American football is back and the 2024 NFL Kickoff Game will pit two familiar opponents against each other on Thursday night as the Kansas City Chiefs host the Baltimore Ravens.

In a rematch of the 2023 AFC Championship Game, Kansas City will attempt to make history and become the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowls, while Baltimore looks to spoil the party.

As if that wasn’t enough, the season opener also features a quarterback duel for the history books: Patrick Mahomes vs. Lamar Jackson. This will be the first time that two multiple MVP winners under the age of 30 will face off in Week 1.

Kansas City is playing in its fourth NFL kickoff game, tied with the New England Patriots for the most appearances — 2004, 2005, 2015 and 2017. The Patriots went 3-1 in those matchups with their lone loss coming in 2017, and they have the most wins in openers. The team they lost to? The Chiefs, who the Patriots can match with a win on Thursday.

Here are some notable facts about the NFL’s annual kickoff game.

How many times has a reigning Super Bowl champion lost?

The reigning Super Bowl champions have lost just five times since 2004 when appearing in the kickoff game. The Chiefs are the second team to appear in the game back-to-back years — the Patriots are the other.

The NFL kickoff game began in 2002 when the San Francisco 49ers took on the New York Giants. It has since become a tradition, though it has evolved into what the league now calls “Kickoff Weekend.”

A loss to Baltimore would mark the second straight loss for Kansas City in the season opener, and the third straight loss for a reigning Super Bowl champion: the Los Angeles Rams in 2022. It would mark the first time the reigning Super Bowl champion has lost its season opener in three straight seasons since 1981-83.

Which teams scored the most points together?

The 2013 Denver Broncos-Ravens game sets several NFL kickoff game records, including the most points scored by either team — 76. The 2011 Green Bay Packers-New Orleans Saints game also included 76 total points.

Denver defeated Baltimore 49-27 behind a great game from Peyton Manning. The quarterback threw for 462 passing yards and seven touchdowns, both records for the opener. Baltimore’s quarterback — Joe Flacco — also set a record of his own. He had 62 passing attempts, the most ever, but only 34 completions along with 362 passing yards and two touchdowns and interceptions each.

Which team had the most attacking power?

In a meeting in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Kansas City defeated New England to open the 2017 season. The Chiefs amassed 537 yards of offense, the most of any NFL kickoff game, in a 42-27 victory.

Then-Kansas City quarterback Alex Smith threw for 368 yards and four touchdowns, while Tyreek Hill had seven receptions for 133 yards and a score. Kareem Hunt ran for 148 yards, the most rushing yards in an NFL kickoff game.

Tom Brady was playing in his 18th season and struggled with 267 passing yards and no touchdowns.

When was the last time a reigning Super Bowl winner was not on camera?

Since 2002, every NFL kickoff game has featured the reigning Super Bowl champion, except in 2019.

The NFL opted for a classic matchup to kick off its 100th anniversary season, as the Green Bay Packers took on the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. The matchup had all the history, but lacked points on the board.

The Packers won 10-3 in a game that had just one touchdown — an 8-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers to Jimmy Graham — and 467 yards. The next year’s game was against the Chiefs, who had won the Super Bowl the season before.

ESPN Stats & Information contributed to this story.