The 2024 NFL season kicked off with a whirlwind of action, showcasing both triumphant performances and frustrating defeats. Over the next five months, plenty of stories will be told before two teams prove themselves to be above and beyond the rest as they make their way to New Orleans to contest Super Bowl LIX. However, between now and the second Sunday in February, those two teams have yet to rear their heads.
The latest odds on football betting at Bovada have made the Kansas City Chiefs the +475 favorite to head to the Superdome and claim a history-making third straight Lombardi. They have reached the Super Bowl four times in the last five years, winning three of them, and it is in Missouri where we start our rundown. Here are the biggest winners and losers from the NFL’s opening weekend.
Winner – Kansas City Chiefs
As mentioned, the Kansas City Chiefs headed into the new campaign as the reigning champions after beating the San Francisco 49ers at Super Bowl LVIII after Patrick Mahomes’ last-gasp touchdown throw.
En route to the Big Game last season, Andy Reid’s men had to defeat the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship game, a task they were most certainly up for. In the opening game of this season, they contested a repeat of that game, this time at Arrowhead, and the game would have the same result.
In the official kickoff game in the first Thursday Night Football of the year, the Chiefs emerged as 27-20 victors over Lamar Jackson and Co., and they did so in the most dramatic of circumstances. Central to their success was the brilliant performance of the mercurial Mahomes, who threw for 291 yards and a touchdown. The former Texas Tech sensation showcased his signature accuracy and poise, orchestrating a high-powered passing offense that proved too much for the Ravens to handle.
The Chiefs also benefited from the Ravens’ offensive line struggles, as Baltimore’s protection woes allowed the KC defense to apply consistent pressure on quarterback Jackson. However, the reigning MVP had not one but two chances to tie the contest deep into the first quarter. On the first of those chances, he missed wide-open Zay Flowers in the end zone. On the second, he found Isiah Likely, but the tight end had one toe out of bounds, and that forced the touchdown to be disallowed.
The Chiefs now look set to build on their favorites tag, despite further testing fixtures on the horizon. They face off against the Bengals in week two, as well as road games against the rejuvenated Atlanta Falcons and the Los Angeles Chargers. But after this victory, they will feel like they can beat anybody.
Loser – Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals have had a tough time in the opening weeks of a campaign under head coach Zac Taylor. Heading into this season’s opening day clash with the New England Patriots they had a paltry 1-4 record on season openers. However, with superstar quarterback Joe Burrow completing his first full pre-season in four years with the franchise and with a Patriots side amid a rebuild heading to Paycor stadium, that would surely change, wouldn’t it?
Well, unfortunately not. Cincy, who harbored genuine Lombardi ambitions before the season kicked off, somehow stumbled to a 16-10 defeat. Many of their problems en route to the defeat were largely self-inflicted, with turnovers and dropped passes marring their performance. Their former Heisman winner under center was neutralized by a tough Patriots defense that limited his options. If that wasn’t bad enough, running back Zack Moss looks unfit to lace the outgoing Joe Mixon’s cleats, and he picked up just 44 yards on the ground.
Those woes all combined to leave the Bengals at the mercy of the Patriots, and Jerod Mayo’s side duly took full advantage. They kept the scoreboard ticking over with field goals in addition to Rhamondre Stevenson’s early touchdown to secure a deserved victory. Now, the Bengals need to address their issues quickly if they are to have any chance of defeating the Chiefs at Arrowhead on week two.
Winner – Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears headed into the 2024 campaign with renewed optimism. Their drafting of Caleb Williams with their first overall pick of the recent draft as well as the addition of superstar wide receiver Rome Odunze with the eighth overall pick has completely revamped the Soldier Field side’s offense. But it looked like the same old Chicago in their opening weekend clash with the Tennessee Titans.
The visitors raced into a 17-0 lead following touchdowns from Tony Pollard and Chig Okonkwo, and it seemed like the hosts would be in for a long afternoon. But while it is the new-look offense that has everyone in the Windy City excited, it was their stellar defense and special teams that secured them an unlikely victory.
Jonathan Owens’ punt return touchdown was a game-changer after the halftime interval, reducing the Bears’ areas from 17-3 to 17-10. Cairo Santos then added two field goals to bring his side within one point of the visitors. Finally, rookie cornerback Tyrique Stevenson’s pick-six overturned the almighty deficit once and for all deep into the fourth quarter, handing his side a 24-17 victory despite his side not managing an offensive touchdown.
