If you're a casual NFL fan and only able to watch 15 games in the 2024 regular season, which ones should you mark as can't-miss matchups?
There's a case to be made that every national game is required, but there are just some tilts that stand out more than others with the most compelling storylines.
Here's the latest slate of marquee NFL matchups that make for must-see TV based on the action on the gridiron and dramatic storylines off the field.
MORE: Every team's 2024 strength of schedule
15 best matchups on the 2024 NFL schedule
Kansas City Chiefs at San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowl 58 was a classic between these two teams that the Chiefs won 25-22 in overtime. Patrick Mahomes now has the Niners' number, earning two of his three rings against them. Brock Purdy and Kyle Shanahan will be looking for some semblance of redemption at home in what could be a preview of Super Bowl 59, too.
Baltimore Ravens at Los Angeles Chargers
The First Harbaugh Bowl was an absolute classic when John's Ravens beat Jim's 49ers in Super Bowl 47. The brotherly love aside, both Harbaughs will badly want to win this big AFC matchup. Expect the sequel to be special, especially with a lot of similar philosophies and familiar personnel on either side.
Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills
Patrick Mahomes vs. Josh Allen is the modern AFC version of Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning. In their regular season head-to-head passing matchups, Allen is a solid 3-1 — good news for this game in Orchard Park. Unfortunately, after the Chiefs beat the Bills 27-24 in the AFC divisional round last January, Mahomes is 4-0 vs. Allen when the stakes are raised and everything counts a lot more in the playoffs
Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers
Lamar Jackson vs. Russell Wilson is the latest chapter in this rivalry after Joe Flacco moved on, Ben Roethlisberger retired, and Kenny Pickett didn't prove to be a worthy replacement. The fact that the Steelers signed former Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen adds more juice to what should be revved up as an elite rivalry again.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos
Russell Wilson was a bust trade for the Broncos under both offensive-minded coaches, Nathaniel Hackett and Sean Payton. He was nothing close to the Super Bowl-winning QB he was with the Seahawks. Payton was hired to connect with Wilson better after the Hackett one-and-done disaster, but that went off the rails to the point Broncos benched and released him.
The Steelers decided to make Wilson their new starter with big playoff designs in mind. You can bet Wilson will be ready to rip into Payton's defense with a revamped Pittsburgh offense.
Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings moved on from Kirk Cousins and replaced him with first-round pick J.J. McCarthy. The Falcons also drafted a first-round QB, Michael Penix Jr., to put behind Cousins, who's coming off a torn Achilles that ended his time in Minnesota. Cousins has made Atlanta the early NFC South favorite. He will be motivated to outplay and beat his young successor on a field he knows best.
Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions
The Packers won at Ford Field late last season. The Lions won at Lambeau Field early last season. While the Vikings and Bears will hope to crash the division race with their rookie QBs, these other two teams will once again be battling to return to the playoffs. Both games in this series will be a lot of fun with Jordan Love and Jared Goff leading improved offenses.
Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys
The Texans opened their franchise existence with a win over the Cowboys 22 seasons ago. Dubbed the new Governor's Cup, Houston and Dallas have split their 18 all-time meetings. C.J. Stroud's Texans are getting massive Super Bowl hype, while everyone's expecting Dak Prescott's Cowboys to let down well short of the Super Bowl. Everything's bigger in Texas when both of these teams are strong at the same time.
Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers
The NFC championship rematch is also on the docket for the 49ers. They needed a big comeback to beat the Lions 34-31 at the end of January to advance to Super Bowl 58. That has Detroit buzzing as a big-time contender to win it all for the first time in a long time. San Francisco, however, can prove that it's still the team beat in the conference.
Philadelphia Eagles at Cincinnati Bengals
The Eagles will be looking to flex into NFC supremacy again after an early playoff loss last season. Jalen Hurts and Joe Burrow each broke the bank with their second contracts to reign among the league's highest-paid quarterbacks. They also stand out as the top of an elite 2020 QB class. This should be a fun back-and-forth affair between Philly and Cincy.
Chicago Bears at Washington Commanders
For a second consecutive season, the No. 1 overall pick at QB is playing head-to-head vs. the No. 2 overall pick at QB. Somehow Bryce Young and the Panthers upset Stroud's Texans last season.
Caleb Williams vs. Jayden Daniels feels a lot more exciting this season, as it's a dazzling, big-armed, athletic Heisman-winning QB vs. a dazzling, big-armed, athletic Heisman-winning QB. There's extra intrigue given Williams is a Washington, D.C. native returning for the first NFL homecoming of his promising career.
San Francisco 49ers at Miami Dolphins
Buckle up for when Kyle Shanahan and his former offensive assistant Mike McDaniel match wits against each other with similar high-flying attacks. Brock Purdy vs. Tua Tagovailoa, plus all their loaded weapons, will make for plenty of speed, quickness, and big plays. Shanahan will try to prove he's still the master vs. the young, schematic mastermind.
Buffalo Bills at New York Jets
Aaron Rodgers didn't get a chance to play much against the Bills on Monday night in the Jets' season opener before going down with his season-ending Achilles tear. To the Jets' credit, they rallied for a 22-16 Week 1 victory minus Rodgers. Here's hoping Rodgers stays healthy all season to see what his team can do while trying to deny Josh Allen's Bills a fifth straight AFC East title.
Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles
The Cowboys and Eagles have combined to win seven of the past NFC East titles. Dallas was first in 2016, 2018, 2021, and 2023 and has posted three consecutive 12-5 seasons. Philadelphia was first in 2017, 2019, and 2022, with a Super Bowl appearance and two conference crowns to show for it.
It would be shocking if neither team won the division in 2024 after toggling for position the past three seasons. The Cowboys and Eagles figure to hold off the Commanders and Giants at least one more time, but it's a coin flip as to who will finish ahead by the slightest of margins. Dak Prescott is so far 2-1 vs. Jalen Hurts head-to-head.
Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs
Justin Herbert is getting rebooted under Jim Harbaugh, giving Andy Reid yet another championship-caliber coaching division rival to go with Sean Payton.
Getting his team to solve the Chiefs is key, given Herbert is 2-5 against them. Five of the matchups have been frustratingly close one-possession losses. Harbaugh will try to set the tone in flipping the script, a la Michigan getting over the Ohio State hump en route to a national championship.
