The Kansas City Chiefs’ quest for a third consecutive Super Bowl will begin in front of the entire country. The Chiefs will open the 2024 NFL campaign by playing in the first game of the season when they host the Baltimore Ravens, TODAY revealed exclusively on May 13.
The game will take place at 8:20 p.m. ET on Thursday, Sept. 5, on NBC and Peaco*ck.
(Peaco*ck is part of TODAY's parent company, NBCUniversal.)
Traditionally, the defending Super Bowl champion plays in the first game of the season, usually on prime time on Thursday night of the opening weekend, although that is not always the case.
The rest of the NFL schedule was announced on May 15.
This opening matchup is a stellar one. The Chiefs defeated the Ravens in Baltimore last season in the AFC championship game, 17-10. The Ravens, led by their quarterback and 2023 NFL MVP Lamar Jackson, were the top seed in the AFC, but the Chiefs played a stout defensive game to earn the win and advance to the Super Bowl, where they edged the San Francisco 49ers in overtime, 25-22.
The Chiefs, of course, are coming off their second straight Super Bowl win and are led by a relentless defense, as well as star quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce, whose profile soared last year amid his relationship with girlfriend Taylor Swift.
Mahomes and Kelce will return, as will defensive star Chris Jones, while head coach Andy Reid is also coming back to roam the sidelines for another season.
"They've got the big pieces back to work around," NBC's "Sunday Night Football" play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico said on TODAY Monday.
"This is a team that has a chance to win four Super Bowls in six years. We haven't seen that Pittsburgh of the '70s," he added, referring to the Steelers dynasty that won four titles between 1975 and 1980.
Tirico also said this opening game matchup presents an opportunity for the Ravens to wipe away the bad taste of last season's playoff loss.
"It'll be a bit of a way to start the season for Baltimore, kind of clean last year's slate a little bit," he said.
Another NFL game has previously been announced, as the league’s first game in Brazil will take place Friday, Sept. 6, when the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles battle in Sao Paulo, marking the first time an NFL game will be played on a Friday in the opening week in more than half a century.
Indeed, Friday NFL games are a rarity, although last year the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets did play on the Friday after Thanksgiving.
Below, check out the schedule for the upcoming season.
What is the full 2024 NFL schedule?
Week 1
Thursday, Sept. 5
- 8:20 p.m. ET — Ravens vs Chiefs on NBC
Friday, Sept 6
- 8:15 p.m. ET — Packers vs Eagles on Peaco*ck
Sunday, Sept. 8
- 1 p.m. ET — Steelers vs Falcons on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Cardinals vs Bills on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Titans vs Bears on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Patriots vs Bengals on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET —Texans vs Colts on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Jaguars vs Dolphins on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Panthers vs Saints on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET —Vikings vs Giants on Fox
- 4:05 p.m ET —Raiders vs Chargers on CBS
- 4:05 p.m. ET — Broncos vs Seahawks on CBS
- 4:25 p.m. ET — Cowboys vs Browns on Fox
- 4:25 p.m. ET —Commanders vs Buccaneers on Fox
- 8:20 p.m. ET — Rams vs Lions on NBC
Monday, Sept. 9
- 8:15 p.m. ET — Jets vs 49ers on ESPN/ABC
Week 2
Thursday, Sept. 12
- 8:15 p.m. ET — Bills vs Dolphins on Prime Video
Sunday, Sept. 15
- 1 p.m. ET — Raiders vs Ravens on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Chargers vs Panthers on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Saints vs Cowboys on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Buccaneers vs Lions on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Colts vs Packers on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Browns vs Jaguars on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — 49ers vs Vikings on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Seahawks vs Patriots on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Jets vs Titans on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Giants vs Commanders on Fox
- 4:05 p.m. ET — Rams vs Cardinals on Fox
- 4:25 p.m. ET — Steelers vs Broncos on CBS
- 4:25 p.m. ET — Bengals vs Chiefs on CBS
- 8:20 p.m. ET —Bears vs Texans on NBC
Monday, Sept. 16
- 8:15 p.m. ET — Falcons vs Eagles on ESPN
Week 3
Thursday, Sept. 19
- 8:15 p.m. ET — Patriots vs Jets on Prime Video
