With the discharge of the NFL schedule, groups, followers and gamers undoubtedly have dates circled.
There is not any doubt, for instance, the Cowboys wish to get even in opposition to a sure NFC powerhouse for his or her debacle on the highway final season. And, after all, Kirk Cousins, Aaron Jones and Derek Carr will probably be wanting to get a crack at their outdated groups.
With that in thoughts, Yardbarker’s NFL writers recognized the most important revenge video games on each NFC workforce’s schedule.
NFC East
DALLAS COWBOYS | at San Francisco (Oct. 27) | With no probability on the schedule to avenge final season’s 48-32 playoff loss to the Packers, Dallas should accept getting revenge in opposition to the 49ers, who thumped the Cowboys 42-10 at residence in Week 5 final season. In that debacle for Dallas, quarterback Dak Prescott threw three interceptions and San Francisco QB Brock Purdy tossed 4 TD passes, three to tight finish George Kittle.
NEW YORK GIANTS | vs. Philadelphia (Oct. 20) | Week 7 will probably be Giants followers’ first probability to see Saquon Barkley at MetLife Stadium for the reason that former fan favourite signed a three-year, $37.75M contract with Philadelphia. In six years as a Big, Barkley rushed for five,211 yards and 35 TDs and added 2,100 yards and 12 TDs receiving. He has since been dubbed “Snaquon Barkley” by Giants followers on social media.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | at Tampa Bay (Sept. 29) | Philadelphia rushed for simply 42 yards in a 32-9 loss to Tampa Bay in final 12 months’s playoffs, a quantity Barkley might have within the first quarter now that former Bucs linebacker Devin White is with the Eagles.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | vs. Dallas (Nov. 24) | Dallas outscored Washington 83-20 final season with defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who’s now the Commanders’ head coach. With heart Tyler Biadasz and defensive ends Dante Fowler and Dorance Armstrong — all former Cowboys — on the roster, the Commanders needs to be extremely motivated within the season’s first sport between the groups. — Bruce Ewing
NFC West
ARIZONA CARDINALS | vs. Washington (Sept. 29) | The Cardinals and Commanders don’t have anything to have revenge over at a workforce degree, however introducing Kliff Kingsbury into the equation as Washington’s new offensive coordinator brings spice to this sport. Kingsbury was Arizona’s head coach for 4 principally disappointing seasons that produced only one playoff look, one successful season and nil playoff wins.
LOS ANGELES RAMS | at Detroit (Sept. 8) | The Rams’ 2023 season ended with a playoff loss in Detroit, and now they get an opportunity to kick off the 2024 season with a revenge sport. It is usually one other alternative for Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who went 74-90-1 as a starter for the Lions, to get a crack at his former workforce.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | vs. Kansas Metropolis (Oct. 20) | The Chiefs are an enormous hurdle for head coach Kyle Shanahan, whose workforce has misplaced two Tremendous Bowls, together with final season’s matchup, to the Chiefs. The 49ers blew multiple-score leads in every sport.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | at New York Jets (Dec. 1) | Geno Smith began his NFL profession with the New York Jets, however he flamed on the market, tallying a below-average 57.9% completion proportion in 4 seasons. He has emerged as a viable beginning quarterback since, so this residence sport needs to be one other probability to actual a bit of extra revenge. With Seattle in 2022, Smith beat the Jets. — Adam Gretz
NFC North
CHICAGO BEARS | at Washington (Oct. 27) | Dealt from the Commanders to the Bears for a second-round decide forward of final 12 months’s commerce deadline, DE Montez Sweat thrived together with his new workforce, posting six sacks and 14 QB hits in 9 video games. In Week 9, he’ll make his first journey again to Washington for the reason that commerce.
DETROIT LIONS | at San Francisco (Dec. 30) | Whereas it is attainable, possibly even possible, the groups will meet within the playoffs once more, Detroit will get its first shot at revenge earlier than that in a Week 17 highway contest. After a painful 34-31 loss to the 49ers in final 12 months’s NFC Championship Sport, the Lions will probably be seeking to even the rating in a matchup that will have important postseason implications.
GREEN BAY PACKERS | vs. San Francisco (Nov. 24) | The Packers’ emergence final season got here forward of schedule, however their run might’ve been much more outstanding had they not blown a second-half lead in opposition to the 49ers within the NFC divisional spherical, falling 24-21. Whereas questioning what might’ve been might be within the rearview, Inexperienced Bay will probably be aiming to indicate the convention’s prime canine that it has arrived.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS | at Inexperienced Bay (Sept. 29) | After seven seasons with the franchise, working again Aaron Jones was let go and changed by ex-Las Vegas Raiders All-Professional Josh Jacobs this offseason. Fittingly, Jones, who rushed for the third-most yards in Packers historical past, has moved on to the rival Vikings, whom Inexperienced Bay will face twice in 2024. There is not any doubt the previous Professional Bowler has the primary date, in Week 4, circled. — Mike Santa Barbara
NFC South
ATLANTA FALCONS | at Minnesota (Dec. 8) | After six seasons with the Vikings, QB Kirk Cousins parted methods with the group this offseason. He returns to Minnesota in Week 14, maybe to face his successor with the Vikings, rookie first-round decide J.J. McCarthy.
CAROLINA PANTHERS | at Chicago (Oct. 6) | The Bears might have drafted QB Bryce Younger in 2023 however traded the primary general decide within the draft to Carolina for a hefty sum. Chicago made the fitting name, however Younger, who had a below-average 59.8 completion proportion as a rookie in 2023, can get a measure of revenge on the highway in opposition to the workforce that handed on the possibility to draft him.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | vs. Las Vegas (Dec. 29) | Derek Carr’s nine-year profession with the Raiders got here to an unceremonious end in 2023 when the workforce despatched him residence with two weeks remaining within the common season. Las Vegas’ Week 17 journey to New Orleans will probably be Carr’s first in opposition to his former workforce, whom he quarterbacked to a 63-79 file as a starter.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | at Detroit (Sept. 15) | Tampa Bay’s 2023 season resulted in Detroit, and it returns to the scene of the crime in Week 2. Baker Mayfield completed 26-of-41 for 349 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions within the 31-23 loss and can problem a younger, proficient Lions secondary that added cornerbacks Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. within the 2024 NFL Draft. — Eric Smithling
