Good morning, I’m Dan Gartland, and I believe the NFL made a fantastic decision in choosing the Chiefs-Ravens conference title rematch as the opening game of the season. The anticipation for this game is palpable, and I couldn’t be more excited.
In today’s SI:AM:
🏈 NFL Week 1 picks
📺 The 10 best games to watch
🐅 Trouble for Memphis hoops
For those who, like me, skipped the NFL preseason entirely, today marks the return of meaningful football since February. The NFL is finally back, and we have games that actually count. As we head into Week 1, there are several storylines that I’ll be closely monitoring.
While the Kansas City Chiefs reign as Super Bowl champions, they are not without their flaws. Unlike past Chiefs teams that relied heavily on high-powered offenses, last season’s squad was led by an elite defense that compensated for a lackluster offense. Despite ranking 15th in points scored, the Chiefs excelled in points allowed, coming in at second place. The main challenge offensively was the absence of quality targets for quarterback Patrick Mahomes, prompting the Chiefs to focus on upgrading their receiving corps during the offseason.
Kansas City used their first-round draft pick to select wide receiver Xavier Worthy from Texas, and also secured a one-year, $7 million deal with Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. These additions, along with last year’s standout rookie Rashee Rice, are set to headline the Chiefs’ wide receiver group in their base 11 personnel. Although Brown will be sidelined for Thursday night’s opener against the Baltimore Ravens due to a shoulder injury sustained in the preseason, fans will still get a glimpse of Worthy in his NFL debut. Additionally, the Chiefs welcomed back JuJu Smith-Schuster, their leading receiver in 2022 who spent the previous season with the New England Patriots before being released during training camp.
The stage is set for an exhilarating showdown between two powerhouse teams, and the excitement is mounting as the Chiefs prepare to defend their title against the Ravens tonight. Stay tuned as we witness the drama unfold on the gridiron in what is sure to be a thrilling start to the NFL season.
