The 2024 NFL season opener, featuring the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens, has set a new record for the most-watched inaugural game in NFL history. According to an NBC Sports press release, the game, which took place on Thursday night, averaged 28.9 million viewers. This viewership surpasses any previous NFL opener.
The matchup, which saw a peak of 33 million viewers in the second quarter, delivered a total audience that was 5% higher than last year’s season opener between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Detroit Lions.
The game showcased a clash between MVP quarterbacks and was a rematch of last season’s AFC Championship game, in which the Chiefs defeated the Ravens. On Thursday, the Chiefs secured a 27-20 victory over the Ravens at Arrowhead Stadium.
In a dramatic ending, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson threw a pass to Isaiah Likely in the back of the end zone as time expired. The touchdown was initially confirmed on the field but was overturned upon review when it was determined that Likely’s toe was on the line, thus awarding another victory to the Chiefs.
This record-setting opener follows the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LVIII win over the San Francisco 49ers, which holds the record for the most-watched telecast ever with an average of 123.4 million viewers across all platforms.
