2024 NFC revenge games: Which game should Cowboys, others have circled?

With the release of the NFL schedule, teams, fans and players undoubtedly have dates circled. 

There's no doubt, for example, the Cowboys would like to get even against a certain NFC powerhouse for their debacle on the road last season. And, of course, Kirk Cousins, Aaron Jones and Derek Carr will be eager to get a crack at their old teams.

With that in mind, Yardbarker's NFL writers identified the biggest revenge games on every NFC team's schedule.

NFC East

DALLAS COWBOYS | at San Francisco (Oct. 27) | With no chance on the schedule to avenge last season's 48-32 playoff loss to the Packers, Dallas must settle for getting revenge against the 49ers, who thumped the Cowboys 42-10 at home in Week 5 last season. In that debacle for Dallas, quarterback Dak Prescott threw three interceptions and San Francisco QB Brock Purdy tossed four TD passes, three to tight end George Kittle.

NEW YORK GIANTS | vs. Philadelphia (Oct. 20) | Week 7 will be Giants fans' first chance to see Saquon Barkley at MetLife Stadium since the former fan favorite signed a three-year, $37.75M contract with Philadelphia. In six years as a Giant, Barkley rushed for 5,211 yards and 35 TDs and added 2,100 yards and 12 TDs receiving. He has since been dubbed “Snaquon Barkley” by Giants fans on social media.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | at Tampa Bay (Sept. 29) | Philadelphia rushed for just 42 yards in a 32-9 loss to Tampa Bay in last year’s playoffs, a number Barkley could have in the first quarter now that former Bucs linebacker Devin White is with the Eagles.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | vs. Dallas (Nov. 24) | Dallas outscored Washington 83-20 last season with defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who's now the Commanders' head coach. With center Tyler Biadasz and defensive ends Dante Fowler and Dorance Armstrong — all former Cowboys — on the roster, the Commanders should be highly motivated in the season's first game between the teams. — Bruce Ewing

NFC West

ARIZONA CARDINALS | vs. Washington (Sept. 29) | The Cardinals and Commanders have nothing to have revenge over at a team level, but introducing Kliff Kingsbury into the equation as Washington's new offensive coordinator brings spice to this game. Kingsbury was Arizona's head coach for four mostly disappointing seasons that produced just one playoff appearance, one winning season and zero playoff wins.

LOS ANGELES RAMS | at Detroit (Sept. 8) | The Rams’ 2023 season ended with a playoff loss in Detroit, and now they get a chance to kick off the 2024 season with a revenge game. It is also another opportunity for Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who went 74-90-1 as a starter for the Lions, to get a crack at his former team.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | vs. Kansas City (Oct. 20) | The Chiefs are a huge hurdle for head coach Kyle Shanahan, whose team has lost two Super Bowls, including last season's matchup, to the Chiefs. The 49ers blew multiple-score leads in each game. 

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | at New York Jets (Dec. 1) | Geno Smith started his NFL career with the New York Jets, but he flamed out there, tallying a below-average 57.9% completion percentage in four seasons. He has emerged as a viable starting quarterback since, so this home game should be another chance to exact a little more revenge. With Seattle in 2022, Smith beat the Jets. — Adam Gretz

NFC North

CHICAGO BEARS | at Washington (Oct. 27) | Dealt from the Commanders to the Bears for a second-round pick ahead of last year's trade deadline, DE Montez Sweat thrived with his new team, posting six sacks and 14 QB hits in nine games. In Week 9, he'll make his first trip back to Washington since the trade.

DETROIT LIONS | at San Francisco (Dec. 30) | While it's possible, maybe even likely, the teams will meet in the playoffs again, Detroit will get its first shot at revenge before that in a Week 17 road contest. After a painful 34-31 loss to the 49ers in last year's NFC Championship Game, the Lions will be looking to even the score in a matchup that may have significant postseason implications.

GREEN BAY PACKERS | vs. San Francisco (Nov. 24) | The Packers' emergence last season came ahead of schedule, but their run could've been even more remarkable had they not blown a second-half lead against the 49ers in the NFC divisional round, falling 24-21. While wondering what could've been is probably in the rearview, Green Bay will be aiming to show the conference's top dog that it has arrived.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS | at Green Bay (Sept. 29) | After seven seasons with the franchise, running back Aaron Jones was let go and replaced by ex-Las Vegas Raiders All-Pro Josh Jacobs this offseason. Fittingly, Jones, who rushed for the third-most yards in Packers history, has moved on to the rival Vikings, whom Green Bay will face twice in 2024. There's no doubt the former Pro Bowler has the first date, in Week 4, circled. — Mike Santa Barbara

NFC South

ATLANTA FALCONS | at Minnesota (Dec. 8) | After six seasons with the Vikings, QB Kirk Cousins parted ways with the organization this offseason. He returns to Minnesota in Week 14, perhaps to face his successor with the Vikings, rookie first-round pick J.J. McCarthy.

CAROLINA PANTHERS | at Chicago (Oct. 6) | The Bears could have drafted QB Bryce Young in 2023 but traded the first overall pick in the draft to Carolina for a hefty sum. Chicago made the right call, but Young, who had a below-average 59.8 completion percentage as a rookie in 2023, can get a measure of revenge on the road against the team that passed on the chance to draft him.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | vs. Las Vegas (Dec. 29) | Derek Carr’s nine-year career with the Raiders came to an unceremonious finish in 2023 when the team sent him home with two weeks remaining in the regular season. Las Vegas’ Week 17 trip to New Orleans will be Carr’s first against his former team, whom he quarterbacked to a 63-79 record as a starter.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | at Detroit (Sept. 15) | Tampa Bay’s 2023 season ended in Detroit, and it returns to the scene of the crime in Week 2. Baker Mayfield finished 26-of-41 for 349 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in the 31-23 loss and will challenge a young, talented Lions secondary that added cornerbacks Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. in the 2024 NFL Draft. — Eric Smithling