Projecting when every NFL team will lose its first game in 2024

The 2024 NFL season is about to begin, with all 32 teams having minuscule hope of matching the 1972 Miami Dolphins in a quest to go undefeated. Unfortunately for teams and fans, losses are inevitable, and these are the possible first losses in the schedule for each team.

Arizona Cardinals: Week 1 at Buffalo (1 of 32)

The rebuilding Cardinals added some exciting young players in the offseason, led by Ohio State star wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. Unfortunately, they're faced with a brutal challenge in Week 1 at Buffalo. Josh Allen and company are out to prove the offense can remain among the best in the league even after trading Stefon Diggs.

Atlanta Falcons: Week 2 at Philadelphia (2 of 32)

The much-anticipated Kirk Cousins era in Atlanta begins with a tough home opener vs. Pittsburgh. If the Falcons can succeed against the Steelers defense, they will go on the road to face another Pennsylvania team in the Eagles. Philly added Saquon Barkley and revamped its defense, led by new coordinator Vic Fangio. It's a lot to ask a Falcons team with so many faces to come out with a win at Philadelphia early in the year.

Baltimore Ravens: Week 1 at Kansas City (3 of 32)

The Ravens would like to avenge their AFC Championship loss, and will get the chance in Week 1. However, this time the game will be at KC, who added major offensive firepower at wideout during the offseason. Baltimore's defense could also take time to return to form after losing coordinator Mike Macdonald.

Buffalo Bills: Week 2 at Miami (4 of 32)

The Bills shouldn't have much problem against the Cardinals at home in Week 1, but a visit to Miami in Week 2 brings a much bigger challenge. The Dolphins aerial attack puts pressure on any defense, and that should pose a major threat to a revamped Bills secondary. Josh Allen will have to be on his game for Buffalo to win the divisional rivalry.

Carolina Panthers: Week 1 at New Orleans (5 of 32)

We could be looking at another long year for the Panthers, who are hoping Bryce Young has more in the tank than he showed in his rookie season. The Week 1 matchup is a rude awakening against the veteran Saints defense on the road.

Chicago Bears: Week 2 at Houston (6 of 32)

The Caleb Williams era begins at home vs. Tennessee, an intriguing matchup between two young teams that have added several talented players in the offseason. The Bears should be able to survive at home, but a visit to Houston in Week 2 looks much tougher. C.J. Stroud is the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year, and the Texans have added major talent on both sides of the ball.

Cincinnati Bengals: Week 2 at Kansas City (7 of 32)

A healthy Joe Burrow should be a breath of fresh air for the Bengals, and he gets a soft landing in Week 1 vs. a rebuilding Patriots squad at home. If Cincinnati can do what they're supposed to in the opener, they have a huge matchup at KC. The Bengals have generally had the Chiefs' number in recent seasons, but the early test could be too big for a new Cincinnati secondary against one of the top offenses in the league.

Cleveland Browns: Week 1 vs. Dallas (8 of 32)

The Browns had a strong year in 2023 without Deshaun Watson for much of the season. His return isn't necessarily a good thing based on how he's played in a Browns uniform, and Watson has also fought through some minor injury issues in training camp. He will be tested against the ferocious Cowboys pass rush in Week 1 in a game that could come down to the wire.

Dallas Cowboys: Week 3 vs. Baltimore (9 of 32)

The Cowboys' early schedule is rough, opening with a visit to Cleveland followed by the home opener vs. New Orleans. If Dak Prescott and company can survive those two defenses, they get an arguably tougher matchup to remain undefeated at Baltimore in Week 3. The Ravens have consistently been one of the top defenses in the league in recent seasons, and the test against Lamar Jackson and company gets that much more difficult on the road.

Denver Broncos: Week 1 at Seattle (10 of 32)

The Broncos are excited about Bo Nix's arrival, but rookie quarterbacks rarely hit the ground running. Nix goes back to the Northwest to face Seattle in Week 1, an imposing and difficult atmosphere for a rookie quarterback.

Detroit Lions: Week 6 at Dallas (11 of 32)

The Lions finally won a playoff game last season, and have even higher hopes in 2024. The beginning of their schedule is favorable, vs. the Rams, vs. Tampa Bay, at Arizona, and vs. Seattle before the bye. They should be well-rested after the Week 5 bye to face the Cowboys, but a visit to Dallas is never easy. Dak Prescott and company will likely try to air out the ball in a fun matchup that will test Detroit's young secondary.