Sunday, Sept. 22
- 1 p.m. ET — Giants vs Browns on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Bears vs Colts on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Texans vs Vikings on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Eagles vs Saints on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Chargers vs Steelers on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Broncos vs Buccaneers on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Packers vs Titans on Fox
- 4:05 p.m. ET — Panthers vs Raiders on CBS
- 4:05 p.m. ET — Dolphins vs Seahawks on CBS
- 4:25 p.m. ET — Lions vs Cardinals on Fox
- 4:25 p.m. ET — Ravens vs Cowboys on Fox
- 4:25 p.m. ET — 49ers vs Rams on Fox
- 8:20 p.m. ET — Chiefs vs Falcons on NBC
Monday, Sept. 23
- 7:30 p.m. ET — Jaguars vs Bills on ESPN
- 8:15 p.m. ET — Commanders vs Bengals on ABC
Week 4
Thursday, Sept. 26
- 8:15 p.m. ET — Cowboys vs Giants on Prime Video
Sunday, Sept. 29
- 1 p.m. ET — Saints vs Falcons on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Bengals vs Panthers on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Rams vs Bears on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Vikings vs Packers on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Jaguars vs Texans on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Steelers vs Colts on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Broncos vs Jets on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Eagles vs Buccaneers on Fox
- 4:05 p.m. ET — Commanders vs Cardinals on Fox
- 4:05 p.m. ET —Patriots vs 49ers on Fox
- 4:25 p.m. ET — Chiefs vs Chargers on CBS
- 4:25 p.m. ET —Browns vs Raiders on CBS
- 8:20 p.m. ET — Bills vs Ravens on NBC
Monday, Sept. 30
- 7:30 p.m. ET — Titans vs Dolphins on ESPN
- 8:15 p.m. ET — Seahawks vs Lions on ABC
Week 6
Thursday, Oct. 3
- 8:15 p.m. ET — Buccaneers vs Falcons on Prime Video
Sunday, Oct. 6
- 9:30 a.m. ET — Jets vs Vikings on NFL Network
- 1 p.m. ET — Panthers vs Bears on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET —Ravens vs Bengals on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET —Bills vs Texans on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Colts vs Jaguars on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Dolphins vs Patriots on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Browns vs Commanders on Fox
- 4:05 p.m. ET — Raiders vs Broncos on Fox
- 4:05 p.m. ET —Cardinals vs 49ers on Fox
- 4:25 p.m. ET —Packers vs Rams on CBS
- 4:25 p.m. ET — Giants vs Seahawks on CBS
- 8:20 p.m. ET — Cowboys vs Steelers on NBC
Monday, Oct. 7
- 8:15 p.m. ET —Saints vs Chiefs on ESPN
Week 6
Thursday, Oct. 10
- 8:15 p.m. ET — 49ers vs Seahawks on Prime Video
Sunday, Oct. 13
- 9:30 a.m. ET — Jaguars vs Bears on NFL Network
- 1 p.m. ET — Commanders vs Ravens on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Cardinals vs Packers on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Texans vs Patriots on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Buccaneers vs Saints on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Browns vs Eagles on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Colts vs Titans on CBS
- 4:05 p.m. ET —Chargers vs Broncos on CBS
- 4:05 p.m. ET —Steelers vs Raiders on CBS
- 4:25 p.m. ET —Falcons vs Panthers on Fox
- 4:35 p.m. ET — Lions vs Cowboys on Fox
- 8:20 p.m. ET — Bengals vs Giants on NBC
Monday, Oct. 14
- 8:15 p.m. ET —Bills vs Jets on ESPN
Week 7
Thursday, Oct. 17
- 8:15 p.m. ET — Broncos vs Saints on Prime Video
Sunday, Oct. 20
- 9:30 a.m. ET — Patriots vs Jaguars on NFL Network
- 1 p.m. ET — Seahawks vs Falcons on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Titans vs Bills on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Bengals vs Browns on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Texans vs Packers on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET —Dolphins vs Colts on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Lions vs Vikings on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Eagles vs Giants on Fox
- 4:05 p.m. ET — Raiders vs Rams on CBS
- 4:05 p.m. ET — Panthers vs Commanders on CBS
- 4:25 p.m. ET —Chiefs vs 49ers on Fox
- 8:20 p.m. ET — Jets vs Steelers on NBC
Monday, Oct. 21
- 8:15 p.m. ET —Ravens vs Buccaneers on ESPN
- 9 p.m. ET — Chargers vs Cardinals on ESPN+
Week 8
Thursday, Oct. 24
- 8:15 p.m. ET — Vikings vs Rams on Prime Video
Sunday, Oct. 27
- 1 p.m. ET — Ravens vs Browns on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Titans vs Lions on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Colts vs Texans on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Packers vs Jaguars on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Cardinals vs Dolphins on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Jets vs Patriots on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Falcons vs Buccaneers on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Bears vs Commanders on CBS
