Swifties, Weekday Football, and Goff's Vault 💸: The 2024 Schedule Unleashed! 🔥

Good morning. This is the Opening Drive, the weekly newsletter that brings you the best of the NFL so you’re always the smartest one at the water cooler.

The 2024 schedule dropped, Taylor Swift could be at up to 14 Chiefs' games 👀, the league will play on every day of the week except Tuesday this year, Jared Goff signed a massive extension 💰️, and we break down what goes into creating the schedule every year.

Let’s dive in.

QUICK HITS

• Check out the complete 2024 schedule here

• 2024 NFL schedule release: NFL teams get creative on social media (NFL.com)

• Chiefs hit with bizarre scheduling quirk the NFL hasn't seen in 97 years, plus 15 other 2024 schedule oddities (CBS Sports)

• Taylor Swift’s concert schedule influenced the NFL schedule (CBS Sports)

• The Jaguars will play back-to-back games in London (Jaguars.com)

• Chiefs-Steelers, Ravens-Texans highlight Christmas doubleheader on Netflix (NFL.com)

• The 49ers will play four opponents coming off bye weeks (PFT)

• 21 teams begin OTAs today (NFL.com)

• Jared Goff signs four-year, $212 million deal with Lions (PFT)

• Bills to sign ex-Chiefs WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling to one-year contract worth up to $4.5M (NFL.com)

• Rams defensive pass game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant adding title of assistant head coach (NFL.com)

• Tua has missed most of Dolphins’ offseason workouts amid contract talks, report says (Sun Sentinel)

• NFL, Netflix have three-year deal for Christmas Day games in 2024, 2025 and 2026 (PFT)

• Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker's jersey ranks among top-selling NFL jerseys after commencement speech (CBS News)

• Fanatics filed a lawsuit today in NY Supreme Court against rookie WR Marvin Harrison Jr. for breach of contract (ESPN)

• Chiefs OTs Wanya Morris, Chukwuebuka Godrick arrested on marijuana possession charges (NFL.com)

• New York Giants reveal 'Century Red' uniforms ahead of franchise's 100th season 🤮 (Yahoo Sports)

OPENING DRIVE REQUIRED READING

• Andrew Brandt discusses the upcoming retirement of NFL Executive Vice President Jeff Pash, and the potential impact on the business and future direction of the league.

• Warren Sharp has a full breakdown of bye weeks in the 2024 season and their potential impact on fantasy football here.

WHO’S UP? WHO’S DOWN?

Who’s up?
Jared Goff. After a tumultuous tenure with the Los Angeles Rams, Jared Goff has found a new lease on his NFL career with the Detroit Lions. The former first-overall pick signed a 4-year, $212 million contract with the Lions, cementing his future in the Motor City. The contract includes a $73 million signing bonus, $170.6 million guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $53 million.

Goff's time in LA was marked by both highs and lows. He led the Rams to a Super Bowl appearance in 2018, showcasing his ability to manage a high-powered offense. However, his relationship with the organization ultimately deteriorated, culminating in a trade that sent him to Detroit.

But in Detroit, Goff has found a fresh start and a renewed sense of purpose. Under the guidance of head coach Dan Campbell and the Lions' coaching staff, Goff has rediscovered the form that made him one of the league's most promising young quarterbacks.

The new contract extension, which will keep Goff in Detroit through the 2028 season, is a testament to the trust the organization has placed in him. The deal includes a no-trade clause, a clear indication that the Lions view Goff as the cornerstone of their franchise.

With Goff now firmly entrenched as the Lions' quarterback, the team finds itself on the cusp of a potential Super Bowl run. The addition of key offensive pieces, combined with Goff's continued growth and development, has transformed the Lions into a legitimate contender in the NFC.

As Goff embarks on this new chapter in his career, Lions fans can't help but feel a sense of excitement and optimism. The future is bright in Detroit, and Jared Goff is poised to be the driving force behind the team's quest for the Lombardi Trophy.

