The 2022 Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs begin their title defense as they host the Detroit Lions in the 2023 NFL Kickoff Game.
Choosing Kansas City as the host for the NFL Kickoff Game is a natural fit. The Chiefs are the defending Super Bowl champions, and the last major NFL event, the 2023 NFL Draft, took place in Kansas City.
The Detroit Lions are one of the up-and-coming teams in the NFL and should provide an entertaining opponent for Patrick Mahomes and Co. Do the defending Super Bowl champions always host the NFL Kickoff Game?
Do the Super Bowl Champs Always Host the Opener?
Since 2004, the Super Bowl champions have hosted the NFL Kickoff Game, with two exceptions.
Ahead of #NFLKickoff next week, we were joined by some special guests at our Chiefs business staff meeting to answer some questions & get us hyped about the upcoming season 👏 pic.twitter.com/SHzkBJdtnB
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) September 1, 2023
Oddly enough, in 2013, the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens traveled to Mile High to face the Denver Broncos. The Ravens’ travel plans were enacted because of a conflict with the hometown MLB team, the Baltimore Orioles.
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In 2019, the NFL opted against having the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots host the NFL Kickoff Game. League decision-makers instead picked a game between two storied NFL franchises, the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers, as the NFL celebrated its 100th anniversary.
Is the Thursday Night Kickoff Game Always on Thursday Night?
Since 2002, the NFL scheduled every NFL Kickoff Game for Thursday night, except for one time.
Ravens-Steelers will be first NFL game played on Wednesday since the 2012 season opener between the Cowboys and Giants, which was scheduled for that day to avoid a conflict with President Barack Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention, which occurred on that Thursday
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) November 30, 2020
In 2012, the Democratic National Convention had its last day on Thursday, which featured President Barack Obama’s acceptance speech.
The NFL moved the opening game to Wednesday to avoid a conflict with The President.
What Were the Results of Previous NFL Kickoff Games?
2022: Buffalo Bills 31, Los Angeles Rams 10
2021: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31, Dallas Cowboys 29
2020: Kansas City Chiefs 32, Houston Texans 20
2019: Green Bay Packers 10, Chicago Bears 3
2018: Philadelphia Eagles 18, Atlanta Falcons 12
2017: Kansas City Chiefs 42, New England Patriots 27
2016: Denver Broncos 21, Carolina Panthers 20
2015: New England Patriots 28, Pittsburgh Steelers 21
2014: Seattle Seahawks 36, Green Bay Packers 16
2013: Denver Broncos 49, Baltimore Ravens 27
2012: Dallas Cowboys 24, New York Giants 17
2011: Green Bay Packers 42, New Orleans Saints 34
2010: New Orleans Saints 14, Minnesota Vikings 9
2009: Pittsburgh Steelers 13, Tennessee Titans 10 (OT)
2008: New York Giants 16, Washington 7
2007: Indianapolis Colts 41, New Orleans Saints 10
2006: Pittsburgh Steelers 28, Miami Dolphins 17
2005: New England Patriots 30, Oakland Raiders 20
2004: New England Patriots 27, Indianapolis Colts 24
2003: Washington 16, New York Jets 13
2002: San Francisco 49ers 16, New York Giants 13