Which NFL Teams Play Tonight? Thursday Night Football Returns to Kickoff 2023 NFL Season

September 7, 2023 | 8:00 AM EDT

Which NFL teams play tonight? Here's a look at the Thursday Night Football matchup between the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs.

The time to start the 2023 NFL regular season has come. After waiting all spring and summer, the first mark of the fall descends upon us with the return of the NFL and Thursday Night Football. Which NFL teams play tonight?

The league always schedules the reigning Super Bowl champions to open the season at home. This means the Kansas City Chiefs will take the field at Arrowhead, but who will their opponent be? Let’s look at the Week 1 Thursday Night Football matchup, including the start time, TV channel, and live stream options.

Which Teams Play on Thursday Night Football Tonight?

So, who will travel to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Chiefs on Thursday Night Football? The Detroit Lions will also make their debut as a team with high expectations this season. After a long period of being the league’s laughingstock, the Lions have slowly turned into a respectable football team under the leadership of head coach Dan Campbell.

Detroit Lions at Kansas City Chiefs

Start time: 8:20 p.m. ET
Channel: NBC
Live stream option: Peacock, FuboTV

While the 2023 NFL Draft picks seemed questionable at the time, it looks as though the Lions have maximized their capital and built a roster that can compete in the NFC, and Week 1 will be quite the test. The Chiefs are the best in the AFC; even the AFC wildcard teams would give most of the NFC trouble.

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The most essential key for the Lions will be playing clean football. Detroit was 0-4 in 2022 when committing two or more turnovers. Additionally, since 2021, the Lions have gone 3-19 when committing a turnover. While this is a strong roster, Detroit cannot allow itself to make unforced errors and allow the Chiefs to have extra possessions if they want to win.

It still seems like a long shot, given how great Patrick Mahomes has been under center for Kansas City during his career. Yet, some issues for the Chiefs just before the start of the 2023 season could set the stage for an upset. But it’s now or never for Detroit; the window is finally open. Will the Lions take advantage of the timing and opportunity to be a force in the NFC?

2023 Week 1 Schedule

The Lions and Chiefs will give fans an incredible start to the 2023 NFL season, but who else plays in NFL games this weekend? Here’s a look at the rest of the Week 1 schedule, including start time, TV channels, and live stream options.