The 2024 NFL season is just four months away. With the NFL officially releasing its schedule in two days, the only game known is the Week 1 Friday game for the first time in Brazil. Till now, with the announcement of the NFL season opener on Thursday Night.
The day before the Philadelphia Eagles go against the Green Bay Packers in South America on September 6th, the Baltimore Ravens visit the Kansas City Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium.
This is a rematch from the 2023 AFC Championship, as the Super Bowl-winning Chiefs came into M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore and outlasted them, winning 17-10. Now, the Ravens get a chance for early revenge in their building. Both are penciled in as repeat AFC title contenders for another playoff berth and a chance at the title in 2024, this will be a heavy-weight match with some new faces, along with some old.
2024 NFL Season: Ravens @ Chiefs Thursday, Sept. 5
Kicking off the NFL season!! pic.twitter.com/mCiSIDuZNh
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) May 13, 2024
For the 2024 NFL season, there are high expectations and lofty goals set for top-tier teams like these despite a few moving parts on both sides of the ball for both teams.
In 2023, the Ravens finished first in the AFC North at 13-4, and the Chiefs did the same as repeat division champs, winning the AFC West at 11-6. Baltimore was a consistent team and dominated the top NFC teams, especially last year, while Kansas City had a slow start and had to prove themselves throughout the year.
Now we get to see them, at least on paper, at full health and capacity, making this kickoff potentially as enjoyable as last season, as the Lions pulled the early upset on the Chiefs 21-20 in Arrowhead last September.
Detroit went on to go 12-5 and win the NFC North, making the playoffs, but coming up short against the San Francisco 49ers in the Conference Championship 34-31.
This is a huge test for Baltimore and Kansas City to see if they are prepared to handle potential deficiencies on paper. Both teams have had a few losses and acquisitions, making the moving parts pivotal for this game.
The Ravens will get an early shot and the first crack at it to get back at the champion Chiefs for the 2024 opener.
2024 NFL Season: Why it Benefits Baltimore
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Baltimore lost key offensive veterans like Odell Beckham Jr., J.K. Dobbins, and Kevin Zeitler, with the Ravens trusting their young guards to step up to start for the upcoming 2024 NFL season.
This is a PSA to offensive coordinator Todd Monken and head coach John Harbaugh for this season.
With free agent Derrick Henry, there’s no excuse, just run the ball. With a leaner Lamar Jackson also in the backfield, it will be hard to stop read options and plays working off that lightning, thunder tandem.
It was an issue in previous playoff games for Baltimore, it was in 2023, so it can’t be in 2024, especially when 30-year-old Henry is as fresh as can be for the first week of the regular season.
Although the Ravens could sign or trade for an experienced pass catcher before September rolls around, I am not worried about their receivers like Zay Flowers and the players they drafted, with Rashod Bateman extended.
With Mike Macdonald leaving the Ravens as the new head coach for the Seattle Seahawks, coordinator Zach Orr has big shoes to fill. Other than players like Geno Stone, Patrick Queen, and Jadeveon Clowney signing elsewhere, the rest of the defense is intact, with Trenton Simpson taking the biggest step forward in playing time.
The Ravens’ pass rush, with players like Odafe Oweh, David Ojabo, and third-round rookie Adisa Isaac, their young group plus veteran Kyle Van Noy back will have to come up for the task big-time against someone like Patrick Mahomes.
2024 NFL Season: Why it Benefits Kansas City
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While Mahomes head-to-head has a 4-1 against Baltimore record, including the playoff game, the Ravens are looking for the outlook to be different with Jackson for the 2024 NFL season. Baltimore did beat Kansas City in their previous regular season meeting in 2021, edging them 36-34 at home.
The Chiefs will have a reshaped team as well, with new receivers Marquise Brown and first-round rookie Xavier Worthy. At this time, the potential suspension of Rashee Rice has also not been announced by the NFL, so that will impact them negatively.
Their secondary will have to overcome the loss of L’Jarius Sneed, who they traded, as their defense. Other than that, it is the same. Cornerbacks Joshua Williams and Jaylen Watson will have to prove themselves opposite Trent McDuffie.
Kansas City will also have a new left tackle, as they drafted second-round rookie Kingsley Suamataia to compete with Wanya Morris. Although their interior offensive line is a strength, their weakness is at the tackle positions.
The young budding star Kyle Hamilton will get another chance against the veteran and All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce, as the future Hall of Famer got the best of him in the first half of the playoff game.
While it is advantageous for Baltimore to play Kansas City early at full strength, along with game planning, the same can be said for them. It will be a highly anticipated opener for either AFC contender to dictate the 2024 NFL season.
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