The Buffalo Bills begin their 2024 season with a home game against the Arizona Cardinals. After a long eight months without Bills football – at least without the kind that counts in the standings – the wait is finally over.

For the Bills, today is a chance to silence doubters who think their “Super Bowl window” is closed. It gives some new players a chance to make an early impact, and it also gives new opportunities to some old friends who have grown into bigger roles. We’re looking at you, Khalil Shakir, Dorian Williams, Dalton Kincaid and Damar Hamlin, among others.

For the Cardinals, today is a chance to start the season off on the right foot. After a brutal two-year stretch in which they won just eight games, this is a chance for an Arizona team still led by a dynamic quarterback in Kyler Murray to show it has what it takes to be a factor in the NFC playoff race. One game won’t tell everything, even though we know we’ll all be overreacting on Monday morning when we react to today’s result, but it will give us the first glimpse of a new era for both teams.

Your open thread for the first half is here, friends. Remember to be polite to each other. If you want the feel of a classic gaming thread, switch the comments to “oldest” so they’re in chronological order. Most importantly, enjoy the game no matter where you’re watching it.

Let’s go, Bills!