Thanksgiving. And even without Williams, they went 3-1 under right field last season.
packers and eagles
They will play the league’s first regular season game, Week 1, in South America on Friday, September 6th (Peacock). But we knew that. But this contest should be a reprieve for the two clubs, who have likely dealt with extremely humid weather in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania during training camp and the preseason. According to wunderground.com, conditions in Sao Paulo should be spring-like when the two teams play, with average temperatures in the mid-60s at that time of year.
new york jets fan
Despite what happened to Aaron Rodgers and the team last season, the league is doubling down on Gang Green’s recognition. NYJ aired seven single slots during its first 11 weeks, including the Week 5 game against the Minnesota Vikings in London. Former Jets QB Sam Darnold. The Jets’ six prime-time innings are tied for the most in the league.
taylor swift fan
Kansas City Chiefs are Eight In his quest to become the first in history to win three Super Bowls, solo dates such as Black Friday and Christmas are scheduled, giving the pop star plenty of opportunities to cheer on Travis Kelce in front of his beloved fans. KC will play every day of the week except Tuesday this season, becoming the first club to do so since the New York Yankees in 1927 (yes, there was an NFL version too). CBS clearly falls into this category, with the network scheduled to broadcast eight of his Chiefs games, at least twice as many as any of its competitors, but a rematch with San Francisco of Super Bowl 58. Then Fox scored.
loser
People who hate Taylor Swift
No, I’m sorry. However, it will be a difficult schedule for the two-time defending champions, who will open the season against teams they have defeated in the past two AFC title games (Ravens, Bengals).
Side note: The Dolphins, Saints and Colts all had to schedule home games to coincide with Swift’s “Ellas Tour” as they visit South Florida, New Orleans and Indianapolis on Sunday.
I hate the Jets
No, I’m sorry. But New York’s overexposure worked in his favor in 2023.
jets players
They have been trying to fly around the world with little routine for more than two months amid massive expectations and with coach Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas hoping to save their jobs. There is. The Jets will start with two roadies and will play the 49ers on Monday night in Week 1 before traveling to Nashville to visit the Tennessee Titans. butsurviving that gauntlet and the Jets emerging from a Week 12 bye with five Sunday 1pm ET kickoffs in December – circadian stability should be the most important point of the regular season.
NBA
The association, once a major provider of professional sports on Christmas Day, is now permanently on the back burner after the NFL reversed course from last year’s stated stance and opted to play games on Dec. 25 this year. Looks like he’s sitting on the seat. .. Wednesday.
ravens
For the second year in a row, they will be sent to Houston to play the Texans and won’t be home for Christmas. But that might not be so bad considering the eventual AFC North champions dominated the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara on Christmas night last year.
cowboys
No primetime games until Week 4? Clutching my pearls.
AFC North
Last year, it became the only division in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) where every team had a winning record. This year, the Ravens, Steelers and Browns own three of the toughest schedules in the league based on their opponents’ 2023 winning percentages. Weft. Someone will be below .500 in 2024.
bryce young
Williams, the 2024 No. 1 draft pick, will be featured regularly. The same goes for Texans QB C.J. Stroud, the No. 2 pick in the 2023 draft, with Houston setting up six separate broadcast slots. Heck, Williams and Stroud are scheduled to compete on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 2. Then there’s Young, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft, and his Carolina Panthers — the only team not scheduled to play in prime time this season.
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Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on X (formerly Twitter) @NateDavis.
