The NFL‘s quest for global dominance will continue in 2024.
On Wednesday morning, the league revealed the full details for next season’s five international games. The announcement arrived hours before the 8 p.m. ET official NFL schedule release.
Ranking NFL International Games From Best to Worst
Packers vs. Eagles | Week 1, Brazil
On paper, this easily is the most intriguing matchup. That we’ll be treated to it on a Friday night — a day after the season opener — is a bonus.
Are Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers for real, or was last season’s playoff run a fluke? Can the Philadelphia Eagles recover after last season’s collapse, or were they overrated all along? This game is loaded with talent and storylines.
Vikings vs. Jets | Week 5, London
This is a high-ceiling, low-floor matchup. Real boom-or-bust stuff.
If Aaron Rodgers is healthy for New York, and rookie J.J. McCarthy is established as the starting quarterback in Minnesota, this could be a great game. But it wouldn’t take much for this matchup to feature Tyrod Taylor and Sam Darnold, which would be a bummer.
Regardless, there will be some great players on the field.
The 2024 International Schedule is set! 🏈🗺️@NFLBrasil | @NFLUKIRE | @NFLDeutschland
📺: NFL Schedule Release — Tonight 8pm ET on NFLN/ESPN2
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/HMwi7SLZ8h— NFL (@NFL)
Bears vs. Jaguars | Week 6, London
This game should pit two of the best quarterback prospects of the last decade — Caleb Williams and Trevor Lawrence — against each other. Furthermore, Chicago and Jacksonville both have impressive rosters and should be competitive in their respective conferences.
Fans in London could be treated to a ton of points.
Patriots vs. Jaguars | Week 7, London
We know the deal with Lawrence. So, this is all about rookie quarterback Drake Maye.
Will he have earned New England’s starting QB job by this point, or will Maye still be backing up Jacoby Brissett? If Maye’s on the field, this game will be rich in raw quarterbacking talent. The Patriots also might be sneaky-competitive if their young, rebuilding offense outperforms expectations.
Giants vs. Panthers | Week 10, Germany
Rotten luck for NFL fans in Germany. Last year, they were treated to a total snoozefest between the Patriots and Indianapolis Colts. This year, they get Carolina and New York — two of the NFC’s worst teams.
All they can do is hope Bryce Young has figured things out and the Daniel Jones-Malk Nabers connection is firing on all cylinders.
NFL Showcasing Rookie QBs
This is the main takeaway from the international lineup.
Obviously, we have no idea how things will shake out during the season. But in a perfect world, Williams, Maye, and McCarthy all would be playing overseas. So, too, would Young, a second-year QB, and Jordan Love, who’ll be in his second season as Green Bay’s full-time starter. You also can include Jalen Hurts, who still is just 25 years old.
None of this is a coincidence. The NFL wants to grow the game in international markets, and exposing overseas fans to young QBs early in their careers is a great way to do it.
Sure, there will be plenty of Rodgers fans in attendance at the Jets-Vikings game. But if a few young spectators become hooked on American football because they watched a young McCarthy author his rookie breakout game, that’s a huge win for the NFL.
Brief History of NFL International Series
Can you believe this will be the 18th season of the NFL’s International Series?
It started in 2007 when the Giants earned a 13-10 win over the Miami Dolphins in London. International games were held exclusively in London until 2016, when the NFL sent the Oakland Raiders and Houston Texans to Mexico City (the Raiders won).
The International Series has grown in scope and quantity in the years since. The first Germany game was played in 2022, and the 2024 season will mark the NFL’s arrival in Brazil. There will be eight international games in 2025, one of which will be played in Madrid, Spain.
Here’s where the tally of games will stand after the 2024 season:
- London: 39
- Mexico: 5
- Germany: 4
- Brazil: 1
It’s only a matter of time until there’s a Super Bowl overseas. Roger Goodell has already teased sending the Big Game to London.
Whether the NFL will ever rival soccer in international popularity remains to be seen. But if it fails, it won’t be for lack of trying.