The 2023 NFL Kickoff Game is the official start of the season on Thursday Night Football as the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs host the Detroit Lions. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes and company playing host is no surprise, as Kansas City has hosted the NFL Kickoff Game every year since 2004, with two exceptions.
So, how does the NFL choose the opponent for the Super Bowl champion? Is there a specific criteria? Do the Lions fit the specified criteria? There are many unsettled questions with lots of answers, so let’s dive in.
How Does the NFL Choose the Opponent In the NFL Kickoff Game?
The opposing team for the defending Super Bowl Champion in the NFL Kickoff Game has been brushed under the rug as a random compilation of teams, but some point to a process.
The NFL schedule makers choose a rivalry team of the defending Super Bowl Champions, a team on the rise, a team debuting a new star player, or even a Super Bowl rematch.
Are the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs Rivals?
The Lions and Chiefs are two of the long-standing, storied NFL franchises, but they don’t have much in common. With Detroit in the NFC and Kansas City in the AFC, they haven’t played often enough to be considered a rivalry.
The Lions and Chiefs have played 14 teams over the years, with the Lions winning five contests and the Chiefs winning the other nine.
Are the Lions A ‘Team On The Rise’?
The Lions are one of the ‘It’ teams heading into the 2023 NFL Regular Season. Detroit have long been a doormat of the NFC North, but with Aaron Rodgers now a member of the New York Jets, there seems to be renewed optimism in Detroit. The Lions are a shiek pick for NFC North Champions.
The Lions showed an explosive offense in 2022 under offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, setting the table for high expectations entering 2023.
Are the Lions Debuting a New Star Player?
The Lions are accumulating plenty of young talent on both sides of the ball. Amon-Ra St. Brown appears to be on the verge of stardom at the receiver position, and defensive end Aidan Hutchinson drives an improving Lions defense.
Detroit is debuting a new star player in RB Jahmyr Gibbs. The Lions became infatuated with Gibbs throughout the draft process, selecting him much earlier than many draft analysts anticipated, with the 12th overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Gibbs is electric in the open field as a runner and receiver and should be the focal point of Thursday Night’s action.
Is This a Super Bowl Rematch?
Considering the Detroit Lions have never been in a Super Bowl, no, this is not a Super Bowl rematch. The Lions meet two of the four categories as an up-and-coming team and a team debuting a new star player, Jahmyr Gibbs.