With only a week of 2024 NFL There is still the regular season to play, 256 games are already planned. And there have been dozens of dramatic ones, including Sunday’s two overtime thrillers that confirmed the Cincinnati Bengals and Washington Commanders as season-ending playoff hopefuls.
But which games stood out among the best? As we turn the page on the new year, we take a look back at 10 of the most exciting competitions of the 2024 campaign:
Who could have predicted a spectacle of this degree between Bo Nix and Jameis Winston in prime time? Appearing Monday night, these scrappy but unspectacular AFC prospects totaled 952 total yards (!), with Winston approaching 500 through the air and Nix displaying Rookie of the Year level composure .
Detroit earned its 11th straight victory in this one, but it didn’t come easy as Dan Campbell put together one fourth down after another, including a fourth-and-1 from the Green Bay 21-yard line in just 23 seconds. LEFT. It was a resounding NFC North victory for the league’s darling juggernaut.
8. Browns 29, Ravens 24 (Week 8)
Division games can get wacky, and this one is an example, with Jameis Winston playing Superman in his first start in place of the injured Deshaun Watson, throwing three scores, including a game-winner to Cedric Tillman Jr. with 59 seconds to play, to surpass. Lamar Jackson’s reigning MVP.
7. Browns 24, Steelers 19 (week 12)
Another Jameis special, this one was particularly memorable due to the weather, with two grimy AFC North foes going blow for blow in Cleveland’s snowy conditions. Despite leading in the fourth quarter, the Browns finally ended Pittsburgh’s five-game winning streak on a late goal led by Winston.
6. Commanders 38, Bengals 33 (week 3)
Joe Burrow and Co. have made this list several times, always because of a crazy shootout. This one, however, confirmed Jayden Daniels’ stardom as a rookie, as the Washington dual threat scored three times to bring Burrow’s Bengals to 0-3 on the year, providing perfect strikes to Terry McLaurin in prime time listen.
Atlanta didn’t get much stability from Kirk Cousins this year, but the quarterback’s momentary highs were special. This one took the cake: The veteran had one close window after another, racking up a career-high 509 yards and four scores, including an overtime game-winner against KhaDarel Hodge.
4. Lions 31, Vikings 29 (week 7)
A highly anticipated matchup of the NFC heavyweights, this divisional clash was a must-see spectacle for fans of high-flying offense. Jared Goff and Sam Darnold ran it with authority, and while Brian Flores’ defense fought late, a Jake Bates basket ultimately handed Minny its first loss.
3. Ravens 41, Bengals 38 (week 5)
It’s no coincidence that Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow are among the MVP favorites as the 2024 season draws to a close. The two star quarterbacks shined in their first meeting of the year, with Jackson overcoming three different 10-point deficits to steal the spotlight from Burrow with five touchdowns on the road.
2. Chiefs 27, Ravens 20 (week 1)
An old game but a goodie, it was literally the first game of the year, and its endgame theatrics were top-notch. Lamar Jackson threatened to defeat both his own uncertain line and the defending champions with a last-second acrobatic dart into the end zone to Isaiah Likely, but Kansas City’s defense held just tight enough.
1. Ravens 35, Bengals 34 (week 9)
The AFC North, as you can see, has been responsible for some of the most entertaining football of the year. Perhaps no game was wilder than this rematch, which took place on a Thursday night and saw Lamar Jackson rally from a 21-7 third-quarter deficit to barely beat Joe Burrow, who combined with his rival quarterback for eight passing scores on the night. In the end, the Ravens prevailed by stopping a two-point try, and the NFL saw two MVP candidates turn in truly MVP-level performances.
