NFL Season Opener Faces Delay as Severe Weather Strikes

The 2024 NFL season kicks off with a highly anticipated clash between the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs—a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship showdown. Football fans across the nation have been eagerly awaiting this game, which could very well be a preview of another playoff battle, featuring two of the league’s elite quarterbacks, Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes.

However, Mother Nature had other plans, as a thunderstorm in Kansas City delayed the scheduled kickoff by at least 20 minutes, pushing it to 8:40 p.m. ET. Fortunately, as the new start time approaches, the weather appears to be improving, offering hope that the game will proceed without further interruption.

The NFL is known for setting up blockbuster matchups in Week 1, and this contest is no exception, drawing attention from fans across all regions. The Ravens ended last season with the league’s best regular-season record, while the Chiefs struggled with offensive inconsistencies, including dropped passes, leading many to crown Baltimore as the early favorite to win the Super Bowl.

But in typical Chiefs fashion, Mahomes and his squad rose to the challenge when it mattered most, defeating the Ravens in the AFC Championship and then rallying to overcome a deficit in the Super Bowl against the San Francisco 49ers. Their dramatic victory in overtime secured Kansas City’s second consecutive Vince Lombardi Trophy and their third in just five seasons.

Week 1 of the NFL season will continue with a historic Friday game featuring the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles, marking the league’s first-ever contest held in Brazil.