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The NFL’s season-opening game delivered a fantastic finish and provided an early sign that the Kansas City Chiefs may have successfully restocked their wide receiver corps for quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

The Chiefs just held on to beat the Baltimore Ravens, 27-20, Thursday night at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., by a fraction of a toe. Tight end Isaiah Likely’s apparent touchdown catch for the Ravens as time expired was nullified by an instant replay review showing that Likely’s toe was on the line, albeit barely, and therefore out of bounds along the back of the end zone.

“Obviously it was nerve-racking,” Mahomes said in an on-field postgame interview with NBC. “It’s a game of inches, though. That’s what they say. That’s a great football team. And to come out here and get a win at Arrowhead, that’s the way to start off the season.”

Speedy rookie wideout Xavier Worthy played a starring role for the Chiefs, with a touchdown run and a touchdown catch in his first NFL game. The Chiefs are attempting to become the first team to win three straight Super Bowls. Unlike last season, when they lost the traditional Thursday night NFL lid-lifter to the Detroit Lions, they’re off to a 1-0 start. They defeated the Ravens again after beating them, 17-10, in the AFC championship game Jan. 28 in Baltimore.

This time, it required a dramatic ending. The Ravens reached the Kansas City 10-yard line in the closing moments. But quarterback Lamar Jackson threw three straight incompletions into the end zone, including the near miss to Likely on the final play.

“I thought it was a touchdown,” Jackson said during his postgame news conference. “I still think it was a touchdown.”

Jackson also said: “I believe he got two feet in.”

Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith added: “I didn’t think there was enough evidence to overturn it.”

However, the replay did appear to show Likely’s toe clearly on the line. The replay reversal to an incompletion appeared to be correct.

“I’ve got to get both feet in,” Likely said.

Before the reversal, Coach John Harbaugh perhaps was prepared to have the Ravens attempt a two-point conversion for the victory — or loss, if it failed — in regulation, rather than kicking an extra point to force overtime.

“It looked like we had an opportunity there to tie the game up or try to win it with a two-point conversion,” Harbaugh said. “So it didn’t happen at the end. But I’m proud of the way the guys fought. We’re only going to get better from here on out, and I’m looking forward to that.”

The Chiefs celebrated their Super Bowl title from last season and took a first step toward securing another one this season. Pop superstar and noted Chiefs superfan Taylor Swift was on hand for a game that began about 20 minutes late because of a storm. The Chiefs added a new logo to their Super Bowl banner during a pregame ceremony in which their owner, Clark Hunt, told the crowd: “Kansas City, this one is for you!”

Mahomes said afterward to NBC: “We’ve got a lot of things we’ve got to get better at. But that’s a great start.”

Last season, Mahomes was forced to work with a set of wide receivers that was short on talent and lacking in production. There won’t be a repeat this season, it appears. Second-year wideout Rashee Rice had seven catches for 103 yards Thursday. Newcomer Marquise (Hollywood) Brown didn’t play in the opener but should return soon from a shoulder injury. Brown’s absence perhaps provided additional opportunities for Worthy, who delivered with a 21-yard touchdown dash on a first-quarter end-around and a 35-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter.

“I just thank my teammates for putting their trust in me,” Worthy said on NBC. “And there’s more to come.”

Worthy ran the fastest 40-yard dash in NFL scouting combine history at 4.21 seconds. The Chiefs selected him with the 28th overall choice in the NFL draft, trading up four spots to get that pick via a deal with the Buffalo Bills.

“He’s a playmaker,” Mahomes said. “To come out here in the first game against one of the best defenses in the league, to score some touchdowns — it’s just a start, though. He’s got a long ways to go. He’s going to be great.”

Mahomes threw an interception to go with his touchdown pass to Worthy in a 20-for-28, 291-yard performance. He became the Chiefs’ career leader in passing yards, moving past Len Dawson. Kicker Harrison Butker provided a pair of first-half field goals. Tailback Isiah Pacheco had a third-quarter touchdown run.

