Chiefs-Ravens most-watched NFL opener ever

The 2024 NFL season opener between the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens delivered both on and off the field.

Thursday night's contest averaged 28.9 million viewers, the most in NFL history for an inaugural game, according to an NBC Sports press release.

The Chiefs-Ravens matchup, which peaked at 33 million viewers in the second quarter, had a total audience delivery 5% higher than last year's opener between Kansas City and the Detroit Lions.

The 2024 opener featured a battle between MVP quarterbacks and a rematch of last season's AFC title game, in which Kansas City took down Baltimore. Patrick Mahomes and Co. got the last laugh again Thursday, as the Super Bowl MVP's club beat the Lamar Jackson-led Ravens 27-20 in thrilling fashion at Arrowhead Stadium.

Jackson - the reigning NFL MVP - found Isaiah Likely in the back of the end zone as time expired, and the tight end seemed to be in bounds while making a spectacular grab. The play was called a touchdown on the field but got overturned when replays showed that Likely's toe was on the line, thereby giving K.C. another victory over Baltimore.

The NFL's record season-opening audience comes just months after the Chiefs' overtime triumph over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII became the most-watched telecast ever with 123.4 million average viewers across all platforms.