Ranking the top 10 Thursday Night Football games on the NFL schedule

The NFL season is just around the corner, and excitement is running high as we approach the start of the 2024 campaign. The NFL returns in just two days, kicking off with a traditional Thursday night kickoff.

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While Thursday Night Football has been a shaky affair in recent years, the NFL and Amazon Prime, which broadcasts the games, have committed to delivering high-quality games this season. With 16 Thursday Night Football games scheduled to air on Amazon Prime and one on NBC/Peacock, fans can expect a season full of intriguing matchups.

To help you navigate the upcoming season, here is a breakdown of the 10 best Thursday night games of 2024:

10. Week 7: Denver Broncos vs. New Orleans Saints

Our list opens with a Week 7 matchup between the Denver Broncos and the New Orleans Saints. This game marks the highly anticipated return of Sean Payton to New Orleans, where he coached the Saints from 2006-11 and 2013-21. Payton is in his second season as the Broncos’ head coach, leading a team that includes rookie quarterback Bo Nix. While the Saints aren’t expected to be the top team in the NFC this season, the storyline of Payton’s return to the Big Easy is compelling enough to place this game in the top 10.

9. Week 8: Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Rams

The Minnesota Vikings will travel to Los Angeles to face the Rams. The Rams surprised many with their performance last season and will look to take another step forward in 2024. On the other hand, the Vikings will rely on the experience of veteran quarterback Sam Darnold as rookie JJ McCarthy recovers from knee surgery. This game will also give us a taste of how the young Rams defense is adjusting without Aaron Donald, making it a must-win game.

8. Week 13: Las Vegas Raiders vs. Kansas City Chiefs

The Week 13 clash between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs promises to be an exciting division clash. While the game technically won’t be played on Thursday night — it will be played on Friday afternoon, the day after Thanksgiving — it will still air on Amazon Prime. The Chiefs, led by Patrick Mahomes, are gunning for their ninth consecutive division title and are favorites to win the Super Bowl once again. However, the Raiders upset the Chiefs on the road last Christmas and will look to do so again.

7. Week 4: Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants

Week 4 brings us a classic NFC East rivalry as the Dallas Cowboys take on the New York Giants. These two teams are no strangers to primetime games against each other. Fans will get their first primetime look at Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers as the Cowboys look to reassert their division dominance.

6. Week 16: Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals

The Week 16 matchup between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals could very well decide the AFC North title. The Browns are looking to win their first division title since 1989, while the Bengals are looking to win their first since 2022. With so much at stake, this “Battle of Ohio” will carry a lot of weight as both teams fight for a spot in the playoffs.

5. Week 14: Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions

In Week 14, the Green Bay Packers will travel to Detroit to face the Lions in a crucial NFC North clash. The Lions are the favorites to win the division, but the Packers are determined to maintain their long-standing dominance of the NFC North. The two teams split their games last season, and this game could decide the division title, making it one of the most important Thursday night games of the season.

4. Week 15: Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers

The Week 15 matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara is one of the most anticipated games of the season. The 49ers have had a dominant presence over the Rams in recent years, winning three of their last four games. However, the Rams finally won a regular-season game against the 49ers in the final game of last season at Levi’s Stadium. This game could decide the NFC West title, as the 49ers are once again the favorites to win the Super Bowl, while the Rams look to solidify their position as contenders.

3. Week 10: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens

In third place is the Week 10 matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens. These two teams have dominated the AFC North in recent years, and with Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson both healthy, this game should be a quarterback battle for the ages. Both Burrow and Jackson are perennial MVP candidates, and this game will have significant implications for the division race.

2. Week 9: Houston Texans vs. New York Jets

The Week 9 matchup between the Houston Texans and the New York Jets is a game worth watching for a few reasons. The Texans have rebuilt their offense and are looking to make an impression in the AFC, while the Jets, led by veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, are looking to be a contender from the get-go. If both teams live up to expectations, this could be a potential playoff preview, making it one of the most exciting Thursday night games of the season.

1. Week 1: Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs

At the top of our list is the game that will kick off the 2024 NFL season: Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs. This is a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship Game, which the Chiefs won 17-10. The Ravens will see the Chiefs raise their championship banner and will look to exact revenge as they embark on their own quest for a Super Bowl title. This game sets the tone for the entire season and is the perfect way to kick off what promises to be an unforgettable year of football.

As we count down the days until the 2024 NFL season begins, the anticipation is palpable. With the best Thursday Night Football games on the horizon, fans have a lot to be excited about. Get ready, people—the NFL is almost here and it’s shaping up to be a season to remember.