“It was very important,” Mahomes said. “That’s a team that’s going to be in the playoffs. I know it’s a long ways away. But that could be home-field advantage, all that different type of stuff. But that’s just one week. We’ve got a long ways to go and we’re going to keep building.”

Likely had nine catches for 111 yards for the Ravens. Jackson, the NFL’s reigning MVP, threw for 273 yards and ran for 122 more. He also lost a fumble on a first-half sack. The Ravens were plagued by penalties, namely several illegal formation calls made against their offensive linemen for setting up too far from the line of scrimmage.

“They put a thing out that they said they were going to call that differently,” Harbaugh said during his postgame news conference. “I think understanding how differently—we were the first offensive series of the season. And I think we saw probably everybody watching it. It’ll be interesting to see if they call it the same way the whole season. And I’ll challenge them to call it the same way they called it tonight the whole season. So hopefully they’ll be consistent about that.”

Said Smith, who had a first-half interception: “That’s the worst we’ll play all season. I promise you that.”

Tailback Derrick Henry provided a touchdown run to begin the night in his Ravens debut. Kicker Justin Tucker missed a first-half field goal attempt but connected from 25 yards just before the intermission to bring the Ravens to within 13-10. They trailed, 20-10, entering the fourth quarter but got a 49-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to Likely. Tucker had another field goal in the fourth quarter.

The Ravens — again — ould not quite overcome the Chiefs. But they came about as close as possible.

“They’re not my kryptonite…. The whole game gave me encouragement,” Jackson said.

<i>Read below for highlights and analysis from the NFL’s season opener</i>.

Baltimore Ravens v Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs celebrated their Super Bowl title from last season and took a first step toward securing another one this season.

They beat the Baltimore Ravens, 27-20, Thursday night in Kansas City, Mo., in the NFL’s season-opening game. Speedy rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy played a starring role, with a touchdown run and a touchdown catch in his first NFL game.

The Chiefs just held on at the end, as an apparent touchdown pass from Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson to tight end Isaiah Likely with no time remaining was overturned by an instant replay review showing that Likely was out of bounds with a toe on the end line. Coach John Harbaugh had been signaling that the Ravens would attempt a two-point conversion for the win.

The Chiefs are attempting to become the first team ever to win three straight Super Bowls. Unlike last season, when they lost the traditional Thursday night NFL lid-lifter to the Detroit Lions, they’re off to a 1-0 beginning. They defeated the Ravens again after beating them, 17-10, in the AFC championship game on Jan. 28, in Baltimore.

Pop superstar and noted Chiefs superfan Taylor Swift was on hand at Arrowhead Stadium for a game that began about 20 minutes late because of a storm. The Chiefs added a new logo to their Super Bowl banner during a pregame ceremony in which their owner, Clark Hunt, told the crowd: “Kansas City, this one is for you!”

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes became the Chiefs’ career leader in passing yards, moving ahead of Len Dawson. Worthy had a 21-yard touchdown run on an end-around on the Chiefs’ opening offensive drive. He added a 35-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter. Kicker Harrison Butker provided a pair of first-half field goals. Tailback Isiah Pacheco had a third-quarter touchdown run.

Tailback Derrick Henry provided a touchdown run to begin the night in his Ravens debut. Jackson lost a fumble on a first-half sack. Kicker Justin Tucker missed a first-half field goal attempt but connected from 25 yards just before the intermission to bring the Ravens to within 13-10. They trailed, 20-10, entering the fourth quarter but got a 49-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to Likely. Tucker had another field goal in the fourth quarter.

The Ravens reached the Kansas City 10-yard line in the final seconds but Jackson threw three incompletions in the end zone, including the final near miss to Likely.

The game also marked the regular season debut of the NFL’s new kickoff format.

Mark Maske

On the final play of regulation, from Kansas City’s 10-yard line, Lamar Jackson found Isaiah Likely for what officials ruled a touchdown. But replays indicated that the tight end got a toe on the back line, making it an incomplete pass, and the catch was overturned. The Chiefs win, 27-20.

