The 2024 NFL season kicked off with an encounter between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens, which experienced a delay due to lightning, but this did not dampen the audience turnout.

According to NBC’s announcement on Friday, an average of 28.9 million viewers watched the Chiefs narrowly overcome the Ravens 27-20, making it the most-watched opening game of a regular season in NFL history. For context, last year’s opener featuring the Chiefs and the Detroit Lions drew in an average of 27.5 million viewers.

The broadcast of the 2024 NFL regular-season kickoff peaked at 33 million viewers during the second quarter around 9:30-9:45 p.m. ET, but the game’s excitement escalated in the final moments.

With the Ravens down by a touchdown and mere seconds remaining, quarterback Lamar Jackson made a throw to tight end Isaiah Likely in the end zone, which initially looked like a touchdown. However, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh signaled for a two-point conversion attempt, presuming they would win, but a review revealed that Likely’s toe just barely touched out of bounds.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes humorously advised, “He’s got to wear white cleats next time, that’s my advice to (Likely),” following their victory.

This matchup between Kansas City and Baltimore was a rematch of the 2023 AFC championship game, where the Chiefs previously defeated the Ravens 17-10 on their way to winning their second consecutive Super Bowl.

Kickoff was delayed until 8:40 p.m. ET due to thunderstorms and lightning.