Green Bay Packers: Week 5 at LA Rams (12 of 32)

The Packers face off in a historic opener vs. the Eagles in Brazil. That game could be a toss-up, and Green Bay's schedule opens up afterwards. The next three games are vs. Indianapolis, at Tennessee, and vs. Minnesota before a visit to the Rams. Matthew Stafford and company could be a major test for the new Packers defense, forcing Jordan Love to keep up on the scoreboard.

Houston Texans: Week 5 vs. Buffalo (13 of 32)

Houston won the AFC South last season, and has hopes for even more this year after a busy offseason. The early schedule should start them on the right foot, with a visit to Indy, home game vs. Chicago, a road game vs. the Vikings, and a home battle against the rival Jaguars. Week 5 could be their biggest test to date against the Bills. The young Texans have the offensive firepower to keep up, led by C.J. Stroud, but the consistency of Josh Allen and company make the matchup especially difficult.

Indianapolis Colts: Week 1 vs. Houston (14 of 32)

The Colts hope to rebound with a healthy Anthony Richardson under center, but still don't quite know what they have with the young quarterback. They're looking up at the defending AFC South champion Texans, who showed an excellent offense last season and have improved their defensive personnel. The test could be too big for Richardson so early in the year.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Week 1 at Miami (15 of 32)

The Jaguars hope to return to the playoffs this season, and their Week 1 visit to Miami could be key in the AFC playoff picture. The defensive changes in the secondary for the Jaguars will be tested by Mike McDaniel's offense, and it remains to be seen if Trevor Lawrence can keep up on the scoreboard.

Kansas City Chiefs: Week 4 at LA Chargers (16 of 32)

The Chiefs' early schedule is rough, opening on Thursday night vs. the Ravens. Kansas City has generally dominated the Ravens in recent years, including the most recent AFC Championship. The Week 2 matchup vs. Cincinnati could be even tougher, but the Bengals secondary is still reeling after some changes. KC gets another tough test with a visit to Atlanta in Week 3, before facing the rival Chargers on the road. The Chiefs have dominated the AFC West in recent years, but this could be a different, more disciplined Chargers squad under new head coach Jim Harbaugh. A conservative gameplan would force Patrick Mahomes to be patient.

Las Vegas Raiders: Week 1 at LA Chargers (17 of 32)

The Gardner Minshew era begins for the Raiders at the rival Chargers in a tough AFC West matchup. The Raiders have reason to like what they have on defense after adding Christian Wilkins, but the offense could have a tough time moving the ball with a new quarterback and the loss of Josh Jacobs. Jim Harbaugh has usually made his teams better, and should have the Chargers ready to play in the season opener.

Los Angeles Chargers: Week 3 at Pittsburgh (18 of 32)

The Chargers underwent huge changes during the offseason, led by the hiring of Jim Harbaugh. He sees a relatively soft opening schedule vs. the Raiders and at Carolina to build momentum with his new squad. The Steelers could be the blueprint of what Harbaugh wants to build with his new squad, as a run-heavy team with a strong defense. That design will be especially difficult for Justin Herbert and company to beat on the road in Week 3.

Los Angeles Rams: Week 1 at Detroit (19 of 32)

The Rams get a brutal home opener on Sunday Night Football at Detroit, with an ascending Lions squad. While LA could have the offensive prowess to compete, led by Matthew Stafford, the defense lacks identity following Aaron Donald's retirement.

Miami Dolphins: Week 3 at Seattle (20 of 32)

The Dolphins have a rough schedule against two teams with winning records last year in the Jaguars and Bills. Playing those games at home should allow Tua Tagovailoa's offense to emerge, but a visit to Seattle in Week 3 looks more difficult. The speedy Seahawks secondary matches up as well as any team against Tyreek Hill, while the Seattle ground game could slow down the game enough to win.

Minnesota Vikings: Week 2 vs. San Francisco (21 of 32)

The J.J. McCarthy era in Minnesota will have to wait after he suffered a season-ending knee injury, but the Vikings seem to like what they have with Sam Darnold. He gets a nice matchup in Week 1 at the Giants, who have undergone major offseason changes and could struggle to put up points again. Darnold faces his old team in the 49ers during Week 2, who are NFC favorites and likely have too many weapons for the young Vikings to compete.

