Power ranking: 2024's Sunday Night Football games from worst to best

Just when you think you've had enough football, the NFL gift-wraps another game before bed on Sunday. Too much of a good thing is a great thing, right?

There are few moments more anticipation-filled than SNF, but unfortunately, plenty of bad games are in the mix each year, so we've done you a favor and ranked every SNF game from worst to best!

CBS Sports wondered whether the 2023 Giants offense was the worst in NFL history. While there’s some room for optimism in New York, the loss of Saquon Barkley leaves fans skeptical about how much it can improve. At first glance, it’s hard to envision how the Giants would keep up with the Bengals on the scoreboard.

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There are a lot of questions with this game. Richardson showed prolific dual threat ability as a rookie, and Athlon Sports reported that Colts head coach Shane Steichen is “super excited” about working with Richardson again. However, Richardson only played in four games. 40-year-old Aaron Rodgers will also return to the field, although it remains uncertain as to whether he can remain healthy.

Perhaps the most interesting storyline for this game is the return of Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson to Philadelphia. Pederson spent five years as the head coach of the Eagles from 2016-2020, and won a Super Bowl during his time there. The cast of characters has almost completely changed, but Pederson may get a warm welcome.

Justin Herbert has a 2-5 career record against the Chiefs according to StatMuse, and that record may get worse during the coming season. Sports Illustrated wrote about how thin they are at wide receiver after the Keenan Allen trade and decision not to re-sign Mike Williams. Herbert is going to have to use every ounce of talent he has to keep up with Patrick Mahomes on the road.

In theory, finishing the Sunday Night Football slate with this matchup is a great idea. The Dolphins and Browns both figure to be fighting for a playoff spot at the end of December. However, Miami has not fared well in cold weather games down the stretch, so their high-powered offense could be significantly impacted by the elements in Cleveland.

This contest comes at an interesting point in time. Russell Wilson is going to start the season as the Steelers’ quarterback, but he might be benched by Week 7 if he struggles. There’s a chance that Justin Fields will be the starter by this game, and he’ll have his hands full with a loaded Jets defense.

If Packers quarterback Jordan Love can sustain the momentum he had during the playoffs a year ago, it’s possible this contest will get a lot more attention. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wrote that his playoff debut was arguably amongst the best in history. He’ll have to navigate a raucous atmosphere in Seattle in this game.

The shootout potential for this matchup is through the roof, especially if new Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is fully healthy to start the year. This could be the breakout game for players like Drake London, Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson in primetime. Sports Illustrated believes London could become an All-Pro.

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The history between these two franchises dates back to the 1970s, so older NFL fans can fully expect images of Roger Staubach and Jack Lambert throughout the telecast. On the field in 2024, it’ll be intriguing to see what strategy Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin has in mind to slow down Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.

Both of these teams have some of the most potent offensive weapons in the NFL. However, the attention for the Rams might shift to their defense, who lost future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald in the offseason. The Los Angeles Times called out that the franchise selected four defensive linemen in order to try and replace him.

The measuring stick for Caleb Williams will be out in full force right away, as he’ll have to face last year’s offensive Rookie of the Year in C.J. Stroud in Week 2. Yahoo Sports wonders whether Williams will be this year’s Stroud, and the USC rookie will have to go against a stout Houston defense to prove his worth.

The timing of this game heightens the stakes and anticipation, as both the Buccaneers and Cowboys should be battling for playoff position. It’ll be interesting to observe whether the Cowboys find a lead-running back by that time, as the New York Times commented that they appear to be leaning towards a back-by-committee system in 2024 with Zeke Elliott, Rico Dowdle and Dalvin Cook.

If it was a little later in the calendar, this game might have gone a long way in determining the NFL MVP. Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson are perennial candidates for the honor, and should put on an early-season show. Buffalo traded star wide receiver Stefon Diggs this offseason, so fans will be curious to watch who might step up in his absence.

The Cowboys faced the 49ers on the road on Sunday Night Football in 2023, and it didn’t go particular well. Dallas was trounced 42-10, and is looking to make amends for their lackluster primetime performance of a year ago. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott threw three interceptions in a tilt he would like to forget.

Playing on the West Coast, the 49ers rarely have to battle extreme weather conditions during their games. That might change in Week 13, in a road contest against Buffalo. San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan will have to consider adjusting the game plan to account for the environment in Orchard Park.

NFL fans might never have guessed that this matchup would be selected for Sunday Night Football, let alone be one of the most attractive games on the schedule. The Texans and Lions feature some of the most talented players in the NFL, and both franchises are coming off surprising campaigns.

The Sunday Night Football slate starts with a rematch of a thrilling NFC playoff game. Yahoo Sports wrote about how Lions fans booed longtime quarterback Matthew Stafford during his return to the city last January. However, the reception might be a little kinder in a regular season game, considering Detroit knocked Los Angeles out of the playoffs last year.

Texans-Chiefs will be a huge treat for NFL fans. SB Nation wrote about Houston’s ascension from purgatory last January, and the fan base has even more reason to be excited after a strong offseason. The Chiefs have been dominant at home during the playoffs, and this game might go a long way towards securing that advantage for them in 2024-2025.

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