2024 NFL Schedule: 10 Must Watch, Must Wager Games

The 2024 NFL season doesn't officially start until September. But for bookies and bettors, the NFL season starts the second the new schedule releases.

And with the 2024 NFL schedule coming out on Thursday night, sportsbooks are busy building out their power ratings and setting NFL odds on the season openers as well as every single matchup from Week 1 to Week 18.

I combed the oven-fresh schedule for my Top 10 “Must Watch, Must Wager” games of the 2024 NFL season.

10 must-watch, must-wager 2024 NFL games

Green Bay Packers vs Philadelphia Eagles (-3, 51 O/U) - Week 1 (Brazil)

The NFL heads south of the equator for a special Friday night standalone game in Week 1. The Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers will travel to Brazil and play inside Corinthians Arena on September 6. 

Not only do we get a great pairing of NFC contenders, but football bettors get to tackle all the unique angles that come with the international games. 

We’ll be looking at the playing surface, weather and humidity, and team travel (which is apparently already an issue for the Packers, who have to go full “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” to get to São Paulo).

Los Angeles Rams at Detroit Lions (-3, 51 O/U) - Week 1

The Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams are forever tethered due to the Matt Stafford-Jared Goff trade, and they gave us one hell of a Wild Card Weekend thriller last January. Los Angeles battled back from an 11-point hole (twice) only to lose 24-23.

The schedule makers pick up where we left off, slating this game for Sunday night of Week 1. Oddsmakers have the same spread on deck, with Detroit laying a field goal inside Ford Field. Under Dan Campbell, the Lions are profitable 19-8 ATS at home but couldn’t cover against L.A. in the Wild Card.

Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs (-4, 49 O/U) - Week 2

If you want to get technical, the Kansas City Chiefs feature in the most “must-see” matchups. You have the Thursday night opener versus Baltimore, another battle with Buffalo, a Super Bowl rematch with San Francisco, and an interesting encounter with Houston.

But for me, I can’t wait to see the next chapter in the Joe Burrow vs. Patrick Mahomes saga. Due to injury issues, we missed out on this showdown last New Year’s Eve with Burrow sidelined with a wrist injury.

Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals hold a 3-1 edge, winning two games against Mahomes & Co. in the regular season while the teams split their two postseason clashes. Cincinnati’s star QB is back at practice and on track to start the season. Luckily, this one is slated for Week 2, so less chance of having it spoiled again.

Washington Commanders at Arizona Cardinals (-2, 45 O/U) - Week 4

At first glance, this may not appear to be the sexiest matchup compared to the other games on this list, but some great side stories are fueling what may be a barn burner. 

First, former Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury is calling plays for the Washington Commanders and taking another young QB under his wing in Jayden Daniels. Second, Kyler Murray — Kingsbury’s former apprentice — has a shiny new target in rookie WR Marvin Harrison Jr. And third, these defenses finished 31st and 32nd in points allowed in 2023, so get ready for some fireworks.

That 45-point total seems short to me.

Kansas City Chiefs at San Francisco 49ers (-2, 49 O/U) - Week 7

It’s a Big Game rematch in Week 7.

The Chiefs are 2-point pups in the Bay Area. Kansas City has been a live dog since Mahomes took over the QB1 gig, going 11-5 SU and 12-3-1 ATS when catching points since 2018. That includes an outright win as 3.5-point underdogs in Super Bowl LVIII.

Looking at regular-season meetings between the previous year’s Super Bowl teams, the reigning champs are 6-3 SU going back to 1970. That said, Kansas City is one of three Super Bowl winners that went down in the rematch, losing to Philadelphia in Week 11 last year.

Both teams should be rested and healthy heading into Week 7, with KC coming off a bye and the San Francisco 49ers playing the Thursday before.

Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys (-3, 49 O/U) - Week 11

It’s a Texas-sized showdown on Monday Night Football in Week 11. America’s Team takes on "America’s Sweethearts," as the Houston Texans have been an easy team to cheer for since C.J. Stroud stunned us all with a red-hot rookie season. 

Stroud enters Year 2 with a go-to guy in Stefon Diggs tearing up the turf. The Dallas Cowboys counter with a ball-hawking secondary and a dangerous pass rush led by Micah Parsons.

Dallas has been one of the better home bets since Dak Prescott took over under center (56% since 2018) but is just 4-7 ATS when laying a field goal or less inside Jerry’s World in that same span.

Baltimore Ravens at Los Angeles Chargers (+2, 47 O/U) - Week 12

The Harbowl is back!

We haven’t had one of these since November 2015. According to the scoreboard, John Harbaugh holds a 3-0 lead over Jim, including a victory over his brother in Super Bowl XLVII.

The NFL put this brotherly battle under the prime-time lights with a Monday Night Football slot in Week 12. Early odds (Baltimore Ravens -2) call for a close contest and it should make for some awkward moments around the Harbaugh dinner table come Thanksgiving the following week.

Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings (+1, 45 O/U) – Week 14

The Atlanta Falcons have been on the cusp of contention in recent years, building a solid roster on both sides of the ball but coming up short at the most important position: quarterback. Enter Kirk Cousins, who signed a whale of a deal to move from Minnesota to the ATL this offseason.

Cousins will don his crispest short-sleeve button-up when he heads back to his old stomping grounds in Week 14 to face his former team. The Minnesota Vikings could have either Sam Darnold or rookie QB J.J. McCarthy under center, which is why they’re short home dogs.

San Francisco 49ers at Miami Dolphins (+1, 49 O/U) – Week 16

Much like the Chiefs, the 49ers find themselves in many marquee matchups in 2024, including a “Master vs. Pupil” meeting between Kyle Shanahan and Mike McDaniel. 

San Francisco has faced its former offensive coordinator before. In fact, the last time the Miami Dolphins and 49ers mixed it up, a rookie QB stepped in for the injured starter and led the Niners to a 33-17 victory. So, in a way, McDaniel gave life to the legend of Brock Purdy.

San Francisco is a short road favorite — owning a 21-9 SU record as road chalk under Shanahan — and has extra time to prep for McDaniel’s schemes, as it plays on Thursday the week before.

Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers (-4.5, 49.5 O/U) – Week 17

These clubs clashed in the NFC Championship this past winter, with the 49ers fighting back from a 24-7 halftime hole to win 34-31. You just know Dan Campbell is foaming at the mouth for another shot at San Francisco.

This Week 17 clash will likely carry considerable weight in the NFC playoff picture, which is why it received the final Monday Night Football showcase of the season. 

Detroit is getting +4.5 on the road and has been one of the most profitable pup plays since Campbell took over, going 22-10 ATS as an underdog. That record includes covering the +7.5 in that crazy NFC title game.

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