NFL Game of the Week: Baltimore Ravens @ Kansas City Chiefs

After eight long months, NFL football is finally back with the 2024 Kickoff Game on Thursday. The Baltimore Ravens will head to Kansas City to face the reigning back-to-back Super Bowl Champion Chiefs in what is not only the beginning of the regular season but is a rematch of the 2023-24 AFC Championship.

Back in January, the Chiefs took down the Ravens 17-10 at M&T Bank Stadium to advance to their fourth Super Bowl in the last five years. Kansas City ended up defeating the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl 25-22 in overtime.

Patrick Mahomes had a career-high in completed passes, with a 67.2 completion rate. He did have 27 touchdowns, the second-lowest in his career, and 14 interceptions, the highest in his career.

Tight end Travis Kelce led the team last season in receptions, going 93 of 121 for 984 yards, which was his first season under 1,000 yards since 2016. Rashee Rice went 79 of 102 for 938 yards.

A big re-signing for the Chiefs this off-season was defensive tackle Chris Jones, who signed the biggest contract for a defensive tackle in NFL history, with $158.75 million over five years. Jones is a five-time Pro Bowler and has recorded back-to-back double-digit sack seasons.

The Chiefs also picked up wide receivers Marquise Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster this offseason to give them some more depth in the receiving room. Brown, who played for Baltimore until he was traded to Arizona during the 2022 draft, will be inactive for the home-opener due to a shoulder dislocation he suffered during the first preseason game.

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was named MVP last season for the second time in his career after an impressive year. He had a 67.2 completion rate, the highest of his career, and a 24-7 touchdown-interception ratio.

Jackson, who has a 1-4 record against Mahomes, threw an interception in the fourth-quarter of the AFC Championship game last year, ultimately giving the ball back to the Chiefs to seal their victory. While he tends to frustrate most defenses, the Chiefs are one to flip the script.

Making his first start as a Raven is running back Derrick Henry, who played with the Tennessee Titans for eight years and became one of the best running backs in the league. Henry signed a two-year, $16 million contract in March.

Tight end Mark Andrews suffered a severe ankle injury in November that kept him out until the AFC Championship game against the Chiefs, but he still managed to put up six touchdowns in 10 games for the Ravens.

While this is going to be an exciting match-up with two of the best teams in the league, it would not be surprising if some harsh feelings start to show from this rivalry that’s only getting stronger.

The Ravens take on the Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City Thursday night. Kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.

Ashley Mascaro is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, please email aem6398@psu.edu.