Following the recent release of the NFL schedule, teams, fans, and players have surely highlighted certain dates.
For instance, the Dolphins undoubtedly want to exact revenge against a specific 2023 AFC underdog after suffering a shocking setback in the previous campaign. Naturally, Russell Wilson, Christian Wilkins, and Stefon Diggs will be itching to play against their former teams.
Taking that into consideration, Yardbarker’s NFL writers determined which AFC teams have the largest revenge games scheduled.
BUFFALO BILLS | on October 6, at Houston While defeating them in the playoffs might be more satisfying than a regular-season victory, Buffalo will undoubtedly seek retribution in Week 11 for their divisional-round loss from the previous season. It would be highly rewarding to defeat wide receiver Stefon Diggs, though, given how dramatic his career grew before to his trade to Houston earlier this winter. Diggs amassed 5,372 yards and 37 touchdown catches over four seasons with Buffalo.
Miami Dolphins | September 30, vs. Tennessee This season, Miami has a few vengeance games planned, including games against the Bills and the Raiders, who used to be Christian Wilkins’ wide receiver for the Dolphins. However, avenging the Week 14 loss to Tennessee the previous season would be especially meaningful. The Titans were the first team in NFL history to lead by 14 points with less than 2:55 remaining and win without the need for overtime when they were trailing 27-13 with fewer than three minutes to go in that game.
NEW YORK JETS | on October 6, at Minnesota Sam Darnold will start at quarterback for the franchise that selected him third overall in 2018 if he doesn’t lose it to rookie J.J. McCarthy at this point in the season. In his three seasons with the New York Jets, Darnold passed for 8,097 yards, 45 touchdowns, and 39 interceptions. Although there is no ill will between the teams, losing to their unsuccessful draft pick wouldn’t contribute to changing the perception of the team as the “same old Jets”.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | on September 8, at Cincinnati Trent Brown, an offensive tackle, and Mike Gesicki, a tight end, are two familiar opponents for New England in their season opener. Both players have let the Patriots down in their previous stints. Though Brown’s tenure with the Patriots ended on a bitter note—according to Boston Sports Journal’s Mike Giardi, he virtually abandoned the team to shield himself for free agency—his bad performance was more a result of his circumstances. — Colum Dell
DENVER BRONCOS | on September 8, at Seattle Denver might exact revenge on Russell Wilson for one of the worst trades in NFL history in Week 1. After the quarterback spent two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, going 11-19, the Broncos traded two first-round picks and more for him in 2022.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | November 29, vs. Las Vegas The Raiders surprised the Chiefs 20-14 on the road during their Christmas holiday game last season. “I appreciate you kicking our tail because you taught us a lesson,” Kansas City head coach Andy Reid texted Las Vegas interim head coach Antonio Pierce following the team’s victory in Super Bowl LVIII. For the Chiefs to avoid yet another humiliating home loss, expect them to be much sharper in their rematch.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | on November 17 at Miami DT Christian Wilkins had a career-high nine sacks in 17 games the previous season, but Miami allowed him depart upon free agency. He inked a four-year, $110 million contract with the Raiders during the summer. He could demonstrate in Week 11 that the Dolphins erred in not re-signing him.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | November 25, vs. Baltimore In Super XLVII, Jim Harbaugh, the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, lost 34–31 against his brother, John, the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens. In Jim’s first season in Los Angeles, defeating the Ravens in a prime-time game would partially settle this score and make a statement. — Dalton Clark
Baltimore Ravens, AFC North | @ Kansas City (September 5) | The Chiefs upset the Ravens 17-10 to advance to Super Bowl LVIII, and the Ravens will seek retribution in Week 1 of their AFC Championship Game from the previous season. After the Chiefs drop their third championship banner in the previous five seasons, Baltimore has an opportunity to spoil the night for the reigning champions because Kansas City usually gets off to a sluggish start.
Cincinnati Bengals | on September 15, vs. Kansas City Cincinnati, who was playing without quarterback Joe Burrow due to injury, was eliminated from the playoffs by the Chiefs in 2023. In a game that might have a significant impact on postseason positioning later in the season, Burrow, who is 3-1 (both regular season and playoffs) against Kansas City, can enhance his win total against quarterback Patrick Mahomes
CLEVELAND BROWNS | on December 2, at Denver The Browns received wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, a first-round pick from the Broncos in 2020, in exchange for only fifth- and sixth-round picks in 2024. Since then, Cleveland has extended Jeudy’s deal with a value of $58 million for three years, showing its faith in him. Is Jeudy going to show that Cleveland made the right investment in their Week 13 “Monday Night Football” matchup?
PITTSBURGH STEELERS | September 15, at Denver Wilson’s $37.79 million contract with the Broncos to sit out this season speaks volumes about the team’s feelings toward him. Wilson is well-positioned for success with the Steelers, who are hoping for a quick start from him. The match will be shown on national television in
HOUSTON TEXANS | October 6 vs. Buffalo | This could just as well be known as the “Stefon Diggs Bowl.” The four-time Pro Bowl receiver will have a lot of motivation to perform well against his old team, and the Bills undoubtedly want him to believe that his decision to leave Buffalo was the right one.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | October 27, at Houston Last year, the Colts lost to the Texans 23-19 in the last week of play, which cost them the division and prevented them from making the playoffs. Winning their Week 1 clash will feel good, but it would be more meaningful to win on the road in Week 8 midway through the season.
Tennessee vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars (Dec. 29) With a 28-20 victory in the penultimate week of the previous season, the Titans prevented the Jaguars from making the playoffs, much like the Texans did to the Colts. Week 17 is the more crucial game as it has the potential to make or break the Jaguars’ chances of making the playoffs once more. Jacksonville and Tennessee play each other in Week 14.
TENNESSEE TITANS | January 5 vs. Houston This is a complex game of retaliation. This division rivalry was intensified when the Texans plucked two former Titans players (LB Azeez Al-Shaair and DE Denico Autry) in the offseason. The continued animosity between the teams stems from the Titans’ ownership of the Houston Oilers’ Columbia blue uniforms. — Michael Gallagher
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