Highlighting NFC North blockbuster games of 2024 season

The NFL released its complete schedule for the 2024 season on Wednesday. Here is the blockbuster game and another intriguing matchup for every team in the NFC North:

Chicago Bears | Complete schedule

BLOCKBUSTER | at Houston Texans, Sept. 15: Last season, rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, selected No. 2 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, helped the Texans come out of nowhere, rebounding from a 3-13-1 mark the previous year to AFC South champions. The Bears want to follow a similar blueprint, with Caleb Williams now leading the charge.

Stroud earned Rookie of the Year honors playing with an experienced tight end in Dalton Schultz, a second-year receiver in Nico Collins and rookie wideout Tank Dell. For the Bears, facing the budding superstar and the restocked Texans early in the season puts them in a unique position to find out if surrounding Williams with WR D.J. Moore, TE Cole Kmet, and offseason additions WR Keenan Allen, RB D'Andre Swift and rookie receiver Rome Odunze can jumpstart the ex-USC star's transition to the NFL. 

ALSO INTRIGUING | vs. Carolina Panthers, Oct. 6: With the Panthers coming off a miserable 2-15 season, the Week 5 matchup isn't that attractive on paper. However, this year's No. 1 pick, Williams, facing off against last year's first overall selection, Bryce Young, adds an extra layer of appeal. 

Likewise, with a victory, Williams can accomplish a unique feat. Since 2000, quarterbacks have gone No. 1 in the draft back-to-back years 11 times. But only one rookie, the Arizona Cardinals' Kyler Murray, has earned a victory over the previous season's top pick. Murray helped lead the Cardinals over Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns in 2019, but RB Kenyan Drake did most of the damage, scoring four touchdowns in a 38-24 victory. 

Detroit Lions | Complete schedule 

BLOCKBUSTER | at San Francisco, Dec. 30: If there were only one game to circle on the Lions' calendar in 2024, this might be it. In Week 17, Detroit will travel to take on the reigning NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers in the first meeting between the two teams since Detroit's epic second-half collapse in last year's conference championship game. 

Last season was last season. But for the Lions, the wound is still fresh, and revenge will be on their minds, especially with the chance to do so in front of the 49ers' home crowd. If both teams are still in the hunt for the top seed in Week 17 as expected, it could be one of the most anticipated matchups of the year and an early preview of a potential rematch for the NFC title. 

ALSO INTRIGUING | vs. Bears, Nov. 28: This season marks the 85th Thanksgiving Day game in Lions history. Fittingly, they'll host the Bears, who, aside from the Green Packers (22), have been the franchise's most common opponent on the holiday since the tradition began in 1934, meeting 13 times. 

The Lions haven't won on Thanksgiving Day since 2016, losing seven straight, including three losses to the Bears (2018, 2019 and 2021). This November, a new-look Bears team will come to town looking to keep the losing streak going, with this year's No. 1 pick leading a fleet of offensive weapons backed by an improved defense. 

Green Bay Packers | Complete schedule 

BLOCKBUSTER | vs. Lions, Nov. 3: The Packers emerged as contenders in the NFC North, splitting the season series (1-1) with the eventual division champion Lions in 2023. This year, the first meeting between the two long-time rivals could be extremely pivotal, coming in Week 9. 

Both teams should be established by the point in the season, adding extra importance to the matchup's result, which could go a long way toward deciding the division's champion. Likewise, it could be a tone-setter for the Packers. Following their meeting with the Lions, Green Bay will go on its bye week before embarking on the backend of its schedule, which includes four games against divisional opponents and a matchup with the reigning conference champion 49ers, who defeated them in the NFC divisional round of the playoffs last season. 

ALSO INTRIGUING | vs. Bears, Week 18 (TBD): The Lions enter the season as the favorite to repeat as division champs. However, all four teams, including the Packers and the rejuvenated Bears, have a realistic argument for being a postseason team. 

After a surprising run to the divisional round following a 9-8 finish, the 2024 forecast for the Packers depends on who you ask. While it's possible and potentially a given that the team takes another positive step forward in 2024, it's just as reasonable to believe that Jordan Love and company might face a slight regression. Regardless, the North is likely to be highly contested throughout the year, meaning the season finale between the Packers and Bears might be for a playoff berth. 

Minnesota Vikings | Complete schedule 

BLOCKBUSTER | vs. San Francisco, Sept. 15: The Vikings won't be the favorite in their home opener against the 49ers in Week 2. However, out of the four teams in the NFC North, Minnesota might be the most overlooked of the bunch. Meanwhile, the last time they took on San Francisco, Minnesota came out on top in Week 7 of last season, 22-17. 

The Vikings, sans Kirk Cousins, are a different team. However, with rookie J.J. McCarthy possible to be tapped as the starter, he would have an extraordinary opportunity to make an early mark in his first game in front of Vikings fans by downing the reigning NFC champions.

ALSO INTRIGUING | vs. Falcons, Dec. 8: Kirk Cousins and his former team allegedly have no sour feelings after parting ways following the 2023 season. However, there's no debate that the Vikings' Week 14 matchup against his new team, the Atlanta Falcons, will come with its fair share of intrigue. 

The Vikings clearly wanted a clean slate at QB and balked at Cousins' asking price, choosing instead to select their signal-caller of the future, ex-Michigan standout McCarthy. Cousins' motivation should be clear, but if Minnesota wins, it'll be more evidence that they made the right choice in moving on.