The NFL just called an audible that’s set the football world buzzing. In an unexpected move, “Hard Knocks” is going all-in on the AFC North for its 2024 season. This isn’t just a first down; it’s a whole new ballgame.

NFL Films has decided to showcase not one, but all four teams of the AFC North – the Ravens, Browns, Steelers, and Bengals. Pat McAfee, former NFL punter and current sports media personality, sees this as more than just a Hail Mary play. He predicts this could be the start of a new era for the show, potentially leading to a division-by-division rotation in future seasons. “I think this will be good for the show,” McAfee stated on his show. “I think it’ll reinvent the show.”

This groundbreaking decision follows a historic 2023 season where all four AFC North teams finished with winning records – a first in NFL history. It’s like they all made the playoffs before the playoffs even started.

Historically, “Hard Knocks” hasn’t been a lucky charm for featured teams. Only seven of the 20 teams have made the playoffs in the same season they appeared on the show. The 2010 New York Jets stand out as the sole team to reach a conference title game after their “Hard Knocks” stint. This statistic might make teams as nervous as a long snapper in overtime.

Keith Cossrow, NFL Films’ VP and head of content is surely excited. “We thank the Bengals, Browns, Ravens and Steelers for the opportunity to showcase some of the greatest rivalries in football,” he said, promising viewers a front-row seat to the intensity of a playoff chase from every corner of this competitive division.

Typically, finding even one team willing to participate in “Hard Knocks” is difficult. Even NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell often faces rejection when trying to draft teams for the show. But this year, it’s like they hit the jackpot.

“Hard Knocks” gets a new playbook

This would change the game, according to McAfee, whose razor-sharp acumen and rapidity of wit are well known. “This is hilarious to think about,” he said during his show. He believes NFL Films realized that featuring multiple teams could make the show almost like an excellently executed two-minute drill.

The show’s new format isn’t just about creating compelling television. It’s a strategic play by the NFL and NFL Films to innovate their content and engage a broader audience. By showcasing the intense rivalries within one of the league’s toughest divisions, they’re aiming to captivate fans with a more dynamic narrative.

This decision also solves the perennial problem of team reluctance. Since 2013, the NFL has used specific parameters to determine a team’s “Hard Knocks” eligibility. Teams must have missed the playoffs in the two prior seasons, have a head coach with at least one season under his belt, and not have participated in the show in a decade. These rules often left Roger Goodell with limited options, making the AFC North decision a clever end-around play.

This sentiment echoes the general caution among coaches and front offices about potential distractions caused by the show. “There’s certainly some teams going, ‘I thought we were getting rid of this thing, and now we got more than ever before,” McAfee humorously notes.

The 2024 “Hard Knocks: In Season” is scheduled to debut on HBO on Tuesday, December 3 at 9 p.m. ET with options for streaming on Max. It will last the regular season and the playoffs providing all access to the football action.

As we gear up for this unprecedented season of “Hard Knocks,” one thing’s for sure: football fans are in for a treat. Maybe this new format will break the “Hard Knocks” playoff curse and send all four AFC North teams to the postseason. Now wouldn’t that be something to see on the big screen?