- 4:05 p.m. ET — Saints vs Chargers on Fox
- 4:05 p.m. ET — Bills vs Seahawks on Fox
- 4:05 p.m. ET — Eagles vs Bengals on CBS
- 4:25 p.m. ET — Chiefs vs Raiders on CBS
- 8:20 p.m. ET — Cowboys vs 49ers on NBC
Monday, Oct. 28
- 8:15 p.m. ET — Giants vs Steelers on ESPN/ABC
Week 9
Thursday, Oct. 31
- 8:15 p.m. ET — Texans vs Jets on Prime Video
Sunday, Nov. 3
- 1 p.m. ET — Cowboys vs Falcons on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Broncos vs Ravens on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Dolphins vs Bills on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Saints vs Panthers on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Raiders vs Bengals on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Chargers vs Browns on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Colts vs Vikings on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Commanders vs Giants on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Patriots vs Titans on Fox
- 4:05 p.m. ET —Bears vs Cardinals on CBS
- 4:25 p.m. ET — Lions vs Packers on Fox
- 4:25 p.m. ET — Rams vs Seahawks on Fox
- 8:20 p.m. ET —Jaguars vs Eagles on NBC
Monday, Nov. 4
- 8:15 p.m. ET — Buccaneers vs Chiefs on ESPN
Week 10
Thursday, Nov. 7
- 8:15 p.m. ET — Bengals vs Ravens on Prime Video
Sunday, Nov. 10
- 9:30 a.m. ET — Giants vs Panthers on NFL Network
- 1 p.m. ET — Patriots vs Bears on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Bills vs Colts on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Vikings vs Jaguars on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Broncos vs Chiefs on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Falcons vs Saints on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — 49ers vs Buccaneers on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Steelers vs Commanders on CBS
- 4:05 p.m. ET — Titans vs Chargers on Fox
- 4:25 p.m. ET — Jets vs Cardinals on CBS
- 4:25 p.m. ET — Eagles vs Cowboys on CBS
- 8:20 p.m. ET — Lions vs Texans on NBC
Monday, Nov. 11
- 8:15 p.m. ET — Dolphins vs Rams on ESPN
Week 11
Thursday, Nov. 14
- 8:15 p.m. ET —Commanders vs Eagles on Prime Video
Sunday, Nov. 17
- 1 p.m. ET — Packers vs Bears on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Jaguars vs Lions on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Raiders vs Dolphins on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Rams vs Patriots on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Browns vs Saints on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Ravens vs Steelers on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Vikings vs Titans on CBS
- 4:05 p.m. ET — Falcons vs Broncos on Fox
- 4:05 p.m. ET — Seahawks vs 49ers on Fox
- 4:25 p.m. ET — Chiefs vs Bills on CBS
- 4:25 p.m. ET — Bengals vs Chargers on CBS
- 8:20 p.m. ET —Colts vs Jets on NBC
Monday, Nov. 18
- 8:15 p.m. ET — Texans vs Cowboys on ESPN
Week 12
Thursday, Nov. 21
- 8:15 p.m. ET — Steelers vs Browns on Prime Video
Sunday, Nov. 24
- 1 p.m. ET — Chiefs vs Panthers on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Vikings vs Bears on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Titans vs Texans on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Lions vs Colts on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Patriots vs Dolphins on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Buccaneers vs Giants on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Cowboys vs Commanders on Fox
- 4:05 p.m. ET — Broncos vs Raiders on CBS
- 4:25 p.m. ET — 49ers vs Packers on Fox
- 4:25 p.m. ET — Cardinals vs Seahawks on Fox
- 8:20 p.m. ET — Eagles vs Rams on NBC
Monday, Nov. 25
- 8:15 p.m. ET — Ravens vs Chargers on ESPN
Week 13
Thursday, Nov. 28 (Thanksgiving)
- 12:30 p.m. ET — Bears vs Lions on CBS
- 4:30 p.m. ET — Giants vs Cowboys on Fox
- 8:20 p.m. ET — Dolphins vs Packers on NBC
Friday, Nov. 29
- 3 p.m. ET — Raiders vs Chiefs on Prime Video
Sunday, Dec. 1
- 1 p.m. ET — Chargers vs Falcons on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Steelers vs Bengals on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Texans vs Jaguars on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Cardinals vs Vikings on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Colts vs Patriots on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Seahawks vs Jets on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Titans vs Commanders on Fox
- 4:05 p.m. ET — Buccaneers vs Panthers on Fox
