NEW YORK — As the 2024 NFL season excitement amps up, fans eagerly anticipate an action-packed weekend featuring three high-stakes games. NBC Sports is ready to kick off the season with a unique lineup that boasts elite teams, star players, and extensive coverage, marking a monumental start to the new NFL season.
Ravens at Chiefs: NFL Kickoff Game
The action begins on Thursday, September 5, as the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, led by two-time NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes, host the Baltimore Ravens and their 2023 NFL MVP Lamar Jackson. This highly-anticipated matchup serves as the kickoff game for the NFL season and sees the Chiefs raise their Super Bowl LVIII banner at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
- Start Time: Coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET with the NFL Kickoff Special.
- Kickoff: 8:20 p.m. ET, Live on NBC, Peacock, and Telemundo.
This matchup marks an important event in NFL history. The Chiefs will play in their third opening game with Mahomes at quarterback, a feat that underscores their dominance in recent years. Viewers can expect insightful commentary from Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, and Melissa Stark, alongside expert analysis from rules analyst Terry McAulay.
Friday Night Lights: Packers vs. Eagles in Brazil
Following the thrilling opener, the NFL will reach new international grounds with its first-ever regular-season game in Brazil on Friday, September 6. The Green Bay Packers, led by quarterback Jordan Love, will face off against the Philadelphia Eagles, featuring Jalen Hurts. The game will be held at the Corinthians Arena in São Paulo and exclusively air on Peacock.
Coverage Details
- Start Time: Coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET with a special edition of Football Night in America.
- Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. ET.
The broadcast features play-by-play commentary from Noah Eagle and analysis by Todd Blackledge, ensuring that fans on both sides of the equator won’t miss a moment of the action.
Sunday Night Football Debut: L.A. Rams at Lions
As the weekend concludes, the NFL’s iconic Sunday Night Football returns on September 8 with a matchup that will have fans buzzing: Jared Goff’s Detroit Lions host Matthew Stafford’s Los Angeles Rams at Ford Field in Detroit. This game is a rematch from the 2023 NFL Wild Card round, making it a significant clash for both teams.
Coverage Details
- Start Time: Begins with Football Night in America at 7 p.m. ET.
- Kickoff: 8:20 p.m. ET, Broadcast on NBC, Peacock, and Universo.
NBC’s premier sports team, including Tirico, Collinsworth, and Stark, will lead the coverage, delivering all the excitement viewers have come to expect from Sunday Night Football.
A Comprehensive Preview with NFL Kickoff Eve Special
Fans can get a sneak peek into the season with the “NFL Kickoff Eve Special” airing on September 4 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, featuring insights from NFL Network’s Good Morning Football crew, as well as exclusive interviews with key players and coaches.
Eight-time Grammy Award-winner and multi-platinum recording artist Carrie Underwood stars in the show to open for NBC’s Sunday Night Football. This year’s show open debuts this Sunday night, Sept. 8, before kickoff of Rams-Lions on NBC and Peacock.
The new open for primetime’s No. 1 show – headlined by an updated rendition of “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night” – celebrates the SNF “road show” that visits NFL cities each weekend, embracing the pageantry and anticipation for each matchup. Underwood performed the open from The Resorts World Theatre in Las Vegas, home of her ongoing residency, REFLECTION.
With a thrilling slate of games and extensive coverage planned, the 2024 NFL Kickoff Weekend promises to entertain and build lasting memories for fans. From the cheers echoing in Kansas City to the passionate crowds in São Paulo and the electric atmosphere in Detroit, this weekend marks the beginning of another exciting chapter in NFL history. Be sure to tune in as the NFL returns to the forefront of American sports entertainment!
Don’t miss any action this September—it’s all set to begin!
*NBC’S SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL IS PRIMETIME TELEVISION’S NO. 1 SHOW FOR RECORD 13 CONSECUTIVE YEARS: NBC’s Sunday Night Football finished the 2023-24 TV season as primetime’s #1 TV show in all key metrics for an unprecedented 13th consecutive year – adding to its record for the most consecutive years atop the charts (since 1950), based on official live plus same day data provided by Nielsen. Sunday Night Football also ranked as the No. 1 show in every major demographic.
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING:
Flexible scheduling will be used in Weeks 11-18. Additionally, in Weeks 5-10, flexible scheduling may be used in no more than two weeks. In Weeks 5-17, the schedule lists the games tentatively set for Sunday Night Football on NBC. Only Sunday afternoon games are eligible to be moved to Sunday night, in which case the tentatively scheduled Sunday night game would be moved to an afternoon start time.
For Week 18, two Saturday games and the Sunday night game will be announced no later than six days prior to January 5. The schedule does not list Saturday games or a Sunday night game in Week 18, but games with playoff implications will be moved to those time slots. Flexible scheduling ensures quality matchups in all Sunday time slots in those weeks and gives “surprise” teams a chance to play their way into primetime.
