NFL season start: Kansas City Chiefs host Baltimore Ravens

In the night to Friday (02.20 a.m. German time) the National Football League (NFL) in the new season. At the opening, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens – two favorites in the battle for the Super Bowl.

The last time the teams met was not that long ago; their paths last crossed in the playoffs last season. Mahomes and Co. had the better end of the road in January, defeating the Ravens 17-10.

The new faces of the NFL

The focus is again on the Quarterbacks. With Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson, both teams have two of the most dominant players in the NFL in their ranks. Both have been crowned the most valuable player of a season several times. Mahomes managed it in the 2018 and 2022 seasons, while Jackson finished the 2019 and 2023 seasons as MVP.

Travis Kelce also joins in

After Tight End After Travis Kelce missed the opening game of the 2023/24 season with a knee injury, he is back in the game this season. The superstar, who signed a lucrative podcast contract during the off-season and toured the world with his girlfriend Taylor Swift, is now fully focused on the sport again.

His counterpart on the other side, Mark Andrews, missed part of the previous season after suffering a fracture in his leg. The key player, who will celebrate his 29th birthday shortly after the end of the game, is back to full fitness for the new season. Both tight ends are among the key players on their teams and the best players in their positions.

Derrick Henry vs Chris Jones

Both teams were able to keep most of their key players, only in defense both teams lost a few key players in Jadeveon Clowney and Patrick Queen (Ravens) and L’Jarius Sneed (Chiefs). With Derrick Henry, the Baltimore Ravens receive a notable reinforcement at the position of Running backs. Henry, most recently active for the Tennessee Titanshas run over 1,000 yards in a season several times in recent seasons.

In 2023, he was the running back with the second most yards in the running game behind Christian McCaffrey (1,167 yards). Henry will be Defensive Tackle Chris Jones meets. Jones is considered one of the best defenders in the league and, armed with a new contract, should start the new season highly motivated.

Ravens with new defensive coordinator

Zachary Orr is the new head of defense for the Ravens after Mike Macdonald became the new head coach of the The Seattle Seahawks Last season, the “Secondary” the ravens, that is, the Cornerbacks and Securitydefending the most passes in the back part of the field, the best in the league. They allowed the fewest points on average (16.5), recorded the most Bags (60) and was able to work together with the New York Giants win back the most balls (31). These statistics should now be replicated as far as possible.

For Orr, the season could have started with an easier task. The Kansas City Chiefs have been one of the most feared offenses in the NFL since Mahomes took over. Last season was statistically an exception, as the Chiefs averaged just 21.8 points per game (the lowest since Patrick Mahomes became the team’s quarterback), but it was still enough to win the title.

Spectacle at the beginning

Almost six hours before the game, the parking lots of the Arrowhead Stadiums Their gates, where the fans will get in the mood for the game. Traditionally, the championship banner of the SuperbowlSieger’s day before US star Coco Jones performs the national anthem. This is followed by the kickoff of the 105th NFL season.