- 4:05 p.m. ET — Rams vs Saints on Fox
- 4:25 p.m. ET —Eagles vs Ravens on CBS
- 8:20 p.m. ET — 49ers vs Bills on NBC
Monday, Dec. 2
- 8:15 p.m. ET — Browns vs Broncos on ESPN
Week 14
Thursday, Dec. 5
- 8:15 p.m. ET — Packers vs Lions on Prime Video
Sunday, Dec. 8
- 1 p.m. ET — Jets vs Dolphins on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Falcons vs Vikings on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Saints vs Giants on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Panthers vs Eagles on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Browns vs Steelers on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Raiders vs Buccaneers on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Jaguars vs Titans on CBS
- 4:05 p.m. ET — Seahawks vs Cardinals on CBS
- 4:25 p.m. ET — Bills vs Rams on Fox
- 4:25 p.m. ET — Bears vs 49ers on Fox
- 8:20 p.m. ET — Chargers vs Chiefs on NBC
Monday, Dec. 9
- 8:15 p.m. ET —Bengals vs Cowboys on ESPN/ABC
Week 15
Thursday, Dec. 12
- 8:15 p.m. ET — Rams vs 49s on Prime Video
Sunday, Dec. 15
- 1 p.m. ET — Cowboys vs Panthers on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Chiefs vs Browns on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Dolphins vs Texans on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Jets vs Jaguars on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Commanders vs Saints on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET —Ravens vs Giants on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Bengals vs Titans on Fox
- 4:25 p.m. ET — Patriots vs Cardinals on CBS
- 4:25 p.m. ET — Colts vs Broncos on CBS
- 4:25 p.m. ET —Bills vs Lions on CBS
- 4:25 p.m. ET — Buccaneers vs Chargers on Fox
- 4:25 p.m. ET — Steelers vs Eagles on Fox
- 8:20 p.m. ET — Packers vs Seahawks on NBC
Monday, Dec. 16
- 8 p.m. ET —Bears vs Vikings on ABC
- 8:30 p.m. ET — Falcons vs Raiders on ESPN
Week 16
Thursday, Dec. 19
- 8:15 p.m. ET — Browns vs Bengals on Prime Video
Saturday, Dec. 21
- 1 p.m. ET — Texans vs Chiefs on NBC
- 4:30 p.m. ET — Steelers vs Ravens on Fox
Sunday, Dec. 22
- 1 p.m. ET — Giants vs Falcons on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Patriots vs Bills on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Cardinals vs Panthers on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Lions vs Bears on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Titans vs Colts on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Rams vs Jets on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Eagles vs Commanders on Fox
- 4:05 p.m. ET — Broncos vs Chargers on Fox
- 4:05 p.m. ET —Vikings vs Seahawks on Fox
- 4:25 p.m. ET — Jaguars vs Raiders on CBS
- 4:25 p.m. ET — 49ers vs Dolphins on CBS
- 8:20 p.m. ET — Buccaneers vs Cowboys on NBC
Monday, Dec. 23
- 8:15 p.m. ET — Saints vs Packers on ESPN
Week 17
Wednesday, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day)
- 1 p.m. ET — Chiefs vs Steelers on Netflix
- 4:30 p.m. ET — Ravens vs Texans on Netflix
Thursday, Dec. 26
- 8:15 p.m. ET — Seahawks vs Bears on Prime Video
Sunday, Dec. 29
- 1 p.m. ET — Jets vs Bills on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Titans vs Jaguars on CBS
- 1 p.m. ET — Packers vs Vikings on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Raiders vs Saints on Fox
- 1 p.m. ET — Panthers vs Buccaneers on CBS
- 4:25 p.m. ET — Cowboys vs Eagles on Fox
- 8:20 p.m. ET — Dolphins vs Browns on NBC
Monday, Dec. 30
- 8:15 p.m. ET — Lions vs 49ers on ESPN/ABC
Games not yet scheduled for Week 17:
- Broncos vs Bengals
- Cardinals vs Rams
- Chargers vs Patriots
- Colts vs Giants
- Falcons vs Commanders
Week 18
The schedule for Week 18 will be released at the end of Week 17. However, the NFL stated that two games will be played on Saturday (4:30 p.m. ET and 8:00 p.m. ET) with the remainder to be played on Sunday afternoon (1 p.m. ET and 4:25 p.m. ET) and one matchup on Sunday night during prime time at 8:20 p.m. ET.
Games not yet scheduled for Week 18
- 49ers vs Cardinals
- Panthers vs Falcons
- Browns vs Ravens
- Commanders vs Cowboys
- Chiefs vs Broncos
- Vikings vs Lions
- Bears vs Packers
- Jaguars vs Colts
- Seahawks vs Rams
- Chargers vs Raiders
- Bills vs Patriots
- Dolphins vs Jets
- Giants vs Eagles
- Bengals vs Steelers
- Saints vs Buccaneers
- Texans vs Titans
Drew Weisholtz
Drew Weisholtz is a reporter for TODAY Digital, focusing on pop culture, nostalgia and trending stories. He has seen every episode of “Saved by the Bell” at least 50 times, longs to perfect the crane kick from “The Karate Kid” and performs stand-up comedy, while also cheering on the New York Yankees and New York Giants. A graduate of Rutgers University, he is the married father of two kids who believe he is ridiculous.