The NFL will kick off the 2024 season with a rematch of last year’s AFC title game. The defending-champion Kansas City Chiefs will host the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, Sept. 5, at 8:20 p.m. ET.
While the Chiefs will begin their attempt at a three-peat, the Ravens will try to avenge their 17-10 AFC Championship Game defeat. Let’s examine the best storylines from this Week 1 match-up between contenders.
Top Storylines To Watch in Ravens vs. Chiefs NFL Opener
Lamar Jackson vs. Patrick Mahomes
Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes have a combined four MVP awards, so this star-studded match-up between two of the NFL’s top quarterbacks is a terrific way to kick off the new season. Jackson won last season’s MVP award four years after hoisting his first, while Mahomes earned his MVP trophies in 2018 and 2022.
Mahomes is again the MVP favorite heading into 2024, as DraftKings gives the Chiefs QB +475 odds to win his third award. Meanwhile, Jackson has the fifth-best MVP odds (+1500), trailing Mahomes, Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud (+850), Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen (+900), Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow (+900), and Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love (+1400). He and Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts (+1500) have the same odds.
Derrick Henry’s Ravens Debut
While Baltimore boasted one of the NFL’s most efficient rushing attacks last season, the 2024 Ravens made a splashy offseason move to upgrade their run game, signing free agent Derrick Henry to a two-year, $16 million deal.
Arguably the best team-player fit of NFL free agency, Baltimore’s decision to sign Henry made all the sense in the world. He feels like the perfect AFC North player, even though he’s spent his entire career in the AFC South.
Henry has led the NFL in rushing attempts in four of the past five seasons, and he is essentially a massively souped-up version of Gus Edwards, who led the Ravens in carries last season.
Hollywood Brown’s Revenge Game
The Ravens moved on from Hollywood Brown — at his request — during the 2022 NFL Draft, sending the veteran wide receiver to the Arizona Cardinals along with a third-round pick in exchange for a first-round selection.
Injuries and ineffectiveness limited Brown to just 118 receptions for 1,283 yards and seven touchdowns over two seasons in Arizona, but he has a chance to resurrect his career after inking a one-year, $7 million deal with the Chiefs.
Brown felt he wasn’t utilized correctly in Baltimore’s run-heavy scheme. He’ll have a chance to show the Ravens that he’s capable of being a true WR1 while catching passes from Mahomes.
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Xavier Worthy’s Speed
Brown isn’t the only speed merchant that the Chiefs added over the offseason. Kansas City also traded up to draft Texas WR Xavier Worthy, who turned heads at the NFL Scouting Combine by running an NFL-record 4.21 40-yard dash.
With Rashee Rice’s status up in the air due to a series of off-field incidents, Worthy, Brown, and TE Travis Kelce might be Mahomes’ top three pass catchers for the season opener. Worthy, who broke out for 981 yards as a freshman in 2021 before eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark in 2023, could be a problem for new Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr.
Can the Ravens’ OL Hold Up Against Chris Jones?
The Ravens’ offensive line remains their most significant roster question since they lost tackle Morgan Moses and guards Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson over the offseason. While Baltimore added tackle Roger Rosengarten in the second round, they didn’t use any early draft capital on guards.
That could be a problem with Chris Jones on deck.
Jones has posted 26 sacks over the past two years, earning first-team All-Pro honors each season. He’s back in Kansas City after agreeing to a five-year extension worth $31.75 million annually in March. Baltimore’s guard group — which includes starting options like Ben Cleveland, Josh Jones, and Andrew Voorhees — will have its hands full.