OWINGS MILLS — The Ravens won’t have to wait long to get a measure of revenge against the Kansas City Chiefs.
In a rematch of last season’s AFC Championship Game, the Ravens will travel to Arrowhead Stadium to play the Chiefs in the 2024 NFL regular-season opener on Thursday, September 5th, according to an announcement on NBC’s “The Today Show.”
The game features two of the game’s most dynamic quarterbacks with the Ravens’ two-time MVP Lamar Jackson and the Chiefs’ three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes.
The rest of the NFL schedule is expected to be released on Wednesday.
The Chiefs beat the Ravens, 17-10, in the 2023-24 AFC title game en route to their second consecutive Super Bowl championship and third in five years.
The Ravens were criticized in that championship game against Kansas City for their game plan.
Baltimore had the league’s No. 1 rushing attack in the regular season, but offensive coordinator Todd Monken abandoned the run. The Ravens ran the ball only 16 times — eight by Jackson — for 81 yards against a Chiefs team that allowed 182 yards rushing the previous week to the Buffalo Bills.
The running backs received six carries — three each for Gus Edwards and Justice Hill.
The failure to commit to the run has been talking point throughout the offseason.
The Ravens signed four-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry on a multi-year deal in March. So, presumably, the Ravens will be more aggressive with their ground game against Kansas City in the opener.
The Ravens are 12-4 in Week 1 under coach John Harbaugh. They have also won seven of their last eight season-opening games. The most recent setback was a 33-27 loss in overtime to the Raiders in 2021.
The Ravens 2024 schedule consists of:
The home schedule:
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Cleveland Browns
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Buffalo Bills
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Denver Broncos
- Washington Commanders
- Philadelphia Eagles
The road schedule:
- Steelers
- Browns
- Bengals
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Houston Texans
- Dallas Cowboys
- New York Giants
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The combined record of those teams is 155-134, and eight made last year’s playoffs, including five division champions.