The start of the NFL season is only one day away. Thursday’s matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens marks the opener for the highly anticipated 2024 season.
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As always, the reigning Super Bowl champions have the privilege to kick off the new season, and this season, it will be the Chiefs. The Chiefs went home with the Super Bowl title for the second consecutive season, and their quest for a third will start against the Ravens.
While the anticipation for the Chiefs and another Super Bowl title is high, recent history tells us that the season opener has not been kind to the reigning Super Bowl champions.
In the last two seasons, the defending Super Bowl champions — the Rams in 2022 and the Chiefs in 2021 — have lost their season openers. On Thursday, the Ravens have the chance to spoil the Chiefs’ banner night, similar to what the Detroit Lions did a year ago in GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
While the defending Super Bowl champion is 0-2 in its last two season openers, the Chiefs still enter as the favorites according to ESPN Bet at -3.0.
Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs gestures to the sideline during the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Chiefs are favorites to come away with the win on Thursday night.
Photo by Kara Durrette/Getty Images
For the 2022 Rams, that loss was the start of a dreadful season. However, it was the start of yet another Super Bowl title for the Chiefs, even though it didn’t feel like it during the regular season. Although the Chiefs still recorded an 11-6 record and came away with the AFC West title, they didn’t look so hot compared to past seasons.
But when it came to crucial games, the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes turned it on and played at their best when the team needed it.
Nonetheless, you could throw that recent history out the window. This matchup between the Chiefs and Ravens will be an incredible game that will set the tone for the rest of the season. It could be an AFC championship preview, like the one we witnessed in Jan. 2024.
The Ravens came away heartbroken in that contest, having lost the AFC title in their home stadium, 17-10. Baltimore is still bitter about that contest, and they’ll look to spoil banner night for the Chiefs and go on their own quest to their first Super Bowl title in over a decade.
Lamar Jackson and the Ravens will look to continue their dominance in the regular season, but this time, carry that into the postseason and dethrone the Chiefs when it matters most.
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