Des Bieler

On a third-and-10 play, Baltimore’s defense made a good play by batting a Patrick Mahomes pass, but he made arguably an even better one by leaping to catch the ball before it could be picked off in his team’s end. Kansas City still has to punt, giving the Ravens a chance to drive for a tying touchdown.

Isiah Pacheco picked up a first down for Kansas City after he rolled over a would-be tackler short of the line to gain, then stayed on his feet and got a few more yards. An unusual but very effective play by the running back.

The Ravens were flagged for still another illegal formation, but as it came on an unsuccessful third-down play, the Chiefs declined the penalty. Baltimore’s Justin Tucker then came on to kick a 32-yard field goal, cutting Kansas City’s lead to 27-20 with just under five minutes to play.

Down by 10 points in the fourth quarter, the Ravens went for it on fourth and one from Kansas City’s 22-yard line. Derrick Henry got the ball, brushed off a defender in the backfield and earned a two-yard gain for a first down.

The Chiefs won the Super Bowl last season even while Patrick Mahomes operated with a lack of production at wide receiver. No more. Rookie Xavier Worthy has a touchdown run and touchdown catch in his first NFL game. Rashee Rice has seven catches for 103 yards. And Marquise (Hollywood) Brown should return soon from a shoulder injury.

The Ravens blow a coverage and Chiefs rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy adds a touchdown catch to go with his earlier touchdown run. Don’t forget that the Buffalo Bills traded the first-round draft pick used to select Worthy to the Chiefs.

Xavier Worthy has struck again. The rookie wide receiver, who scored on a first-quarter end-around, got wide open this time for a 35-yard touchdown reception. That ended an eight-play, 70-yard drive for the Chiefs, who retook a 10-point lead at 27-17 in the fourth quarter.

That play by the Ravens changes everything. They’re right back in the game, one play into the fourth quarter. Lamar Jackson kept the play alive. Isaiah Likely made the adjustment to the ball in the air, then added a big run after the catch for the long touchdown. Now the pressure shifts to the Chiefs’ offense to make something happen.

A tremendous play authored by Lamar Jackson and tight end Isaiah Likely brought the Ravens back to within 20-17. Jackson felt pressure in the pocket and ran to his right before lobbing a pass up the sideline to Likely, who got a block and eluded a pair of defenders to complete a 49-yard touchdown.

The third quarter ended with Baltimore driving while down by a 20-10 margin. Lamar Jackson has been doing a lot of running, and in fact he leads all rushers in the game with 82 yards on 10 carries. Chiefs wide receiver Zay Flowers has been targeted nine times, but has just 37 yards on six catches to show for it.

That was conservative by Andy Reid. He could have left his offense on the field for a fourth-and-five attempt from the Baltimore 40-yard line. He could have sent in Harrison Butker for a 58-yard field goal attempt. Instead, Reid opted for the punt, with a 10-point lead and the Ravens sputtering on offense.

Facing fourth and five from Baltimore’s 40-yard line, Kansas City opted to punt and almost pinned the Ravens near their goal line, but officials ruled a touchback. With under four minutes left in the third quarter, Baltimore has time to come back from a 10-point deficit, but its offense will want to look a lot sharper.

After the Chiefs began the second half with a touchdown, the Ravens moved 25 yards in seven plays before being forced to punt. Lamar Jackson has gotten nothing going down the field, in part because of a leaky offensive line, and his leading pass-catcher is running back Justice Hill with 45 yards on five grabs.

The Chiefs have been inconsistent on offense tonight. But they opened the second half with a touchdown drive, just as they began the game with a touchdown drive on their first offensive possession. The Ravens need some points on their upcoming drive to stay within striking distance.

The Chiefs scored on a grinding, one-yard run by Isiah Pacheco, which helped increase their lead to 20-10 after the extra point. That capped a six-play, 81-yard drive on which the biggest play was a 33-yard catch-and-run by wide receiver Rashee Rice.

