Ravens vs. Chiefs live updates: Score, how to watch, highlights for NFL season opener

The 2024 NFL season is finally here, and the opener serves up quite a matchup.

The Kansas City Chiefs will celebrate their second consecutive Super Bowl title before taking on the Baltimore Ravens in the first step of their bid for a historic three-peat. Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Co. pushed past top-seeded Baltimore 17-10 in last year’s AFC championship game, and the Ravens enter the tilt acknowledging the revenge element. But Kansas City will have the backing of a raucous Arrowhead Stadium crowd after prevailing on the road in last season’s postseason showdown between the two teams.

USA TODAY Sports will have live updates on all the action throughout the night, so check back often for all the latest updates:

Chris Jones wreaks havoc, forces Lamar Jackson fumble on sack

That was a tough assignment for Roger Rosengarten.

The rookie right tackle from Washington had to deal with Chris Jones rushing right at him and it wasn’t much of a contest. Jones easily maneuvered around Rosengarten and as Lamar Jackson stepped up in the pocket, the All-Pro defensive tackle pawed at the reigning MVP. The ball came out, the Chiefs recovered, and Kansas City took over in the red zone.

A Travis Kelce holding penalty on the first play afterward, however, would push the offense back. Kansas City would settle for a 32-yard Harrison Butker field goal to go up 10-7 early in the second quarter.

Ravens extend sack streak to 39 games

Ravens LB Trenton Simpson and DT Nnamdi Madubuike combined for a sack at the end of the first quarter to extend the team’s consecutive game sack streak to 39 games.

The Ravens came into Thursday with a streak of 38 straight games with a sack, the longest active sack streak in the NFL.

Madubuike had a team-high and career-best 13 sacks last season.

Ravens RB comparison

Baltimore, the NFL’s top-ranked rushing team in 2023, infamously used its running backs to run the ball 6 times (for 23 yards) in last season’s 17-10 loss to the Chiefs in the AFC championship game.

With the first quarter not yet complete tonight, RB Derrick Henry, the Ravens’ primary offseason acquisition, has already carried six times for 18 yards and Baltimore’s first TD. And though the early 3.0 yards per carry isn’t impressive, Henry has a well-deserved reputation for wearing defenses down and making would-be tacklers think twice, especially as a game carries on.

First-quarter score: Chiefs 7, Ravens 7 after Xavier Worthy TD

The Chiefs showcased their wide receivers on their opening five-play, 67-yard touchdown drive.

Patrick Mahomes found wideout Rashee Rice twice for 27 yards, including once on third down to keep the chains moving.

Then on the Chiefs’ fifth offensive play, they ran a reverse to rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy. Worthy took the football and showcased his NFL record 40-yard dash speed on the way to a 21-yard yard touchdown run.

Kicker Harrison Butker hit the ensuing extra point to tie the ballgame at 7-7.

First-quarter score: Ravens 7, Chiefs 0 after Derrick Henry TD

Three penalties for illegal formation and seven points. That’s one way to start a season.

Baltimore marched down the field – when the offense wasn’t being called for procedural mess-ups – and Derrick Henry wasted no time in scoring his first touchdown as a Raven by plunging into the end zone from 5 yards out 7:46 into the game .

The big play came on third-and-9 when Lamar Jackson found Zay Flowers for a 19-yard gain over the middle. Jackson had two carries for 19 yards on the drive, and he smartly found Justice Hill on the flat on a third-and-11 earlier in the drive. Hill did the rest of the work with his legs by securing the first down.

There was nothing smooth about the Ravens’ processional to the end zone, though. Ronnie Stanley, the veteran left tackle, was flagged twice for not lining up in the proper position. Right tackle Patrick Mekari committed one himself.

Baltimore’s offensive line is replacing three starters from last year, and position coach Joe D’Alessandris died on Aug. 25.

The Ravens racked up three first downs on that drive – as many they had in the AFC championship game, Mike Tirico pointed out on the NBC broadcast.

Chiefs unveil latest Super Bowl banner

Before embarking on their next title quest, the Chiefs had to celebrate their last one.

