Only the NFL can make a schedule release a two-day event that dominates sports headlines throughout the NBA and NHL playoffs.
After the NFL disclosed many of the featured games through its network partners Wednesday and early Thursday, the 32 teams’ social media teams came up with inventive, humorous ways to reveal the whole schedule and opponents.
The league may issue the schedule over a week. Football fans devour it. It works.
Top 10 NFL regular-season highlights:
Lions at Chiefs, Sept. 7.
The Super Bowl champion Chiefs face the surging Detroit Lions in Arrowhead Stadium’s annual Thursday prime-time game to start the NFL’s 104th season. Jared Goff and Patrick Mahomes head powerful attacks. The Lions defeated Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in the season finale and are favorites to win the NFC North.
Bills-Jets, Sept. 11.
Rodgers debuts his green-and-white No. 8 Jets jersey against Josh Allen and the AFC East champion Buffalo Bills on Monday night. After acquiring Rodgers, the Jets will play six nationally televised games. After Tom Brady in 2020 and Matthew Stafford in 2021, the future Hall of Famer hopes to win a Super Bowl in his debut season with a new team. Buffalo must precede New York.
Chiefs-Jets, Oct. 1.
New York’s first Sunday night game since 2011 is the first Mahomes-Rodgers matchup.
Cowboys at 49ers, Oct. 8.
Dallas, which lost to San Francisco in the playoffs the past two seasons, gets double retribution. Dak Prescott and the Cowboys will play six prime-time games, including Sunday night. After offseason elbow surgery, Brock Purdy may play for the 49ers.
Texas at Panthers, Oct. 29
When Carolina hosts Houston, Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud, the top two draft picks, may face off. The Panthers selected 2021 Heisman Trophy winner Young over Stroud with the first pick. The Texans traded for Will Anderson and Stroud. Both rookie QBs play in wide-open divisions.
Dolphins-Chiefs at Frankfurt, Germany, November 5.
In Miami against. Kansas City, All-Pro receiver Tyreek Hill faces his former team.
Eagles at Chiefs, Nov. 20
“Monday Night Football” Super Bowl rematch. Mahomes led the Chiefs past Jalen Hurts and Philadelphia 38-35. Travis vs. Jason Kelce and Andy Reid coaching his former squad are other stories.
Dolphins-Jets, Nov. 25
Rodgers and the Jets host Tua Tagovailoa and Miami in the NFL’s first Black Friday game after a Thanksgiving tripleheader. Football is better than shopping.
49ERS at EAGLES, Dec. 3.
Philadelphia hosts the NFC championship rematch. The Eagles won 31-7 to eliminate Purdy from the conference title game. Many 49ers believe Purdy’s injury changed the game. They’ll demonstrate it.
Bengals at Chiefs, Dec. 31
Joe Burrow leads Cincinnati to Arrowhead Stadium for an AFC championship game rematch. This might determine the AFC’s top seed.
