The 2024 NFL schedule will officially release one week from today on Wednesday, May 15. There’ll be a whopping nine playoff rematches, including both conference title games and the Super Bowl. I’m of course looking forward to all of them, but this is how I rank the 2024 postseason rematches.
9. Buccaneers vs. Lions
Detroit separated in the fourth quarter, but the Bucs-Lions matchup was a good one with a trip to the NFC title game on the line. The revamped cornerback group for the Lions includes former Buc Carlton Davis, who was acquired in a trade this offseason, and it’ll be a good test facing Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
8. Eagles vs. Buccaneers
Interestingly, safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson is back with the Eagles after a year with the Lions—which included him talking trash to Baker Mayfield—a storyline to watch for Eagles-Bucs. Both of Jalen Hurts’ NFC playoff losses came at Tampa Bay, which is another undercurrent to the game. Furthermore, this will be the return of linebacker Devin White, who was a key member of the Bucs’ Super Bowl LV squad.
7. 49ers vs. Packers
The Packers played the 49ers incredibly tough, with San Francisco needing a ten-point fourth-quarter comeback at home to advance to the NFC Championship. Ultimately, Packers quarterback Jordan Love struggled a bit and threw two interceptions—including an attempt across his body and across the field—so he’ll be seeking some redemption in the rematch this regular season.
6. Ravens vs. Texans
Perhaps the Texans weren’t quite ready for primetime while facing the top-seeded Ravens in Baltimore, but expectations are now very high for Houston after trading for All-Pro receiver Stefon Diggs from Buffalo among their spring additions. Plus, this matchup comes at home for the Texans, and they played the Ravens tougher than the 25-9 score indicated in C.J. Stroud’s NFL debut in Week 1 last year.
5. Rams vs. Lions
The Lions held on in a Wild Card Round thriller versus the Rams last season, and Matthew Stafford will return to Detroit again at some point this fall or early winter. Both squads should be legitimate threats to make a run to Super Bowl LIX, and both playoff seeding and more could be at stake with the Rams and Lions playing in appear to be strong divisions in the NFC West and NFC North.
4. Lions vs. 49ers
Playoff seeding could certainly come into play here, too, with a rematch of the NFC Championship Game again coming at Levi’s Stadium. While the 49ers are the somewhat heavy favorites to win the NFC at +250, the Lions are behind only them (though at a somewhat distant +600) and might be better equipped for the matchup this time around with their defensive additions.
3. Ravens vs. Chiefs
A rematch of the AFC title game features two of the most exciting talents in football in Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes, but now superstar running back Derrick Henry joins the fray after success versus Kansas City throughout his career with the Titans. The past three regular season matchups between the AFC powers (2019, 2020, 2021) have all come in September, so it’ll be interesting to see where the schedule-makers put it this year.
2. Chiefs vs. Bills
Buffalo beat Kansas City at Arrowhead last regular season before losing at home in the postseason in an end-of-game that included a dropped deep ball by Stefon Diggs and a missed field goal by Tyler Bass. Arguably the game’s best two quarterbacks being on the field for this one typically helps lead to tight matchups, even when there are changes to the rosters around Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes.
1. Chiefs vs. 49ers
Finally, it’s tough to top a Super Bowl rematch among best games to look forward to in 2024. This won’t be the season opener given that it will be played on the road for the defending champs, but this certainly profiles as a headlining type of matchup—expect a time slot like how Ravens-Niners was played on Christmas Night in 2023. I’m envisioning the Super Bowl LVIII rematch coming on Thanksgiving Night or on Christmas, when there are the most viewers.