During the offseason, roster changes, particularly when a player switches to a division rival, can ignite strong emotions. Such transitions are not uncommon.
For instance, last year, running back David Montgomery departed Chicago for Detroit in free agency. Additionally, in the NFC North, Packers legend Brett Favre concluded his NFL career with the Vikings, intensifying the rivalry between these heated adversaries, which is revisited in this discussion.
Although the exact schedule for the 2024 NFL season is yet to be revealed, each team’s list of opponents is known. This allows us to pinpoint matchups that could spark animosity. So, here are 12 of my favorite revenge games on the ’24 season’s schedule, listed in no particular order.
New York Giants
VS.
Philadelphia Eagles
This matchup kicks off with a bang, akin to the excitement of WrestleMania, coincidentally hosted in Philadelphia this year. Former Giants running back Tiki Barber humorously (or perhaps not so humorously) declared Saquon Barkley “dead” to him after Barkley signed a lucrative deal with the rival Eagles.
While there’s no denying the animosity between Giants and Eagles fans, this move could actually benefit both parties. Barkley delivered stellar performances during his six seasons with the Giants and rightfully earned a significant contract, especially with the Eagles still in contention for a Super Bowl.
For the Giants, allocating substantial funds to a running back might not have been the wisest decision. On the contrary, the Eagles could benefit from this signing, particularly considering their quarterback’s tendency to rush for touchdowns.
it’s worth noting that Barkley hails from Allentown (more precisely, Whitehall Township) and deserves the opportunity to return home. Furthermore, any dissatisfaction should be directed towards the team that opted not to retain him, rather than towards Barkley himself.