On the opening possession of the second half, Kansas City used a pair of big pass plays to move deep into Baltimore territory. The Chiefs were then pushed back by a holding penalty, but the Ravens were just flagged for a 15-yard penalty for roughing the passer. Baltimore linebacker Kyle Van Noy was injured on the play.

The Chiefs lead the Ravens, 13-10, at halftime of the NFL’s season-opening game in Kansas City, Mo.

They celebrated last season’s Super Bowl title in a pregame ceremony. Now the Chiefs are halfway to beating the Ravens again, after defeating them in Baltimore in last season’s AFC championship game.

Speedy rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy scored a touchdown on a 21-yard run on an end-around on the Chiefs’ opening offensive drive. The Chiefs settled for two field goals by kicker Harrison Butker thereafter, one after a Ravens’ turnover and the other following a failed fourth-down attempt by Baltimore. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes became the Chiefs’ career leader in passing yards but threw an interception to Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith late in the half.

“We’ve just got to take care of the ball,” Chiefs Coach Andy Reid told NBC in an on-field interview as the half ended.

The Ravens got a five-yard touchdown run by tailback Derrick Henry on the game’s opening possession. But quarterback Lamar Jackson lost a fumble on a sack by the Chiefs’ Chris Jones. The offensive line struggled with illegal formation penalties, assessed for linemen beginning too far from the line of scrimmage. Kicker Justin Tucker missed a 53-yard field goal attempt. He did connect from 25 yards with three seconds left in the half, following Smith’s interception.

“Our defense is doing a nice job of that,” Reid said.

After missing on a couple of pass plays inside the Chiefs’ 10-yard line and with just four seconds left in the first half, Baltimore opted for a Justin Tucker field goal on third down. He connected from 25 yards out, trimming Kansas City’s lead to 13-10.

After Justin Tucker’s missed field goal, Patrick Mahomes was quickly picked off by Baltimore linebacker Roquan Smith at the Ravens’ 49-yard line on a diving play.

Baltimore’s Justin Tucker missed left on a 53-yard field goal attempt, leaving the Chiefs with a 13-7 lead late in the first half. The Ravens thus got nothing from a seven-play, 35-yard drive marked by penalties on both sides.

Shortly before the two-minute warning, the Ravens were flagged yet again for an illegal formation when their left tackle lined up too far behind the line of scrimmage. Baltimore Coach John Harbaugh appeared to be yelling at the officiating crew to also penalize the Chiefs for the infraction.

The Chiefs are getting field goals instead of touchdowns. That was not their winning formula in the past. But remember, the defense did much of the heavy lifting last season. And it is playing well again in this first half after the sluggish start on the Ravens’ opening drive.

Baltimore caused an incomplete pass on a third-and-five play from their 13, so the Chiefs sent in Harrison Butker for another short field goal make, this time from 31 yards. It’s 13-7, Kansas City, midway through the second quarter, and the Ravens can be grateful they’re not losing by more after fumbling at midfield.

Travis Kelce had a quiet start to the game, but he just caught a 23-yard pass on third and 12 after Patrick Mahomes evaded several Ravens defenders in the backfield. Did NBC then show a celebrating Taylor Swift? You’re darn right!

That failed fourth-and-three attempt by the Ravens from midfield was overly aggressive. It’s not that type of game at the moment. The defenses have settled in following the early offensive flurry. Also, the Ravens might not want to see Lamar Jackson lowering his shoulder and plowing into defenders too often, as he did on that third-down scramble.

Faced with a fourth-and-three play from the 50-yard line, Baltimore went for it, but Kansas City cornerback Trent McDuffie was up the challenge. He tackled Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers after just a one-yard gain, giving the ball back to the Chiefs.

JuJu Smith-Schuster needs to make that catch at the goal line. That’s a small win for the Baltimore defense, limiting the Chiefs to a field goal after the turnover. It’s worth noting that Travis Kelce has not been at all involved in the Chiefs’ offense as of yet.

