Ravens-Chiefs, first South American game, Rodgers' return headline NFL season openers

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1 of 5 | Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (L) and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, winners of the last two NFL MVP Awards, will appear in the first game of the 2024 regular season on Thursday in Kansas City, Mo. File Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

MIAMI, Sept. 4 (UPI) -- All 32 teams will smash pads to launch the 105th NFL season, with 16 games scheduled, including Thursday's opener between the reigning MVP and Super Bowl champion, and the league's first game in South America.

The Kansas City Chiefs will start their second-consecutive title defense at 8:20 p.m. EDT Thursday against the Baltimore Ravens in Kansas City, Mo.

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and Chiefs passer Patrick Mahomes, the winners of the last two NFL MVP Awards, highlight that matchup. The Chiefs, looking to become the first team in NFL history to win three-consecutive Super Bowls, are three-point favorites.

"I'm going to approach it like any other game, but it's the start of the season so we gotta make a great impression for the first game of the season," Jackson told reporters Monday.

The Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, Ravens, Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles are among the Super Bowl LIX betting favorites.

Mahomes and the Chiefs are 1-1 the last two times they appeared in the NFL's season opener after winning titles.

"It's just a great opportunity for the guys to see what it's like to play on the biggest stage," Mahomes said. "Obviously, you want to play in the Super Bowl at the end of the year, but this is a big stage, as well.

"To be able to get that experience to play a great football team, I'm excited for these guys to get out there, and for the guys who haven't been here, to see what it's like to be on that type of stage."

The Eagles will take on the Green Bay Packers in the second game of the NFL regular season. That will kick off at 8:15 p.m. Friday at Corinthians Arena in Sao Paolo, Brail. The Eagles are slight favorites in that NFC meeting.

Sunday's slate features 13 games, starting with a wave of eight 1 p.m. meetings. The Lions will host the Los Angeles Rams in the nightcap at 8:20 p.m. Sunday on NBC. That game features the highest expected point total (51.5), with the Lions as 3.5-point favorites.

The Super Bowl runner-up 49ers will host the New York Jets in the Week 1 finale. That game will kick off at 8:15 p.m. Monday as a Monday Night Football broadcast on ESPN, ABC and ESPN2.

The primetime meeting also will be Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers' first NFL appearance since he sustained a season-ending Achilles injury in a Week 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 11.

Several expected MVP contenders and top picks for the 2024 NFL Draft are to debut in Week 1.

Quarterback Joe Burrow, a Top-3 MVP favorite, and the Cincinnati Bengals are the biggest betting favorites (9.5 points) of Week 1. They will host the New England Patriots at 1 p.m. on CBS.

Quarterback Josh Allen, who is second in MVP odds behind Mahomes, and the Buffalo Bills will host the Arizona Cardinals at 1 p.m. Sunday on the same network. That matchup also will feature Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick, and wide receiver Rome Odunze, the No. 9 pick, will make their regular-season debut against the Tennessee Titans at 1 p.m. Sunday on Fox.

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, the No. 2 pick, will start his career against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 4:25 p.m. on Fox.

In addition to the star-watching and fantasy football team monitoring, fans will experience the NFL's new kickoff rules for the first time during the regular season.

Teams are expected to unveil new strategies on the returns, which require players to line up differently and alter their movements.

Close games also could present a different look because of changes to onside kick rules. Those kicks are now only allowed to be attempts by the losing team in the fourth quarter or later. Teams also must announce that intention before attempting onside kicks.

The 2024 campaign marks the NFL's fourth 17-game regular season, while the league considers an 18-game schedule. NFL bye weeks will start in Week 5 and end in Week 14.

Prime Video NFL broadcasts will start in Week 2. The first live NFL games to air on Netflix will take place on Christmas, with scheduled matchups between the Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers and the Ravens and Houston Texans.

The NFL playoffs are scheduled to start Jan. 11 The respective conference title games will be Jan. 26. Super Bowl LIX will be held Feb. 9 in New Orleans.

Week 1 schedule

All times EDT

Thursday

Ravens at Chiefs at 8:20 p.m. on NBC

Friday

Packers vs. Eagles at 8:15 p.m. on Peacock

Sunday

Steelers at Falcons at 1 p.m. on Fox

Cardinals at Bills at 1 p.m. on CBS

Titans at Bears at 1 p.m. on Fox

Patriots at Bengals at 1 p.m. on CBS

Texans at Colts at 1 p.m. on CBS

Jaguars at Dolphins at 1 p.m. on CBS

Panthers at Saints at 1 p.m. on Fox

Vikings at Giants at 1 p.m. on Fox

Raiders at Chargers at 4:05 p.m. on CBS

Broncos at Seahawks at 4:05 pm. on CBS

Cowboys at Browns at 4:25 pm. on Fox

Commanders at Buccaneers at 4:25 p.m. on Fox

Rams at Lions at 8:20 p.m. on NBC

Monday

Jets at 49ers at 8:15 p.m. on ESPN, ABC, ESPN2

Chicago Bears quarterback Tyson Bagent dives for a touchdown in the first quarter in the teams' final preseason game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on August 22, 2024. The Bears defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 34-21. Photo by Jon Robichaud/UPI | License Photo [ad_1]

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