Just about every major tentpole on the NFL calendar follows a certain cycle. Fans already know when the 2024 season will begin, when Super Bowl 59 will be played, and even when the 2025 NFL Draft will be held.
One exception is the NFL’s annual schedule release. It takes time for the league to determine the ins and outs of each team’s schedule, so a date for the actual reveal isn’t set until late in the process.
Nevertheless, the schedule release has become a football holiday of sorts in recent years. As the NFL grows in popularity, fans are increasingly excited to learn where and when their teams will be playing. The 2024 NFL schedule will reveal which games will get the prime-time treatment and which matchups will start the season in Week 1.
Here’s what you need to know about when the 2024 NFL schedule will be released.
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NFL schedule release 2024
- Date: TBD
- Time: TBD
- TV channel: NFL Network, ESPN2
The NFL has not yet announced a date for the 2024 schedule release, but fortunately, the last handful of years might give us an idea of when to expect the reveal.
The 2023 NFL schedule was released on Thursday, May 11, while the 2022 schedule was released on Thursday, May 12. That means May 9 or May 16 appear to be the most likely target dates this year’s release.
The league didn’t announce last year’s May 11 release date until May 8, so it could take time until the NFL confirms the exact day.
The schedule release is expected to be broadcast on NFL Network and ESPN2, as it was last year.
Who has the hardest NFL schedule in 2024?
The schedule release will tell fans where and when their team will be playing in 2024, but teams already know their opponents for the upcoming season. That’s better news for some teams than others.
Based strictly on 2023 winning percentage, the Browns have the NFL’s hardest schedule in 2024. Cleveland’s opponents had a combined .547 winning percentage last season, buoyed by the success of AFC North rivals in Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati. The Browns also have the Chiefs, Cowboys, and Dolphins on their schedule in 2024, though they host all three.
With the Steelers’ quarterback situation potentially more stable and Joe Burrow returning for Cincinnati, the path forward for the Browns may be even more difficult than that .547 mark indicates.
Here’s a complete look at the Browns’ home and away opponents in 2024.
Home Away Bengals Bengals Chargers Broncos Chiefs Commanders Cowboys Eagles Dolphins Jaguars Giants Raiders Ravens Ravens Steelers Saints Steelers
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Who has the easiest NFL schedule in 2024?
Based on 2023 winning percentage, the Falcons and Saints share the easiest 2024 schedule. Atlanta and New Orleans both face opponents who had a combined .453 winning percentage in 2023, aided by the reality of a weak NFC South.
Here’s a look at the opponents the Saints and Falcons will face in 2024.
Saints
Home Away Broncos Buccaneers Browns Chargers Buccaneers Chiefs Commanders Cowboys Eagles Falcons Falcons Giants Panthers Packers Raiders Panthers Rams
Falcons
Home Away Buccaneers Broncos Chargers Buccaneers Chiefs Commanders Cowboys Eagles Giants Panthers Panthers Raiders Saints Saints Seahawks Vikings Steelers
2024 NFL strength of schedule rankings
Rank Team Opponent win pct. (2023) 1. Cleveland Browns .547 2. Baltimore Ravens .536 3. Pittsburgh Steelers .533 4. Green Bay Packers .526 Houston Texans .526 6. Buffalo Bills .516 New York Giants .516 8. Jacksonville Jaguars .512 Las Vegas Raiders .512 New England Patriots .512 11. Detroit Lions .509 12. Dallas Cowboys .505 Los Angeles Rams .505 New York Jets .505 San Francisco 49ers .505 16. Cincinnati Bengals .502 Kansas City Chiefs .502 Minnesota Vikings .502 Washington Commanders .502 20. Denver Broncos .495 21. Indianapolis Colts .491 Philadelphia Eagles .491 Tennessee Titans .491 24. Arizona Cardinals .488 Miami Dolphins .488 Seattle Seahawks .488 Los Angeles Chargers .488 28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers .478 29. Carolina Panthers .467 Chicago Bears .467 31. Atlanta Falcons .453 New Orleans Saints .453
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How is the NFL schedule determined?
If you believe your team has a difficult or easy schedule, no one is to blame. The NFL schedule makers only determine when teams play the games, not which opponents they face. That’s determined by a set of rules, and it’s why each team already knows its home and away opponents for 2024.
The NFL uses this formula to put together each team’s schedule:
2024-04-22 11:50:03
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