Prior to kickoff Thursday, Kansas City unveiled its fourth title banner. Raising Lombardi Trophies were Bobby Bell, Mitchell Schwartz, Chad Henne and Clark Hunt.

Chiefs pay tribute after Super Bowl parade shooting

Chiefs and Ravens players took part in a moment of silence for Lisa Lopez-Galvan, the Kansas City fan who lost her life in a shooting that marred the end of the Chiefs Super Bowl celebration. Lopez-Galvan, who was 43, was survived by husband Mike Galvan, children Marc, Adriana and stepdaughter Tiffany Banuelos, and four grandchildren. Lopez-Galvan was a devoted Chiefs fan who had a huge community presence. Also known as “DJ Lisa G,” she was sought after for various events and hosted a weekly “Taste of Tejano” music night on KKFI Radio. Classy gesture for the Chiefs to honor the memory of the victim from a senseless tragedy. -Jarrett Bell

How have other Super Bowl three-peat attempts failed?

Tonight, the Chiefs embark on their quest to become the first back-to-back-to-back NFL champions since the 1967 Green Bay Packers and first to do it in the Super Bowl era. That Pack squad could have turned the trick — it won the 1965 NFL title and Super Bowls 1 and 2 — but missed the playoffs in 1968.

As for the seven other teams that had a shot at a Lombardi three-peat? None even made it back to the Super Bowl. And the breakdown:

• Missed playoffs: 1980 Steelers, 1999 Broncos

• Lost in divisional round: 1974 Dolphins, 2005 Patriots

• Lost in conference title game: 1976 Steelers, 1990 49ers, 1994 Cowboys

Chiefs, Ravens face weather delay

Kickoff for Ravens vs. Chiefs has been pushed back to 8:40 pm ET due to weather conditions.

Players began returning to the field with a little more than 20 minutes until the original scheduled kickoff time of 8:20 pm ET.

Ravens vs. Chiefs weather: Lightning interferes with pregame warmups

Fans who arrived at Arrowhead Stadium early to take in warmups and get situated had to clear out a little less than an hour before kickoff, as there was lightning in the area from isolated thunderstorms. Players were also cleared from the field.

Ravens vs. Chiefs inactive

• Ravens: OL Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, S Beau Brade, OLB Adisa Isaac, C Nick Samac, CB TJ Tampa, DE Brent Urban, WR Devontez Walker

• Chiefs: WR Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, OL CJ Hanson, TE Peyton Hendershot, OT Ethan Driskell, DT Marlon Tuipulotu

No major surprises on either side, with Brown already having been ruled out for what would have been his Chiefs debut with a shoulder injury.

Will Taylor Swift be at Chiefs’ game vs. Ravens?

Yes, the singer is officially on hand at Arrowhead Stadium to watch boyfriend Travis Kelce and the rest of the Chiefs in their season opener.

Swift was spotted roughly an hour and a half before kickoff.

What time is Ravens vs. Chiefs kickoff?

The two teams are set to start things off at 8:20 pm ET on Thursday, Sept. 5.

How to watch Ravens vs. Chiefs

Ravens vs. Chiefs will be broadcast nationally on NBC, with Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (analyst) and Melissa Stark (sideline) handling the call. The game will be preceded by “Football Night in America” ​​at 7 pm ET.

You can stream the game on Peacock, NBC’s subscription streaming service, or on Fubo, which carries NBC and offers a free trial to select users.

• Jarrett Bell: Ravens 24-23

• Chris Bumbaca: Ravens 26-23

• Nate Davis: 27-17

• Tyler Dragon: 24-23

• Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz: 28-17

• Lorenzo Reyes: 23-17

Ravens vs. Chiefs odds, moneyline, over/under

The Chiefs are favorites to defeat the Ravens, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering NFL betting promos in 2024 including the ESPN BET app and Fanatics Sportsbook promo code.

Not interested in this game? Our guide toNFL betting odds, picks and spreads has you covered withThursday Night Football odds andMonday Night Football odds.

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Ravens vs. Chiefs injury report

• Ravens: OLB Adisa Isaac (out, hamstring)

• Chiefs: WR Marquise “Hollywood” Brown (out, shoulder)

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ravens vs. Chiefs live updates: Score, how to watch, highlights