The Kansas City Chiefs’ defense of their Super Bowl title will face immediate pressure as they kick off the NFL season against the Baltimore Ravens, followed swiftly by a matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals. This marks the second consecutive season the Chiefs have begun against formidable opponents, reminiscent of their 2023/34 season opener loss to the Detroit Lions. Despite a challenging regular season, they barely secured a postseason berth.
For Patrick Mahomes, outperforming Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow in the first two games is crucial to igniting the Chiefs’ momentum. Burrow, expected to return to the Bengals’ starting lineup after a wrist injury sidelined him last season, poses a significant threat. In recent years, he has emerged as Mahomes’ primary rival, boasting a 3-1 lead in their head-to-head matchups, spanning regular and postseason play. Their next clash is set for Sunday, September 15, at 16:25 ET, broadcasted on CBS.
Although Mahomes has previously triumphed over both the Bengals and Ravens in the AFC Conference Championship, Burrow handed him a defeat in the 2021/22 season. Furthermore, Mahomes may be without wide receiver Rashee Rice due to a pending multi-game suspension stemming from his involvement in a car accident in Dallas.
Rice faces serious legal repercussions, including felony charges and a substantial lawsuit, following the incident where he fled the scene after injuring two individuals. While Rice does not dispute his involvement, he currently challenges the claims against him and seeks dismissal of the case pending proof of injury to the plaintiffs.
