2024 AFC revenge games: Brothers, 'Stefon Diggs Bowl' to take center stage

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

There's no doubt, for example, the Dolphins would like to get even against a certain 2023 AFC weakling for a stunning loss last season. And, of course, Stefon Diggs, Christian Wilkins and Russell Wilson 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 AFC team's schedule.

AFC East  

BUFFALO BILLS | at Houston (Oct. 6) | While Buffalo will surely seek revenge in Week 11 for last season's divisional-round loss, a regular-season win wouldn't be as fulfilling as knocking them off in the playoffs. However, beating wide receiver Stefon Diggs — who had 5,372 yards and 37 TD catches across four seasons with Buffalo — would be extremely satisfying considering how dramatic his tenure became before his trade to Houston earlier this offseason.

MIAMI DOLPHINS | vs. Tennessee (Sept. 30) | Miami has a few revenge games scheduled this season, including matchups with the Bills and one against ex-Dolphins DT Christian Wilkins and the Raiders, but avenging last season's Week 14 loss to Tennessee would hold special significance. In that game, the Titans trailed 27-13 with under three minutes left and became the first team in NFL history to trail by 14 points with less than 2:55 remaining and win without overtime.

NEW YORK JETS | at Minnesota (Oct. 6) | Assuming he doesn't lose the starting job to rookie J.J. McCarthy at this point in the season, Sam Darnold will start at quarterback against the team that drafted him third overall in 2018. Darnold threw for 8,097 yards, 45 touchdowns and 39 interceptions across three seasons with New York, and while there's no animosity between the sides, losing to their failed draft pick wouldn't help change the "same old Jets" narrative.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | at Cincinnati (Sept. 8) | New England takes on familiar faces in its season opener in offensive tackle Trent Brown and tight end Mike Gesicki, both of whom disappointed for the Patriots during their recent tenures. Gesicki's poor performance was more due to his situation, though Brown's time with the Patriots ended on a sour note: He essentially quit on the team to protect himself for free agency, per Boston Sports Journal's Mike Giardi. — Colum Dell

AFC West

DENVER BRONCOS | at Seattle (Sept. 8) | In Week 1, Denver could get payback for the Russell Wilson trade, one of the worst deals in NFL history. In 2022, the Broncos dealt two first-rounders and more for the ex-Seahawks QB, who went 11-19 in two seasons with the team.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | vs. Las Vegas (Nov. 29) | Last season, the Raiders played spoiler against the Chiefs on Christmas, pulling off a 20-14 road upset. After winning Super Bowl LVIII, Kansas City HC Andy Reid sent Las Vegas interim HC Antonio Pierce a text message that read: “I appreciate you kicking our tail because you taught us a lesson.” Expect the Chiefs to be much sharper in this rematch to avoid another embarrassing home loss.

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | at Miami (Nov. 17) | Miami let DT Christian Wilkins walk in free agency although he had a career-high nine sacks in 17 games last season. In the offseason, he signed a four-year, $110M deal with the Raiders. In Week 11, he could prove the Dolphins made a mistake for not re-signing him.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | vs. Baltimore (Nov. 25) | While Jim Harbaugh served as San Francisco 49ers HC, he lost to his brother, Baltimore Ravens HC John, 34-31 in Super XLVII. Beating the Ravens in a prime-time game would partially settle this score and be a statement win in Jim's first season in L.A. — Clark Dalton

AFC North

BALTIMORE RAVENS | at Kansas City (Sept. 5) | In a Week 1 rematch of last season’s AFC Championship Game, the Ravens will look for revenge on the Chiefs, who defeated them 17-10 to advance to Super Bowl LVIII. Kansas City typically starts slowly, so Baltimore has a chance to spoil the back-to-back champion’s night after the Chiefs drop their third title banner in the past five seasons.

CINCINNATI BENGALS | vs. Kansas City (Sept. 15) | In 2023, the Chiefs eliminated Cincinnati, who was playing without injured QB Joe Burrow, from playoff contention. Burrow — who is 3-1 (regular season and playoffs) against Kansas City — can increase his win total versus QB Patrick Mahomes in a game that might have huge playoff seeding implications later in the season.

CLEVELAND BROWNS | at Denver (Dec. 2) | The Broncos traded WR Jerry Jeudy, their first-round pick in 2020, to the Browns for just 2024 fifth- and sixth-round picks. Cleveland has since put its confidence in Jeudy by signing him to a three-year, $58 million contract extension. Will Jeudy prove Cleveland's investment was wise in this Week 13 matchup on "Monday Night Football"?

PITTSBURGH STEELERS | at Denver (Sept. 15) | The Broncos are paying Wilson $37.79 million to not play for them this season, so that says tons about how they feel about him. Wilson seems to be set up for success with the Steelers, who are hoping he gets off to a fast start. The game will be nationally televised in Week 2. — Aaron Becker

AFC South

HOUSTON TEXANS | vs. Buffalo (Oct. 6) | We might as well call this the "Stefon Diggs Bowl." The four-time Pro Bowl receiver will be highly motivated to show out against his former team, and the Bills surely want him to feel like he made a mistake in wanting to leave Buffalo.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | at Houston (Oct. 27) | A 23-19 loss to the Texans in the final week of the season last year kept the Colts out of the playoffs and cost them the division. Winning their Week 1 matchup will be a nice bit of revenge, but winning in Week 8 on the road in the middle of the season would mean more.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | vs. Tennessee (Dec. 29) | Just like what the Texans did to the Colts, the Titans kept the Jaguars out of the playoffs with a 28-20 win in the final week of last season. Jacksonville and Tennessee play in Weeks 14 and 17, but the latter is the more important game as that could make or break the Jaguars’ playoff hopes again.

TENNESSEE TITANS | vs. Houston (Jan. 5) | This one is a multifaceted revenge game. The ongoing beef between the teams about the Titans having ownership of the Houston Oilers’ Columbia blue uniforms adds another dimension to this division rivalry, which was heightened when the Texans poached a couple of former Titans players (LB Azeez Al-Shaair, DE Denico Autry) in the offseason. — Michael Gallagher