NFL is convinced Lions can challenge Chiefs Week 1

The 2023 NFL schedule was released last week and there were some questions about the Thursday night season opener at Arrowhead Stadium.

The last time that quarterbacks Jared Goff and Patrick Mahomes were on the same field was in 2018.  It was a Week 11 Monday night game between the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs. It was originally scheduled for Mexico City but relocated to the L.A. Coliseum due to the field conditions at Azteca Stadium.

Nonetheless, a highly-entertaining affair saw Sean McVay’s club come away with a wild 54-51 victory over Andy Reid’s squad. Wouldn’t that be some way to start off the 2023 season?

The NFL schedule makers caught some people off guard last week. It was announced that Dan Campbell’s Detroit Lions would take on the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in the league’s prime time opener on September 7. Given the way that the team from the Motor City played after a slow start a year ago, it’s hardly a big surprise.

NFL is convinced Lions can challenge the Chiefs

“The last time we saw the Lions they were winning eight of 10 and going into Lambeau and ruining the Packers season,” explained Mike North, NFL vice president of broadcast planning (via Jared Bush of Fox4kc). “They’ve earned this. They have earned this spotlight. They have earned this platform.

In 2022, the Chiefs led the league in points per game (29.2 average) and the Lions were fifth in the same category (26.6). It could be an entertaining evening as Campbell’s club looks to snap Kansas City’s overall eight-game winning streak.

Keep in mind that the Lions not only have to overcome a very talented Chiefs’ roster but a lot of history when it comes to defending Super Bowl champions. A year ago, the Buffalo Bills did go to SoFi Stadium and spanked Sean McVay’s Rams, 31-0, in the NFL’s Thursday night opener.

However, it’s still worth noting that despite that setback, the defending Lombardi Trophy winners own an impressive 38-17-1 record in their first game following their victory on Super Sunday.