The wait is over as American Football returns to television screens. The 2024 campaign began with a marquee AFC matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs, back-to-back Superbowl champs, and the Baltimore Ravens, the AFC runners-up in 2023.
The two juggernauts locked heads in the new NFL season-opening game at Arrowhead yesterday evening. It was a huge game to kick things off, and both teams were looking for a promising start. It came down to the wire, with a last-second Ravens touchdown overruled to an incomplete pass. Tight end Isiaih Likely’s toes were out the back of the end zone. The Chiefs won 27-20, so they got their title defence off to the perfect start. It was perhaps a fortunate win for the Chiefs, who just about held off a late Jackson charge for the win.
Rookie Xavier Worthy impressed on his debut and became the first person ever to have a rushing and passing touchdown in the first NFL game. Travis Kelce was unusually quiet, but he was not needed for full production as Kansas’ other weapons came through to get them over the line.
In January, the Chiefs beat out the Ravens in the AFC Championship game en route to their second consecutive Super Bowl title. No team has ever won the Super Bowl three times in a row, but Andy Reid’s Chiefs will be hoping to be the first to do so.
Chiefs Three-Peat Possibilities
No team has ever won the Super Bowl three years in a year since the era began in 1966. The Green Bay Packers won three titles from 1965 to 67. But since the first title was before the inception of the Super Bowl era, it does not count. Kansas City could, therefore, make history this year if they can win the Lombardi trophy for three consecutive years.
They have been in the Super Bowl four of the last five seasons, cementing themselves as the current dynasty. Their rise to the top was at the back end of Brady’s Patriots dominance, and now the Chiefs are the new kings of the NFL. Who will be able to stop them from reaching ‘the big game’ once again? The team they face up against to begin their season will have their say when the playoffs roll around.
Ravens Running for Revenge
Since drafting Lamar Jackson in 2018, they have not reached the Super Bowl. This is despite reaching the playoffs in only one season with Jackson under centre. The dual-threat quarterback won the league’s MVP last year, the second of his career. But he has yet to propel his team over the final hurdle. The Ravens have a dedicated fanbase that generates a hostile atmosphere at the M&T Bank Stadium. They also had the league’s best record last season but failed to get past the Chiefs yet again, even on their home turf. If they are to be AFC Champions this year, something must change for Baltimore.
Well, in the offseason, they signed superstar running back Derrick Henry, the former Tennessee Titan. He will accompany Jackson in their stellar running game. They racked up the most rushing yards of any team in 2023. Henry will only elevate their rushing capabilities, and Lamar’s choice to run or pass adds more difficulty to opposing defences. The ravens versus Chiefs game on Thursday night served as an early, but perhaps premature, indicator of where these two AFC powerhouses are. And whether they could face each other again in the postseason. Most likely, they will both be there in January, with many positives to take out of the opener for both teams.
Embed from Getty ImagesNFL Branches out to South America
Friday night will see the first-ever NFL game in Brazil, as the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles will battle it out in Sao Paolo. The Eagles have been one of the best teams in the NFC in recent history but tailed off towards the back end of last season. They ended up losing in the wild-card round to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
They will be one of the favourites again, but many have suggested they may be at the end of a prime spell. It is likely to be them versus rival Dallas Cowboys, who battle to win the NFC East division yet again. The post-Aaron Rodgers Packers have exceeded initial expectations with new QB Jordan Love. Rodgers’ apprentice in his first couple of seasons, Love has impressed since taking the starting role.
So much so that the Packers hype is real, and they are backed to be one of the main contenders in the NFC. They have tough divisional opponents in the Detroit Lions, making divisional matchups all the more vital as the season goes along. Eagles against the Packers, the two NFC outfits, face each other in Brazil to get their seasons underway on Friday night in what should also be a blockbuster affair.
Jets to Contend for Playoffs?
Speaking of Aaron Rodgers, he is returning with intent after rupturing his Achilles just minutes into his New York Jets debut last year. There was so much hype pre-season after Rodgers jumped ship from Green Bay to New York. But all hopes came crashing down immediately. Can Rodgers become the favourite for Comeback Player of the Year? And can the Jets’ defence remain as stingy and stubborn as they were for most of last year with their first-choice QB back on the field?
Embed from Getty ImagesCan the 49ers End Heartbreak?
The San Francisco 49ers, the Superbowl 58 runner-ups, will be hoping to get back to near their best after lots of speculation surrounding some key players this offseason. All matters have been resolved, with Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams signing new contracts.
As well as star running back Christian McCaffrey returning from another injury setback. So, after some uncertainty through training camp and preseason, they look to have their strongest roster back and are raring to go again, hoping for a first Lombardi since 1994. The 49ers have lost in the Super Bowl to the Chiefs in two of the last five years, with Mahomes and co. They are ruining any hope of a title. This season, they will try to end that narrative and get their revenge on Kansas City.
There is much to look forward to as the NFL enters another season. Predictions can be made to any extent, but no one can truly predict what will happen in Football.
