NFL 2024 Week 1 Ravens vs Chiefs Odds, Matchups, Picks, and Rematch

The NFL kicks off the 2024 season on Thursday, September 5 with a rematch of the AFC Championship as the Baltimore Ravens and two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs begin the season with the most-watched and bet-on game of Week 1.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson are two-time league MVPs and will lead in viewership, ratings and most bet players to win another MVP award.

But there are 30 other NFL teams looking for winning seasons and a chance at the Lombardi Trophy, with fans and bettors across the United States interested and excited for another season of football. After Thursday’s big game between the Ravens and Chiefs, the NFL features a Friday game in Brazil between the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles. Then, on Opening Sunday there are three divisional games, including the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers, who are looking for bounce-back seasons under each team’s new first-year coaches, Antonio Pierce and Jim Harbaugh, who is back in the NFL after leading the Michigan Wolverines to the national title last season.

Sunday night’s game will be the Los Angeles Rams versus the Detroit Lions, another playoff rematch with quarterbacks Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff facing their former teams. The Week 1 game between the Rams and Lions has the highest over/under point total of the week at 51.5 points.

Monday Night Football’s marquee game is also one of the most bet-on games of the week, when the New York Jets take on the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

Explanation of the NFL’s new kickoff rules

NFL games averaged 43.6 points per game last season, the lowest-scoring season since 2017. The new kickoff rules are expected to give teams slightly better field position and result in an increase in scoring of at least 1.5 points per game.

Still, keep in mind that Week 1 NFL games have gone a step further. low-a crushing 9-23 O/U over the past two seasons with more frequent lower-scoring games as offenses try to catch up to defenses and less preseason playing time for starters.

NFL Week 1 Odds

Professional football odd FanDuel Sportsbook offers are updated regularly and are subject to change, including on specials and live bets.

Week 1 features some intriguing matchups, but only three division games after eight were on last season’s opening-week schedule. Odds and betting lines continue to adjust from early action and recent weeks, along with game totals.

• Baltimore at Kansas City (-3), total 46.5 on Thursday
• Green Bay vs. Philadelphia (-2.5), 48.5 – Friday in Brazil
• Tennessee at Chicago (-3.5), 45.5
• Pittsburgh at Atlanta (-3.5), 42.5
• Jacksonville at Miami (-3.5), 49.5
• New England at Cincinnati (-9.5), 40.5
• Houston (-2.5) at Indianapolis, 49.5
• Minnesota (-1.5) at New York Giants, 41.5
• Carolina at New Orleans (-3.5), 41.5
• Arizona at Buffalo (-6.5), 48.5
• Las Vegas at Los Angeles Chargers (-3.5), 40.5
• Denver at Seattle (-5.5), 41.5
• Dallas at Cleveland (-2.5), 41.5
• Washington at Tampa Bay (-3.5), 43.5
• Los Angeles Rams at Detroit (-3.5), 51.5 Sunday Night
• New York Jets at San Francisco 49ers (-4.5), 43.5 Monday Night Football

Types of bets And how to read the odds

The Browns defeated the Bengals 24-3 in the opening week of last season, but Cleveland is just 3-21-1 in Week 1 since 1999.

NFL Week 1 Picks and accessories

According to FanDuel Research, the Packers and Cowboys are two clear underdogs to watch in the betting stakes. Action to watch and bet on includes some underperforming totals in the Titans-Bears interconference battle and the Jaguars-Colts divisional matchup.

Crow-Chiefs

The 2024 NFL season opener on Thursday night is a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship game won by the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10. Both quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson are two-time MVPs, but Jackson couldn’t parlay last year’s honor into his first Super Bowl appearance even with an elite defense on his side. The Ravens’ lack of rushing attempts (16) in last year’s AFC Championship game was mind-boggling considering matchups and drive metrics, and Lamar had half of those rushes. The Ravens have averaged between 145 and 160 rushing yards per game in each of the past three seasons to rank in the top three in the NFL, thanks to Jackson adding his dynamic duel-running ability. Now the Ravens have Derrick Henry in the backfield, but he and his speedy QB now operate behind the 25th-ranked offensive line, while the Chiefs’ offensive line begins the season ranked No. 7, according to Pro Football Focus. Chris Jones leads all defensive tackles in total pressures over the past three years, and the Chiefs’ defense took them to the Super Bowl last year and they begin the 2024 season ranked No. 14 along the defensive line (Ravens ranked No. 12) with both teams also in the top 10 in defensive secondary ratings.

Two elite coaches and John Harbaugh won the only two big games last season when the Ravens were underdogs. But the Chiefs are 9-2 in back-to-back games (SU) and 7-4 against the spread (ATS) in Week 1 since Andy Reid became Kansas City’s head coach, demonstrating their continued strength over time in preparing for an opponent.

Among the players who stand out in the Chiefs-Ravens bet is KC tight end Travis Kelce, with over 58.5 receiving yards. Bettors are betting on the favorite target of Mahomes, knowing that Kelce beat this yardage bet in 9 of his 15 regular-season games last season, including all four playoff games with 11 receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown against the Ravens in the AFC Championship Game.

Super Bowl Odds

The 49ers (+600), Lions (+1200), Eagles (+1300), Cowboys (+1800) and Packers (+1800) enter the season as NFC favorites to win Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9 in New Orleans. The Chiefs (+550), Ravens (+1100), Texans (+1500), Bengals (+1500), Bills (+1700), Jets (+1800) and Dolphins (+2200) make up a strong AFC contingent to win the 2025 Super Bowl.

“Everyone is behind the Chiefs” to achieve their first Super Bowl three-peat.

The Chiefs are the ticket and revenue leaders in winning their fourth Lombardi Trophy in six years and becoming the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowls.

“The Lions seem to be the most stable team in the NFC right now,” Las Vegas SuperBook director John Murray also said while evaluating the top teams in the NFC.

Betting data changes throughout each day and week, with most bets being placed over the weekend, closer to kickoff, and on Thursday, before the two opening games. Follow NFL teams, news, and odds as fans and bettors rejoice that another season of professional football has arrived.

You can bet on it.

MORE FROM FORBES

Forbes2024 NFL Week 1 matchups and betting odds feature one of the “most spectacular” opening schedules in historyBy Jay GinsbachForbesNFL Circa Million 2024 Contest Is Most Popular Among Bettors And Football FansBy Jay GinsbachForbes2024 College Football: Odds, picks, TV schedule and betting report for the top 25 teamsBy Jay GinsbachForbesHow the NFL is preparing for the first game in Brazil and its international expansionBy Tim CaseyForbesThe most valuable NFL teams in 2024By Justin Teitelbaum