The NFL likes to schedule a number of marquee matchups to kick off every new season, and this season began off with a rematch of final winter’s AFC Championship Recreation between the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
Whereas neither staff performed true high-level soccer, the Chiefs prevailed 27-20 when an obvious last-second landing catch by Ravens tight finish Isaiah Doubtless was waived off as a result of the tip of his toe had stepped on the sting of the top zone.
Whereas the two-time defending Tremendous Bowl champion Chiefs have been winners on Thursday, so was the league as a complete.
The competition between the 2 groups reportedly drew in 28.9 million viewers, which was a document for an NFL season kickoff recreation, per Bleacher Report.
TNF season opener Ravens vs. Chiefs averaged a document 28.9 MILLION viewers on Peacock and NBC 📺
It is the NFL’s most-watched Kickoff Recreation ever pic.twitter.com/K6hD15hz75
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) September 6, 2024
The Chiefs are the preeminent empire of professional soccer, with a quarterback in Patrick Mahomes who appears to be on his method to turning into the best participant in soccer historical past.
Final season, they one way or the other gained all of it regardless of a makeshift group of younger and unproven huge receivers who regularly dropped passes, however that place group seems to be considerably improved this 12 months.
Rashee Rice, who had a stable rookie 12 months in 2023, exploded for 103 yards on seven catches on Thursday, and rookie speedster Xavier Worthy scored two touchdowns in a tantalizing professional debut.
Kansas Metropolis additionally introduced in Marquise Brown and JuJu Smith Schuster, a key a part of their 2022 squad, for depth.
In fact, they nonetheless have star tight finish Travis Kelce, and one can’t overlook the influence pop star Taylor Swift, his girlfriend, has on viewership.
In the meantime, the Ravens now have star operating again Derrick Henry and are hoping second-year wideout Zay Flowers will proceed to ascend to a excessive degree.
These two groups might very effectively find yourself assembly with a spot in Tremendous Bowl LIX on the road this winter.
NEXT:
Host Picks 1 AFC Staff That Can Match Up With Chiefs, Ravens
