Chiefs edge Ravens ... by a toe! Plus, NFL Week 1 predictions and fantasy advice
The NFL is back ... and it returned in thrilling fashion!
Right when you thought that the Baltimore Ravens might pull off a late-game comeback, football continues to show that it is a game of inches. Instead, the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs pulled out the season-opening win.
Fortunately for fans, there won't be a two-day wait until Sunday for the next game. Tonight, the Philadelphia Eagles "host" the Green Bay Packers in the NFL's first-ever game in Brazil. Hope you have access to Peacock.
➤ About last night: Kansas City Chiefs 27, Baltimore Ravens 20 — The AFC championship game rematch came down to a toe. Replay review confirmed Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely’s toe had landed out of bounds on what was initially ruled a touchdown with zero seconds left on the clock, and the Chiefs' quest to three-peat opened with a win.
- Winners and losers from NFL season opener
- What was with the illegal formation penalties?
- PHOTOS: Best from Chiefs-Ravens
➤ Game of the week: New York Jets at San Francisco 49ers — Aaron Rodgers is back after missing all but four plays of the Jets' 2023 season. He returns to the Bay Area to face the team that famously passed on him in the 2005 draft to pick Alex Smith. After an offseason of contract scuffles with two of their key players — offensive tackle Trent Williams and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk — the 49ers have all the key pieces in place for another run at the Super Bowl.
➤ Sneaky-good game of the week: Dallas Cowboys at Cleveland Browns — FOX Sports' "America's Game of the Week" not only features two playoff teams from last season (who were both knocked out during the wild-card round in embarrassing fashion, we might add), but the regular-season broadcasting debut of Tom Brady. Can the Cowboys replicate last season's offensive prowess, and how will beleaguered Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson return from a season-ending shoulder surgery?
➤ Survivor Pool Game of the Week: New England Patriots at Cincinnati Bengals — Even with the questionable playing status of wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, the heavily favored Bengals should have no problem defeating a Patriots team that could be in season-long contention for the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL draft. The Patriots used a first-round pick on a quarterback in 2024 (Drake Maye), but it's Jacoby Brissett who gets the start against a Bengals team expected to contend for a Super Bowl title. Full transparency: We'll keep making survivor picks so long as we're alive in Paste BN Sports' survivor pool. Hopefully that's a long time!
If you haven't already signed up for Paste BN Sports' survivor pool, do it now! It'll make the season even more fun.
- Join Paste BN Sports' survivor pool
- Advice for staying alive in a survivor pool
- Expert survivor picks for Week 1
NFL Week 1: Pigskin prognostications
- Week 1 picks: Paste BN Sports' panel of experts has provided fans with the great public service of making prognostications for every game this weekend, both straight up and against the spread.
- Lorenzo's Locks: Lorenzo Reyes is back with his favorite NFL bets, including his thoughts on an over/under on passing yards for Aaron Rodgers against the 49ers.
- NFL Week 1 betting odds: Which teams are favored this week.
- Super Bowl LIX odds: Which teams are the favorites to reach this season's Super Bowl in New Orleans?
- 2024 season predictions: Paste BN Sports experts weigh in with their Super Bowl LIX picks, playoff teams and individual award winners.
- Power rankings: See how all 32 teams stack up heading into the new season. Reckon there will be some major upheaval in these rankings this time next week!
NFL news, notes and analysis
- Aaron Donald still has presence on Rams: The three-time defensive player of the year and surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer has left a void in the interior of the Rams defense that the team has come to terms with just days away from their season opener.
- Why Jim Harbaugh thinks Justin Herbert is one of NFL’s best leaders: The Chargers' success this season will in large part be contingent upon the effectiveness and health of the team's franchise quarterback.
- Biggest takeaways from 'Hard Knocks' with Bears: An HBO show with no swears? While Caleb Williams and GM Ryan Poles were the stars of a solid edition of "Hard Knocks," the show seemed to be missing something.
- What you need to know about NFL's new kickoff and Guardian Cap: Three new rules raise the bar on safety for NFL players for the 2024 season. The details of the hip-drop tackle, Guardian Cap and the "dynamic kickoff."
Fantasy football: Get your lineup right
Of course you want to start the new season off with a win. We're here to help. Our fantasy football experts have valuable advice to get the most out of your lineup.
- Fantasy rankings for Week 1: For your convenience, these position-by-position rankings were updated for this week's games.
- Start 'em and sit 'em for Week 1: Pay attention! Week 1 is the most unpredictable part of the NFL season, with fans having no knowledge of how teams will operate, how certain players will be used or how new coaching staffs will change the play-calling.
- Studs, duds and sleepers: Here are some names to know going into Week 1. While Matthew Stafford could have a big opener for a Rams teams expected to contend, don't expect the same from other veteran quarterbacks such as Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson.
Week 1 NFL schedule
(All times Eastern)
Thursday
Friday
- Green Bay Packers vs. Philadelphia Eagles (in São Paulo, Brazil), 8:15 p.m. (Peacock)
Sunday
- Pittsburgh Steelers at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. (FOX)
- Arizona Cardinals at Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m. (CBS)
- Tennessee Titans at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m. (FOX)
- New England Patriots at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. (CBS)
- Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m. (CBS)
- Jacksonville Jaguars at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m. (CBS)
- Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. (FOX)
- Minnesota Vikings at New York Giants, 1 p.m. (FOX)
- Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:05 p.m. (CBS)
- Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 p.m. (CBS)
- Dallas Cowboys at Cleveland Browns, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
- Washington Commanders at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
- Los Angeles Rams at Detroit Lions, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Monday
- New York Jets at San Francisco 49ers, 8:15 p.m. (ABC/ESPN/ESPN2)
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