New England Patriots: Week 1 at Cincinnati (22 of 32)

It's a clear rebuilding year in New England under new head coach Jerod Mayo, and the Week 1 matchup doesn't do them any favors. The Patriots pass rush could struggle with new faces up front, which seems dire on the road at Cincinnati. Week 1 won't bring the debut of rookie quarterback Drake Maye, as veteran Jacoby Brissett has been announced as the team's starter under center to open the season.

New Orleans Saints: Week 2 at Dallas (23 of 32)

The Saints have a very winnable home opener against the Panthers, as Carolina tries to right their offense. Derek Carr likely only needs to protect the ball to win that matchup, but he will need to be much more aggressive in Week 2 with a visit to Dallas. Despite some major personnel and coaching losses, the Cowboys remain a formidable foe with a capable offense.

New York Giants: Week 1 vs. Minnesota (24 of 32)

The Giants could be in a make-or-break year with Daniel Jones returning from injury and several major personnel moves. Jones certainly has a shot vs. the rebuilding Vikings in Week 1, but the Giants secondary could struggle to cover Justin Jefferson and company.

New York Jets: Week 1 at San Francisco (25 of 32)

The Aaron Rodgers era in New York got a false start last season when he tore his Achilles in Week 1. He gets a mulligan, but the Week 1 matchup couldn't be much tougher with a visit to the 49ers. Nick Bosa and company will test the revamped Jets offensive line.

Philadelphia Eagles: Week 1 vs. Green Bay (26 of 32)

The Eagles travel to Brazil to take on the Packers in a huge Week 1 showdown. The matchup should be hotly contested, as both teams bring high-powered offenses and new defensive schemes. Jalen Hurts is capable of putting up points, but Philadelphia's new defensive backend could take time to mold, which they don't have when facing the Packers bevy of weapons.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Week 1 at Atlanta (27 of 32)

Steelers fans are hopeful for a more exciting offense with either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields under center, but it's the defense that will get the bigger test in Week 1. The Falcons look more capable of scoring this year with Kirk Cousins distributing the ball, so T.J. Watt and company will need to be at their best immediately.

San Francisco 49ers: Week 6 at Seattle (28 of 32)

The early schedule is rough for the 49ers, opening with the Jets followed by visits to the Vikings and Rams. After that trio of matchups, San Francisco will have home games vs. New England and Arizona that should be relatively smooth sailing. Football fans have the Week 7 Super Bowl rematch vs. KC circled, but it could be the Week 6 visit to Seattle that's the real trap for the 49ers. Seattle is never an easy place to play, and the Seahawks defense could wreak havoc with a talented backend and new head coach Mike Macdonald. Brock Purdy will need to protect the ball to come out with a victory.

Seattle Seahawks: Week 4 at Detroit (29 of 32)

The Seahawks have high hopes for new head coach Mike Macdonald, and a favorable early schedule could allow him to build momentum. Seattle opens the year at home against rookie quarterback Bo Nix and the Broncos, followed by the possibility of another rookie quarterback in Drake Maye with the Patriots. The biggest test comes in Week 3 vs. Miami, but the Seahawks are capable of keeping up with the Dolphins at home. Geno Smith could have a tougher task on the road at Detroit in Week 4, with a high-powered Lions offense and improving defense.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Week 2 at Detroit (30 of 32)

The Bucs are looking to defend their NFC South title, and get a favorable matchup in Week 1 against rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and the Commanders. Week 2 looks much tougher in Detroit, one of the NFC favorites with an elite offense. Vita Vea and company are capable of standing tall, but the Lions offense could be too much too soon.

Tennessee Titans: Week 1 at Chicago (31 of 32)

The Titans were one of the busiest teams of the offseason, but a new system under head coach Brian Callahan could take time for the young team to decipher. A visit to Chicago is an intriguing matchup between two teams with a bevy of weapons, but it's likely Will Levis will need more time in the Callahan offense to be comfortable.

Washington Commanders: Week 1 at Tampa Bay (32 of 32)

Commanders fans are excited about Jayden Daniels' arrival, but the Heisman Trophy winner has never faced a defense as stout as the Bucs. Tampa Bay's secondary changes could stifle Daniels, while Washington's defense likely needs more time for a turnaround after last year's struggles.