The first game of the 2024 NFL season will feature a highly anticipated rematch.
On Monday morning, the NFL announced the Kansas City Chiefs will host the Baltimore Ravens in the league's annual Kickoff Game on Sept. 5 on NBC at 8:20 p.m. ET. The league is expected to reveal its full regular-season schedule on Wednesday night.
Lamar vs. Mahomes to kick off the 2024 season. 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/IY8EaV0M6V
— NFL (@NFL) May 13, 2024
Last season, Kansas City and Baltimore faced off in the AFC title game. The Chiefs pulled off a 17-10 road victory en route to their third Super Bowl title in five years.
From the league's perspective, having these teams square off in a prime-time matchup early in the season makes a lot of sense.
A rivalry between the AFC powerhouses could be brewing.
Longtime NFL reporter James Palmer noted a pregame incident in the conference championship between Ravens kicker Justin Tucker, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce "lit a fire in [K.C.]."
I was told in the #chiefs locker room after the game that this exchange between Patrick Mahomes / Travis Kelce and #ravens kicker Justin Tucker actually lit a fire in the team for the AFC Title game. Can't wait to see what goes down to start the 2024 season. 👀 https://t.co/gzLDrdR3TD
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) May 13, 2024
It also appears both teams are evenly matched. This offseason, Baltimore signed four-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry to a two-year, $16M deal.
Kansas City, meanwhile, re-signed defensive tackle Chris Jones (five years, $158.75M) and signed wide receiver Marquise Brown (one year, $7M), a former first-round pick.
Per ESPN's Adam Teicher, the Chiefs are playing in the Thursday night opener for the third time in five seasons. They beat the Houston Texans in 2020 but lost to the Detroit Lions last season.
The Ravens fell in their only Kickoff Game appearance in 2013 against the Denver Broncos.
The oddsmakers are giving the Chiefs a slight edge over the Ravens. As of Monday, FanDuel lists Kansas City as a 2.5-point favorite.