The Chiefs came very close to a second touchdown when Patrick Mahomes hit JuJu Smith-Schuster at the goal line, but the veteran wide receiver couldn’t hang onto the ball as he was being hit. Instead, Kansas City settled for a Harrison Butker field goal from 32 yards out and a 10-7 lead in the second quarter.

Chris Jones is back to his game-wrecking ways for the Kansas City defense. The Ravens could not block him and he forced a fumble by Lamar Jackson.

On the first play of the second quarter, we got our first turnover. Lamar Jones was sacked by Chiefs star Chris Jones, who also caused a fumble which was recovered by Kansas City at Baltimore’s 14-yard line.

The first quarter ended with a 7-7 score and the Chiefs presumably set to punt after Patrick Mahomes was sacked for a loss of 10 yards on a third-and-eight play from their 44-yard line. Kansas City’s drive had gotten off to an explosive start with receptions of 23 yards by Isiah Pacheco and 19 yards by Rashee Rice.

We just had our first punt, after the Ravens failed to pick up a second first down on a four-play drive. The Chiefs get the ball back at their 10-yard line.

Xavier Worthy set the record for the fastest 40-yard dash in NFL scouting combine history. And he wasted no time adding some zoom-zoom to the Chiefs’ offense, with a blazing-fast touchdown run on their opening drive of the season.

Kansas City struck back very quickly with an end-around touchdown from rookie Xavier Worthy, who set a record in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. This time, he burst around the right end on a first-and-10 play from Baltimore’s 21-yard line and saw little resistance as he sprinted to the end zone, helping tie the game at 7.

That’s a great opening drive by the Ravens. They overcame the three illegal formation penalties called against them. Lamar Jackson made plays, both running and passing. And Derrick Henry got into the end zone on the first drive of his Ravens debut.

The first touchdown of the NFL season has been scored by Derrick Henry in his first game for the Ravens. The longtime Titans star took a handoff on a second-and-two play from the Chiefs’ 5-yard line and bulled his way over the right guard into the end zone. Baltimore has a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

The officials are sending an early signal that they’re going to call illegal formation penalties when offensive linemen begin too far from the line of scrimmage, trying to gain an edge on the opposing pass rushers. The Ravens had better adjust.

Referees have already flagged the Ravens three times for illegal formation, indicating a clear point of emphasis for the NFL regarding offensive tackles lining up too far off the line scrimmage on pass plays.

That was a letdown for the first kickoff of the regular season debut of the NFL’s new “dynamic” kickoff format. It wasn’t too dynamic, as it results in a touchback and the Ravens take over at their 30-yard line.

“Now it’s time to get back to football,” Patrick Mahomes tells NBC in an on-field pregame interview. The NFL is allowing pregame on-field TV interviews of players this season, along with in-game interviews of coaches and coordinators.

After a brief weather delay (although not so brief to football-starved fans), the game has kicked off. The Ravens get the ball first, after the Chiefs won the coin toss and elected to defer.

The Chiefs celebrated their Super Bowl title from last season during a pregame ceremony in which their owner, Clark Hunt, told the crowd at Arrowhead Stadium: “Kansas City, this one is for you!”

Another look at Taylor Swift? With the game delayed because of the earlier weather, why not? There’ll be plenty of time to talk football once this thing finally gets going.

During the pregame events, Arrowhead Stadium officials held a moment of silence in honor of Lisa Lopez-Galvan, who was killed when gunfire rang out <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/02/14/chiefs-parade-super-bowl-kansas-city/?itid=lk_inline_manual_162" target=_blank>during the Chiefs’ Super Bowl celebration in February</a>. The stadium announcer also hailed first responders who reacted to the chaotic scene.

Among the Chiefs listed as inactive for this game is Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, a wide receiver signed in the offseason who has been dealing recently with a shoulder injury. Rookie wide receiver Devontez Walker is on the Ravens’ list of inactive players.

