Ranking 2024 NFL schedules by opposing QBs: Patriots, Raiders face toughest roads (2024)

New England had the second-toughest QB schedule last season (2.35 average), and it’s only gotten tougher.

Injuries to Burrow and Herbert last season doomed those quarterbacks’ teams to fourth-place finishes. That wasn’t the Patriots’ problem, but it is now, because New England’s fourth-place finish pits the Patriots against Burrow’s Bengals and Herbert’s Chargers.

The formula used to determine each team’s 17th opponent means the Patriots also face the Bears’ Caleb Williams, one of the most promising rookie quarterbacks in years.

The Steelers play a league-high 10 games against Tier 1-2 quarterbacks. That means they play a league-low seven games against Tier 3-4 quarterbacks.

Their division schedule is the toughest in the league, and the QBs they’ll face make an average of $37.8 million annually, the highest in the league.

Nine quarterbacks ranked higher this year than last. The 49ers face all of the risers except for Lamar Jackson and their own starter, Brock Purdy.

San Francisco, the only NFC team among the nine toughest schedules, plays a league-low two games against Tier 4 QBs (Brissett, Darnold).

The Titans and Patriots were the two fourth-place teams hurt most by the intra-conference rotation. Both face Burrow and Herbert after those quarterbacks’ teams finished last in their divisions without them last season.

The Titans — who rose a league-most 16 spots on this list from last year — also draw the AFC East, putting Rodgers (Week 2) and Allen (Week 7) on the schedule.

Arizona plays the seventh-toughest division schedule and the second-toughest inter-conference matchup (AFC East).

The Cardinals also drew the fifth-toughest 17th opponent QB in Herbert after the Chargers, like Arizona, played much of the season without their injured starter.

The Dolphins’ own division and their matchup against the NFC West explains the relatively high ranking. They also drew Green Bay and Love for their 17th opponent.

Facing the AFC South could provide relief unless Lawrence bounces back and Richardson ascends. Drawing Watson and Minshew as part of the second-place intra-conference rotation helps for the team that was No. 1 on this list last year.

All four of the Rams’ games against the AFC East fall in Week 10 or later, including Rodgers and the Jets in Week 16. How healthy will Rodgers be that late in the season?

The Rams drew Minshew and the Raiders as their 17th opponent after both teams finished second in their divisions last season.

The Saints’ play their three toughest opposing quarterbacks on the road: at Kansas City in Week 5 (Mahomes), at the Chargers in Week 8 (Herbert) and at Dallas in Week 2 (Prescott).

They also draw the second-toughest second-place intra-conference schedule (Stafford, Love). Facing the AFC West means a homecoming tour for their own QB (Carr).

The Giants face Jets alumni who have already revived their careers (Seattle’s Smith) or are trying to do so (Minnesota’s Darnold), thanks to the second-easiest third-place intra-conference schedule.

Drawing the NFC South helps offset facing Burrow and Jackson as part of a rotation featuring the AFC North.

Green Bay enjoys the eighth-easiest division schedule of opposing QBs, but how the Bears’ Williams develops will be key. The Packers will not face Williams until Weeks 11 and 18.

Swapping Darnold for Cousins in Minnesota helps. Green Bay’s second-place intra-conference matchups (Hurts, Carr) are on the easier side.

After having the fifth-toughest opposing QB schedule (2.41 average) last year, the Chargers now have the fifth-easiest, the largest jump in that direction of any team.

They play 12 games against Tier 3-4 quarterbacks, tied with the Jets for second-most behind the Falcons (13). Facing the AFC North isn’t as tough as it could have been with Watson and Wilson in decline.

Burrow’s injury last season delivered a fourth-place schedule (hello, Jacoby Brissett and Will Levis). That last-place divisional finish also helped Cincy draw Carolina and Bryce Young for its 17th opponent.

The Bengals play seven games against Tier 4 quarterbacks, tied with the Chargers, Jaguars, Bears and Falcons for most in the NFL.

For the second consecutive season, the Jaguars have the easiest opposing QB slate among AFC teams. They join the Rams as the only teams to face Darnold, Brissett and Minshew.

They do draw the AFC East, the second-toughest QB division, but much can change before they face Rodgers in Week 15.

The Bears are the only team to face all three first-round quarterbacks from the 2023 draft: Stroud in Week 2, Richardson in Week 3 and Young in Week 5.

They are one of three teams, along with the Vikings and Packers, with zero games against Tier 1 quarterbacks. Their 17th opponent, New England, has the lowest average tier vote (4.04).

The Falcons, who were No. 31 on this list last year, play a league-high 13 games against Tier 3-4 quarterbacks, thanks partly to the third-easiest division schedule.

Their Week 3 matchup against Mahomes marks their only game all season against a top-tier quarterback.