Christian D'Andrea
May 16, 2024 7:01 am ET
Come January, we’ll have a good idea which teams have a chance to make it to Super Bowl 59 and who will spend the winter waiting for the 2025 NFL Draft. But some teams’ holiday seasons will be much cheerier than others.
The 2024 NFL schedule release unveiled each team’s path through the final four weeks of the regular season. While no one will get off unscathed, some teams will sail more dangerous waters en route to the playoffs than others thanks to backloaded slates full of fellow contenders. We know who each team will face over the final four weeks of the year, creating leverage for some teams to coast to a playoff spot and others to cling to their postseason hopes as choppy waves of competition batter their ship.
Who has it toughest to finish 2024? Well, it’s shaping up to be another brutal year in the AFC North. Each of these teams have it rough — but the road gets progressively rougher the further down the list you get.
5
San Francisco 49ers
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 11: Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers is tackled by Leo Chenal #54 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the first quarter during Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 776073157 ORIG FILE ID: 2003790389
- Week 15: Los Angeles Rams
- Week 16: at Miami Dolphins
- Week 17: Detroit Lions
- Week 18: at Arizona Cardinals
That’s a) the Niners’ biggest competition in the NFC West b) a rising team coming off an 11-win campaign c) the reigning NFC North champions and d) an improved Arizona team that has Kyler Murray, quietly competent and potentially even good over the final three games of 2023, back at full strength. Nothing is supposed to come easy for the defending NFC champions, but no team in the conference has it tougher when it comes to the final month of the regular season.
4
Miami Dolphins
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 11: Elijah Campbell #22 of the Miami Dolphins celebrates with teammates after a muffed punt recovery against the Tennessee Titans at Hard Rock Stadium on December 11, 2023 in Miami Gardens, Florida. at Hard Rock Stadium on December 11, 2023 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775992460 ORIG FILE ID: 1848849281
- Week 15: at Houston Texans
- Week 16: San Francisco 49ers
- Week 17: at Cleveland Browns
- Week 18: at New York Jets
The Texans are on the rise and added Danielle Hunter and Stefon Diggs to the mix, spending some disposable income while CJ Stroud works through the cheap years of his rookie contract. The 49ers fielded 2023’s most efficient offense. The Browns fielded 2023’s most efficient defense. The Jets could be a disaster if Aaron Rodgers plays like a 40-year-old coming off a torn Achilles, but their top-two defense can make life difficult for anyone in the NFL.
3
Houston Texans
Oct 15, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans laughs with quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) before the game against the New Orleans Saints at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
- Week 15: Miami Dolphins
- Week 16: at Kansas City Chiefs
- Week 17: Baltimore Ravens
- Week 18: at Tennessee Titans
The first three teams on this list combined for 35 wins last season, giving us the regular season AFC winner and the reigning Super Bowl champions. The Titans are a wild card. Tennessee got more talented on both sides of the ball, but will pair that roster with an inexperienced new coach (Brian Callahan) and whatever Will Levis brings to the quarterback position. Let’s call that 3.5 playoff teams waiting in December to halt Stroud’s coronation.
2
Cleveland Browns
- Week 15: Kansas City Chiefs
- Week 16: at Cincinnati Bengals
- Week 17: Miami Dolphins
- Week 18: at Baltimore Ravens
The Chiefs show up here often, but didn’t make the top five thanks to a Week 18 tilt with what should be a very bad Denver Broncos team. The Browns, on the other hand, get the reigning champs, then a Bengals team that’s 8-2 after Thanksgiving with Joe Burrow in the lineup since 2021.
The Dolphins are one of the few teams in the league with the speed to test Cleveland’s defense each down. The Ravens aren’t just good, but playing with a chip on their shoulder after last year’s (relatively) early playoff exit.
1
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Week 15: at Philadelphia Eagles
- Week 16: at Baltimore Ravens
- Week 17: Kansas City Chiefs
- Week 18: Cincinnati Bengals
The final two games are at home. The Eagles were fully spiraling by December last year. Those are the two nicest things you can say about Pittsburgh’s final four weeks of 2024.
This team will find a way to rally to a winning record since that’s what Mike Tomlin does. It’ll be vital to stack wins early in order to get there.