Weather update: Conditions have improved at Arrowhead Stadium to the point where fans are returning to their seats after having been asked to take shelter in the concourse. However, the kickoff has been moved back to 8:40 p.m., per NBC’s telecast.

Lamar Jackson may see the world simply, but there’s nothing traditional about him. In a sport that historically has preferred Black players line up anywhere but quarterback, Jackson is changing the game with his accomplishments — which now include two NFL MVP awards — but also with the uncompromising way he looks, thinks and speaks. And, perhaps most notably, how he conducts his business: eschewing most marketing opportunities and negotiating his own contracts.

“When people just giving me s---, like, ‘Oh, he needs to get an agent’ — I know what the f--- I’m doing,” he says. “I knew what I was doing all my life to get in this situation, so how the f--- I’m not going to know now?”

<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/09/05/lamar-jackson-agent-contract/?itid=lk_inline_manual_174" target=_blank>Read the full story</a>

Kent Babb

The NFL’s on-field officials threw no flags for <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/03/25/nfl-owners-meeting/?itid=lk_inline_manual_12&itid=lk_inline_manual_176" target=_blank>the now-illegal hip-drop tackling technique</a> during the entire preseason. The league identified two hip-drop tackles based on its subsequent review of plays.

“We certainly saw a lot of plays that were very close to hip-drop tackles,” Walt Anderson, the NFL’s officiating rules analyst, said at last week’s special league meeting in Eagan, Minn. “But they did not have all of elements. But there were two plays that did have all of the elements and that were hip-drop tackles.”

That may be how it goes during the regular season also, with relatively few penalties during games but fines assessed by the league for infractions identified later.

<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/09/04/nfl-power-rankings-week-1/?itid=lk_inline_manual_179" target=_blank>Read the full story</a>

It’s raining right now at Arrowhead and, more ominously, lightning has been spotted in the area. As a result, players have been told the leave the field, delaying their warm-up period, and fans have left the seating area. It is unclear at the moment if the kickoff will be delayed.

Xaviar Michael Babudar, who was known to fellow Kansas City fans as the wolf suit-clad “ChiefsAholic,” was <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/09/05/chiefsaholic-sentenced-federal-prison-bank-robbery/?itid=lk_inline_manual_184" target=_blank>sentenced today to 17.5 years in prison</a> after he committed a string of bank robberies. Babudar, 30, was said by prosecutors to have used his ill-gotten gains to finance tickets and travel to Chiefs home and away games, including multiple Super Bowls.

The sweeping changes that the NFL made <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/03/27/nfl-new-kickoff-breakdown/?itid=lk_inline_manual_2&itid=lk_inline_manual_186" target=_blank>to its kickoff rules</a> already had their soft launch, going on public display <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/08/01/nfl-kickoff-format-hall-fame-game-preseason/?itid=lk_inline_manual_2&itid=lk_inline_manual_186" target=_blank>during preseason games</a>.

Now the regular season is at hand, and league leaders will find out whether the new format will work.

The competition committee devised the new format — which draws heavily from the XFL version of the kickoff and is visually jarring to any observer seeing it for the first time — with input from teams’ special teams coaches. Team owners <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/03/26/nfl-kickoff-change/?itid=lk_inline_manual_16&itid=lk_inline_manual_188" target=_blank>ratified the proposal</a> in March on a one-year basis. The intent is to meaningfully increase returns while having an injury rate more comparable to that of a play from the line of scrimmage. It amounts to one of the most significant rule changes in NFL history, in part because it looks so different and will require fans to adjust to what they’re seeing.

<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/09/05/nfl-new-kickoff-rule-change-explained-2024/?itid=lk_inline_manual_189" target=_blank>Read the full story</a>

Yes, folks, Taylor Swift is in the building. The pop superstar, who has been dating Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce since last year, has arrived at Arrowhead Stadium. She will presumably be perched in a luxury suite, as was the case a number of times last season, where her every move will be closely scrutinized by fans and sportswriters alike.

