The Kansas City Chiefs begin their attempt to become the first to win three consecutive Super Bowls with the official start of the 2024-2025 NFL season on Thursday. And the first game promises to be a cracker, as the Chiefs face the Baltimore Ravens, who they last faced in the conference championship game in January.
Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson are looking to get their teams off to a great start this season, but they’re facing some untested young talent on the field.
The 2024 season is off to a pretty fast start, with a single game on Thursday, one on Friday, and the rest on the league’s traditional Sunday schedule. That’s enough time for fans suffering from mild football withdrawal to hole up on their couch or favorite beer stool.
This is the best way to follow the game.
Which NFL teams are playing on Thursday? And which channel is broadcasting the games?
There is only one game tonight. (The home team is listed second.)
Thursday, September 5
Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC
How can I watch the NFL season opener for free even if I’m not in my market?
The best way to watch all kinds of network programming on a big screen for free is with a good HD antenna. And since the kickoff game is being broadcast by NBC, watching is pretty easy. To make sure you’re getting the most reliable signal, test the antenna in several places around your home.
Can I stream the 2024 NFL Kickoff game live online if I don’t have a cable subscription?
You can – and there are several options:
peacock
NBC’s streaming service gives you access to multiple games, including today’s, tomorrow’s and all upcoming Sunday night games. You can get a seven-day free trial, then pay a monthly fee of $8 or $14. (The free version of Peacock doesn’t include live sports.)
Disney+
The Disney bundle with Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ no longer has a free trial, so you’ll have to pay $17 per month for all three combined (or $30 per month without ads on Hulu).
If live TV is included in the package, the price increases to $77 per month ($90 without ads).
Hulu with Live TV
The free trial of this service lasts three days. After that, it costs $77 per month.
YouTubeTV
After a free trial, you can expect to pay monthly fees of $73.
Sling TV
Dish Network’s Sling Orange plan costs $40 per month. The more comprehensive Blue plan increases the cost to $55 per month. Unfortunately, the seven-day free trial has been eliminated.
DirecTV Stream
Formerly known as DirecTV Now, AT&T TVNow and AT&T TV, this oft-renamed streaming service costs $80 per month and up after the free trial. (The package that includes NFL Network costs $99 per month.)
Fubo TV
This sports-focused cable TV service offers TV channels in most markets. There is a seven-day free trial, after which there are monthly fees of $80 and up, depending on the channels you choose.
Can I watch NFL games on Amazon?
Amazon will be the usual home of Thursday Night Football again, but not this week. Also, like last year, the streaming service will not broadcast any games on Thanksgiving, but will broadcast them on Black Friday. The first matchup on Amazon this year is the Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins on September 12.
Does the NFL offer special broadcast packages that allow me to watch the games I want to see?
Three, to be exact.
NFL-App
The NFL-App allows you to stream games that are broadcast locally in your market on Sundays. If you want to watch a game “outside your market,” you have two options.
NFL+
Watch local and away games live and (with the Premium subscription) replays. Expect to pay a $50 fee per season. ($100 for Premium.)
NFL Sunday Ticket
YouTube is once again the home of this channel, with prices this year starting at $73 per month for Sunday Ticket and YouTubeTV, or $449 for Sunday Ticket only (for all games this season not available in the respective market).
Will the new kickoff rule apply in the regular season?
It will.
The NFL is conducting a year-long experiment this season in which all members of the kicking and receiving teams (except the kicker and returner) stand within a 10-yard zone on the field. Only the kicker and the two returners are allowed to move until the ball touches the ground or is touched by a returner within the 20-yard zone.
Kicks that reach the end zone in the air can be returned or called a touchback and possession at the 30-yard line. If a ball hits the ground (or a player) before the end zone and enters the end zone, the touchback occurs at the 20-yard line. The kick can still be returned.
Onside kicks can no longer be a surprise, as the trailing team must announce plans for such an attempt – and only in the fourth quarter.
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