Lions To Visit Super Bowl Champion Chiefs For Opening Night
The Detroit Lions announced on Thursday morning that they will begin the 2023 regular season on Thursday, September 7th at the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, where they'll face reigning league Most Valuable Player, QB Patrick Mahomes.
The announcement comes hours before the National Football League (NFL) publicizes the full regular season schedule for all 32 teams. The Lions will have eight home games at Ford Field this coming season, with the other nine being on the road.
It has become tradition in recent years for the reigning and defending Super Bowl champions to open the next regular season at home in primetime the Thursday after Labor Day. And this year is no exception.
But this is the first time ever that the Detroit Lions will open the regular season before the first Sunday of the season. Kickoff from Kansas City's GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium that night will be 8:20 pm and the game will be broadcasted nationally on NBC.
With Thursday's announcement, it will be one of at least two nationally televised games for the Lions this season. They will host their traditional Thanksgiving Day game at Ford Field on November 23rd against an opponent to be announced later on Thursday, although it is expected that the Lions will also have other nationally televised games this season.
We know that the Lions will play each NFC North opponent twice this season, home and away (Chicago, Minnesota, Green Bay) as well the NFC South teams (home vs. Carolina, @Tampa Bay, home vs. Atlanta, and @ New Orleans) and the AFC West teams (@ Kansas City, @ Los Angeles Chargers, and home versus Las Vegas and Denver). They also host Seattle and play at Dallas this season. The dates and kickoff times will officially be announced on Thursday night.