After an offseason of prominent quarterback moves, significant rule changes and intriguing trades, the 2024 NFL season has arrived.

The Kansas City Chiefs, the two-time defending Super Bowl champs, are hosting the Baltimore Ravens Thursday night, a rematch of last season’s AFC championship game <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/01/29/chiefs-challenging-season-super-bowl-ravens/?itid=lk_inline_manual_2&itid=lk_inline_manual_195" target="_blank">won by the Chiefs</a> in Baltimore. The Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers meet Friday night in the NFL’s <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/12/12/nfl-brazil-game/?itid=lk_inline_manual_2&itid=lk_inline_manual_195" target="_blank">first game in Brazil</a>. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/08/09/aaron-rodgers-jets-training-camp/?itid=lk_inline_manual_2&itid=lk_inline_manual_195" target="_blank">returns to the field</a> Monday night as the New York Jets face the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif. And that’s just the first five days.

Here are 16 storylines to watch as the season unfolds.

<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/09/05/2024-nfl-season-storylines/?itid=lk_inline_manual_197" target=_blank>Read the full story</a>

Ravens Chiefs Football

The Chiefs begin their three-peat quest as they host the Ravens in the NFL’s <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/05/13/chief-ravens-2024-nfl-season-opener/?itid=lk_inline_manual_200" target="_blank">season-opening game </a>Thursday night in Kansas City, Mo. It’s a rematch of last season’s AFC championship game <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/01/29/chiefs-challenging-season-super-bowl-ravens/?itid=lk_inline_manual_200" target="_blank">won by the Chiefs</a>, 17-10, on Jan. 28 in Baltimore.

The Chiefs will celebrate last season’s Super Bowl title and, they hope, take a first step to becoming the first team ever to win <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/02/13/chiefs-three-straight-super-bowls/?itid=lk_inline_manual_201" target=_blank>three straight Super Bowls</a>. They still have their mainstays in Coach Andy Reid, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce. Wide receiver Rashee Rice remains eligible to play after the NFL decided <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/08/28/rashee-rice-status-nfl-chiefs/?itid=lk_inline_manual_201" target=_blank>not to put him</a> on paid administrative leave via placement on the commissioner’s exempt list, pending potential disciplinary action under the personal conduct policy once his legal case is resolved. He faces felony charges for his involvement in a six-vehicle crash on a Dallas expressway in March.

Wideout Marquise “Hollywood” Brown will miss the game because of a shoulder injury. That could create additional opportunities for speedy rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy, a first-round pick <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/04/25/nfl-draft-live-updates-picks-analysis/?itid=lk_inline_manual_202" target=_blank>in April’s NFL draft</a>. The Chiefs ranked second in the NFL in total defense last season but traded a key contributor, cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, to the Tennessee Titans in March. The Chiefs lost last year’s Thursday night NFL season opener <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/09/07/chiefs-vs-lions-nfl-season-opener/?itid=lk_inline_manual_202" target=_blank>to the Detroit Lions</a>.

The Ravens seek a small measure of revenge for the outcome of the AFC championship game. They were the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed last season and they have the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/02/08/nfl-awards-lamar-jackson-mvp/?itid=lk_inline_manual_203" target=_blank>NFL’s reigning MVP</a> in quarterback <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/09/05/lamar-jackson-agent-contract/?itid=lk_inline_manual_203" target=_blank>Lamar Jackson</a>. The Ravens’ roster underwent significant offseason changes. The <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/07/25/derrick-henry-lamar-jackson-ravens/?itid=lk_inline_manual_203" target=_blank>key newcomer</a> is tailback Derrick Henry, the former 2,000-yard rusher for the Titans.

Associated Press Sports Editors, 2004, fifth place in breaking news story over 250,000 circulation with Leonard Shapiro

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War Without Death: A Year of Extreme Competition in Pro Football's NFC East

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The Chiefs beat the Ravens by a toe as NFL’s season opener goes down to the wire

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