Lions Open 2023 Season In Primetime Against Chiefs: Report

DETROIT — After being snubbed from primetime television last season, the Detroit Lions will open the 2023 NFL season on Thursday night against the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, according to a report from TheScore.com.

The game will kick-off in the NFL's Thursday night season opener Sept. 7 at Arrowhead Stadium, according to the report.

The Lions finished last season 9-8 and barely missed the playoffs after a late-season push earned them eight victories in their final ten games. They added an array of talent through free agency so far this off-season, particularly on the defensive side of the side.

After the strong finish and adding to one of the youngest rosters in the NFL, the Lions are favorites to win the NFC North, something they've never accomplished. The last time the Lions won their division was in 1991, when it was the NFC Central. The NFC North was founded in 2002 after the league's realignment.

The Chiefs, on the other hand, won Super Bowl 57 against the Philadelphia Eagles, winning their second title in four seasons. In addition, the Chiefs are 14-3 in home games the past two seasons, and Mahomes has won 16 straight regular season games against NFC opponents.

The last time the Lions played the Chiefs was September 2019, when Mahomes led a fourth-quarter comeback to beat the Lions 34-30 in Ford Field.

NFL officials will release the full season's schedule Thursday night. Here are the 2023 Detroit Lions opponents:

HOME: Chicago, Green Bay, Minnesota, Atlanta, Carolina, Denver, Las Vegas, Seattle

AWAY: Chicago, Green Bay, Minnesota, Baltimore, Dallas, Kansas City, Los Angeles Chargers, New Orleans, Tampa Bay