Josh Allen and the Bills start off with the Arizona Cardinals but quickly hit a gauntlet of playoff-caliber teams for five straight games. Buffalo can’t afford to slip up in the middle of the season because last year’s Super Bowl teams plus two more playoff teams await in November and December.
Dak Prescott and the Cowboys have nine games against playoff teams from last season, which includes the San Francisco 49ers. Dallas also faces postseason-caliber squads in the Atlanta Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals, and New Orleans Saints.
Jalen Hurts and the Eagles have a season-long gauntlet minus games with the New York Giants, Washington Commanders, and Carolina Panthers. Everyone else on the schedule made the playoffs or has a squad built to make a playoff run in 2024.
If the Jaguars can come out unscathed from four playoff teams in the first four weeks, the schedule gets a little lighter for a few pockets of time. In between those pockets, the Jaguars have to face three NFC contenders plus a second date with the Houston Texans and a late-season matchup with the Aaron Rodgers-led New York Jets.
Besides facing the Kansas City Chiefs twice, the Raiders also have another six playoff teams on the schedule. In addition, the Raiders face playoff-caliber squads in the Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals, and New Orleans Saints down the stretch.
Geno Smith and the Seahawks have six games with playoff teams by Nov. 17 plus an improved Atlanta Falcons squad. Seattle closes with another tough stretch that includes the New York Jets, Green Bay Packers, and Los Angeles Rams in the final six games.
After two favorable weeks to start the season, the Giants face six playoff-caliber teams before November. New York then takes on another six postseason-worthy squads after Nov. 10.
Other than an Oct. 6 game with the Dallas Cowboys, the Steelers don’t face another playoff team until November. The second half gets tougher with six playoff teams plus two games against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Patriots could sink or swim quickly in 2024 with the Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets, and San Francisco 49ers in the early portion of the season. If New England gets through that, the Patriots have a shot at a winning season under new head coach Jerod Mayo, but two late-season games with the Buffalo Bills could determine the end result.
Kyler Murray and the Cardinals hit a six-week gauntlet of five playoff teams right off the bat. Arizona then has another six playoff-caliber squads on the schedule in a loaded NFC West.
C.J. Stroud and the Texans could roll through the early part of their schedule minus games with the Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers. After that, Houston’s schedule gets tougher with five more playoff opponents plus the New York Jets.
Once Aaron Rodgers and the Jets get the San Francisco 49ers out of the way in Week 1, things get easier on paper until December. The Jets finish with a gauntlet in December that includes the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins twice, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Los Angeles Rams.
Sean Payton’s Broncos get four tough games out the gate including the return of Russell Wilson with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Denver has a soft stretch for October, but things get tough in November onward with the Kansas City Chiefs twice, the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, and Cincinnati Bengals.
After a tough opener with the Philadelphia Eagles, the Packers could start fast with four non-playoff teams in five weeks. Green Bay then faces eight playoff-caliber squads plus late-season rivalry games with the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears.
Jared Goff and the Lions face two familiar playoff teams right off the bat, and an Oct. 13 Dallas Cowboys game lurks close behind. Detroit then faces another six playoff-caliber teams after that stretch, and two games with divisional rival Minnesota can’t get overlooked either.
While the Buccaneers face both Super Bowl teams in November, Baker Mayfield and company have four other playoff teams on the schedule. However, the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints could pose a threat to the Buccaneers’ NFC South reign.
The Vikings get battle-tested early with five playoff teams and an Aaron Rodgers-led New York Jets squad before November. Minnesota will then play four six NFC North games in the second half of the season plus the return of Kirk Cousins with the Atlanta Falcons on Dec. 8.
Derek Carr and the Saints face five straight playoff-caliber squads before Oct. 17 before the schedule lightens up. New Orleans then has four playoff teams on the schedule after Nov. 15.
The Titans face four playoff teams plus the New York Jets before November, but Tennessee hits a soft stretch until Thanksgiving weekend. Tennessee closes out two playoff-caliber division rivals and the Cincinnati Bengals in the home stretch.
The Commanders could get into a pickle quickly with four playoff-caliber teams in the first six weeks. After that, Washington still has two games with the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles plus three other playoff-worthy squads on the slate.
The Colts start with three playoff teams in the first four games followed by another four playoff teams from Oct. 20 onward. Indianapolis also has to face the Jacksonville Jaguars twice and a New York Jets team that has Aaron Rodgers healthy again.
The Falcons have six games with playoff teams on the schedule, five of those occur before November. Atlanta could make a run with new quarterback Kirk Cousins if the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers can’t keep up in the NFC South.
The Panthers have five games against playoff teams from last season, and all of it comes in December. If Carolina can make strides in year two of quarterback Bryce Young, the Panthers could build a viable record before a season-ending gauntlet.
