Power ranking the 2024 Monday Night Football slate

Football season is so close that we can taste it. We're ready to lock in for primetime games throughout the fall and winter.

As the start of the 2024 season is right around the corner, we thought it would be sensible to rank every Monday Night Football game from worst to best. Let us know if you disagree with our rankings!

This matchup was originally supposed to feature two rookie quarterbacks squaring off against one another, but things have changed. J.J. McCarthy suffered a season-ending injury, and neither the Bears or Vikings figures to contend significantly in 2024. Sports Illustrated noted that the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers are the favorites to win the NFC North.

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NFL fans will have a chance to see Jayden Daniels in primetime early in his career, but this matchup doesn’t look like a fair fight on paper. The NFL’s website believes that Daniels, like most rookie quarterbacks, will have growing pains. The only issue is that these will be front and center for the world to see. There are better games to lock in for than this one.

Sean Payton is desperately hoping that rookie quarterback Bo Nix can become his long term answer at the position. By Week 13, Payton and NFL fans may have a better understanding of whether that’s possible. CBS Sports wrote a “buyer beware” piece about Nix, so the jury is out as to whether he will be effective.

The Steelers and Giants were two of the least exciting offenses in the NFL a year ago. Of course, Pittsburgh is hoping to change that with the additions of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. New York is hoping that Malik Nabers can give their passing game a jolt. Still, it feels like there are too many uncertainties here to get too high on this tilt.

This game is the second of a Monday Night doubleheader in Week 7, and it might be advisable to go to bed early that evening. The Chargers lost a lot of talent on offensive during the offseason, and Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray has had trouble staying on the field. The main reason to stay up and watch might be rookie wideout Marvin Harrison Jr.

NOLA’s website has written about the Saints’ struggles away from the Louisiana Superdome, and it’s fair to say that a night game at Lambeau Field in December will test their resolve. The elements might be too much to overcome for the indoors-inclined Saints, which might give Green Bay an easy victory.

This matchup was expected to disappoint when these teams faced off on Monday Night Football last December. Instead, the Titans rallied back from 27-13 down with 4:34 left, to come away with the improbable victory. Tennessee’s NFL website broke down the crazy ending in detail. It’s unlikely that the rematch will end in such dramatic fashion, but you never know.

Derek Carr is no stranger to playing against the Chiefs, having spent nine years playing for the Raiders franchise. StatMuse tabulated that he is only 3-14 against them in his career, and he might not have much better luck with New Orleans. The Saints may have to get creative with their game plan in order to hang in against the defending champions.

This game will be billed as “The Harbaugh Bowl”, with brothers John and Jim squaring off in primetime. Essentially Sports writes that Jim hopes that he can get the better of John to somewhat avenge his loss in the Super Bowl in 2013. However, Los Angeles is a rebuilding franchise, and may have a tough time stopping the high-powered Ravens.

Las Vegas decided to bring interim head coach Antonio Pierce back, who wrote an open letter to the fan base in February, according to The Athletic. He brings all of the enthusiasm and passion supporters will want to see, but time will tell whether or not he can bring the franchise back to respectability. This tilt might be way more important for Atlanta than Las Vegas.

Speaking of Atlanta, the NFL schedule makers decided to give the potentially exciting Falcons two Monday night games. Kirk Cousins is coming off a torn Achilles, and might not be fully healthy early in the year. That could be a tough challenge against the Eagles, who added to their team by bringing in running back Saquon Barkley.

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The Jaguars are a hard team to figure. Stories were written last year about their potential ascendance in the AFC, only for them to collapse down the stretch and miss the playoffs entirely. Jacksonville does catch a break on the schedule, as they’ll visit Buffalo in September when the weather should be pleasant.

NFL fans won’t forget that the last time these two teams played on Monday Night Football, Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles. The league and the Jets are hoping for better injury luck in 2024, but the interest level in this game will be squarely placed on whether Rodgers can participate. For what it was worth, the Jets still beat the Bills in the aforementioned contest.

Sports Illustrated tried to summarize how Seattle’s transition from Pete Carroll to Mike McDonald at head coach might affect the team. The Seahawks get a legitimate early-season test on the road at Detroit. The Seahawks have the talent to keep this game interesting, but their mindset and preparation heading into this one will reflect on McDonald’s approach.

This matchup features two teams that made notable runs in the NFL playoffs a year ago. The last time these two teams played was back in 2022, when the Ravens edged Tampa Bay out for a 27-22 victory. Instead of outdueling Tom Brady, Lamar Jackson will have to fend off Baker Mayfield and a similarly stout Bucs attack.

The potential for a shootout in immense in this contest, as some of the NFL’s best wide receivers will compete on the same field. Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp could all have explosive performances. Odell Beckham Jr. may also get to play against the team he won a Super Bowl with.

The Buccaneers have remained respectable since Tom Brady’s retirement, but the sentiment is that they are a good but not great team. However, that narrative might change if they’re able to go on the road and take down Patrick Mahomes and the defending Super Bowl champions. Tampa Bay’s website wrote that Baker Mayfield leads by “being one of the guys.”

There could be an awful lot at stake when Cincinnati heads to Dallas in Week 14. Both teams figure to be vying for playoff positioning down the stretch, which will make this an important battle. According to ESPN, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow figures to be ready to roll this season as he returns from a wrist injury.

Sports Illustrated wrote that the NFL is going all in on Aaron Rodgers once again in 2024, giving New York a Week 1 Monday Night game for the second straight season. It didn’t go so well for the veteran a year ago, and it’ll be fascinating to see how the 40-year-old passer fares against arguably the most ferocious pass rush in the NFL.

Yahoo Sports wrote about the evolving friendship that Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud and Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons have developed this offseason. They’ll have to put those pleasantries aside in Week 11, as they’ll be staring at one another from across the line of scrimmage. It’ll be a great test for Houston, who is one of the upstart teams in the league.

The most highly anticipated game of the Monday Night Football is the final one on the calendar. It’s a rematch of the NFC title game from a year ago, which saw Detroit give up a big lead to the 49ers. With a potential one seed at stake, it’ll be exciting to see whether the Lions have any tricks up their sleeve to bring home a win against the defending NFC champions.

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