Who’s down?
Mike North (that guy 👆️). The NFL's treatment of the New York Jets' 2024 schedule has come under intense scrutiny, with critics accusing the league of blatant hypocrisy and a complete disregard for player safety.

In a brutally honest interview, Mike North, the VP of Broadcast Planning for the NFL, admitted that the decision to load the Jets' early-season slate with a staggering six primetime games was driven by a sense of obligation. "The Jets kind of owe us one, you know?" North said, alluding to the team's recent struggles and lack of national appeal.

This admission has sparked outrage, as the league's own rules and guidelines regarding player rest and recovery have been callously disregarded. The Jets are set to play three games in just 10 days during the early part of the season, a scheduling decision that will undoubtedly take a toll on the team's players.

The New York Times' analysis of the Jets' schedule further highlights the league's callousness. The report notes that the Jets will face a brutal stretch where they play four games in 18 days, including back-to-back prime-time contests against the Patriots and Buccaneers. This relentless schedule leaves little room for recovery, putting the players at an increasd risk of injury.

The NFL's hypocrisy is on full display, as the league continues to preach the importance of player safety while simultaneously exploiting the Jets for the sake of television ratings and advertising dollars. The treatment of the Jets' 2024 schedule serves as a stark reminder that the league's priorities may be skewed, and that a more holistic approach to scheduling is needed to protect the long-term integrity of the sport.

As the sports media landscape continues to evolve, the NFL must find a way to balance its commercial interests with the health and well-being of the athletes who drive the game's popularity. The Jets' plight is a cautionary tale, one that should prompt the league to re-evaluate its scheduling practices and put the players' best interests at the forefront.

NUMBERS YOU SHOULD KNOW
A deep dive on creating the NFL schedule

Crafting the NFL schedule is a monumental task that has evolved dramatically over the years. In the league's early days, the scheduling process was a manual affair, relying heavily on pencils, paper, and a great deal of human intuition.

"Before the digital age, the scheduling process was an arduous and time-consuming endeavor," recalls former NFL scheduler Mike Pereira. "We'd spend weeks poring over game dates, travel logistics, and television network requirements, all while trying to balance the needs of 32 unique franchises."

But the rise of advanced data analytics and scheduling software has transformed the way the NFL approaches this crucial undertaking. Today, the league utilizes a sophisticated algorithm that factors in an array of variables, from team travel plans and stadium availability to national television windows and league-wide competitive balance.

"The modern NFL schedule is the product of millions of calculations and simulations," explains current VP of Broadcast Planning Mike North. "We're talking about over 256 regular-season games, each with its own unique set of considerations. It's an exponential problem that requires the processing power of today's technology."

Indeed, the sheer number of potential schedule permutations is staggering. According to NFL estimates, a fully manual approach would require analyzing trillions of possible schedules, a task that would take decades to complete. The league's proprietary algorithm, however, can generate and evaluate viable options in a matter of hours.

Beyond the raw computational power, the scheduling process also relies on a deep understanding of team dynamics, market preferences, and broadcast viewership patterns. "It's not just about fitting the games in," North notes. "We need to create a schedule that maximizes fan engagement, ratings, and competitive balance."

With the 2024 NFL season on the horizon, the league's scheduling team is already hard at work, leveraging the latest advancements in data science and artificial intelligence to craft a slate of games that will captivate audiences across the country.

Did you know?

🏈 The modern NFL schedule is the product of millions of calculations and simulations, as the league's scheduling algorithm must factor in over 256 regular-season games, each with its own unique set of considerations.
🏈 A fully manual approach to creating the NFL schedule would require analyzing trillions of possible permutations, a task that would take decades to complete. The league's proprietary algorithm, however, can generate and evaluate viable options in a matter of hours.
🏈 Before the digital age, the NFL scheduling process was an arduous, manual effort that involved weeks of poring over game dates, travel logistics, and television network requirements, all while trying to balance the needs of 32 unique franchises.
🏈 Beyond the raw computational power, the NFL scheduling process also relies on a deep understanding of team dynamics, market preferences, and broadcast viewership patterns to create a schedule that maximizes fan engagement, ratings, and competitive balance.

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