The 2023 NFL season formally will get underway with the Detroit Lions visiting the reigning Tremendous Bowl champion Kansas Town Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday night time.
It is a matchup between a Lions crew many be expecting to be contenders within the NFC North, whilst the Chiefs start their quest for a 3rd championship in 5 seasons.
QUICK PICK
The Chiefs have now not misplaced in Week 1 since drafting Patrick Mahomes, and there is little explanation why to consider that streak will prevent on Thursday night time. They have got scored a minimum of 33 issues in each and every opener since 2017.
Sure, Kansas Town could be with out tight finish Travis Kelce, however Mahomes has quite a few different guns and Detroit gave up the third-most yards within the air remaining season.
The Chiefs are liked by way of 4.5 issues at BetMGM, the place the Over/Below is 53.5 issues. The road opened at Kansas Town -7, with Kelce’s unsure standing a significant component within the shift at the side of the absence of holdout defensive lineman Chris Jones.
The Chiefs‘ unfold line has nonetheless been subsidized by way of 61 p.c of the bets and 55 p.c of the cash wagered on the ebook, whilst the Lions‘ +180 moneyline has been well-liked by 75 and 61 p.c of the motion, respectively.
Prediction: Chiefs 34, Lions 24
PROP PICK
Chiefs RB Jerick McKinnon Over 26.6 Receiving Yards (-125 at DraftKings): This has been the third-most common participant prop on the ebook for Thursday night time’s recreation. McKinnon had a couple of receptions for no less than 31 yards in 4 of Kansas Town’s ultimate 5 regular-season video games remaining season. With Kelce both out or restricted, McKinnon will most probably play an important function within the passing recreation out of the backfield.
THE NEWS
The Lions made it transparent they wish to be within the place the Chiefs are in, on the best of the NFL heap obtrusive down on challengers.
“The fellows know all that. They remember that; that is how they paintings,” Kansas Town trainer Andy Reid stated. “They are now not going to modify that phase, that incorporates the territory, and you have to you’ll want to’re able.”
Mahomes arrived to coaching camp with a clenched jaw, difficult teammates to battle to triumph over complacency. He is one participant Reid may not doubt is able on Thursday. And Mahomes flourishes in season openers. He has 5 three-plus-TD video games in 5 begins with 18 touchdowns and 0 interceptions cumulatively in Week 1.
Kansas Town regulations the AFC West and has hosted 5 consecutive AFC Championship video games.
Detroit is purchasing into trainer Dan Campbell’s crew, promoting out season tickets to Ford Box for the primary time within the historical past of the stadium and keeping up optimism quarterback Jared Goff and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson can stay their rhythm from the second one part of remaining season.
“It is amusing being right here in a town with all this pleasure,” Goff stated. “That being stated, it doesn’t suggest the rest if you do not win. I believe everyone knows that. I do know that. I have been on profitable groups. I have been on shedding groups. Other people will proceed to be excited if we proceed to win. Profitable fixes the whole lot, as they are saying.”
Goff had 29 landing passes remaining season however the Lions misplaced maximum in their confirmed level manufacturers from 2022. Operating again Jamaal Williams scored 17 touchdowns and rushed for 1,066 yards. D’Andre Swift had 5 speeding touchdowns and 3 receiving TDs and was once the second-leading receiver at the crew (48 receptions) to Amon-Ra St. Brown (106 receptions, 1,161 yards).
Campbell needs his crew’s good fortune to return all the way down to a sophisticated and robust offensive line and a defensive position constructed round 2022 No. 2 select Aidan Hutchinson. He led the crew with 9.5 sacks as a rookie.
Common supervisor Brad Holmes decided on operating again Jahmyr Gibbs within the first spherical of the 2023 draft, strengthened the intensity at the defensive position and located playmakers at positions of want within the offseason.
“We really feel much more assured that we will be capable of compete with the large canines,” Holmes stated. “There is now not a greater check than that first opener. I imply, they are the champs.”
KEY STATS
—9-1: Kansas Town’s report in regular-season openers below trainer Andy Reid. Against this, Detroit misplaced its opener remaining yr en path to a 1-6 get started.
—Reid’s subsequent win will probably be his 270th within the NFL (together with playoffs), which might tie Cowboys legend Tom Landry for fourth all-time in victories as an NFL head trainer.
INJURY REPORT
Whether or not Kelce will probably be at the box to lend a hand Mahomes prolong his string of speedy begins turned into unclear Tuesday. Reid stated Kelce hyperextended a knee throughout apply. Kelce was once indexed as a restricted player in apply, and a couple of reviews on Thursday indicated he’s in point of fact a game-time choice.
The Chiefs additionally indexed huge receiver Kadarius Toney (knee) and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed (knee) as restricted at Wednesday’s apply. The Lions‘ best restricted player was once cornerback Emmanuel Moseley (knee).
THEY SAID IT
—”Make him cross backwards and not flip round the place he can throw again that approach. That may be about the easiest way to sum it up. Yeah, glance, this man is — he is difficult. That is the simple resolution to all this. He’s a extremely aggressive, extremely instinctive conscious participant.” — Campbell on Mahomes, whom he referred to as “the engine” of the Chiefs.
—”As in poor health because it sounds, I am over remaining yr. I am able to stay issues transferring ahead. You recognize, I believe it’s going to be cool for the lovers, for the Hunt Circle of relatives so that you can put any other banner up, and that’ll be a second for them. For me at this time, I am inquisitive about beating the Detroit Lions, now not in point of fact inquisitive about any of the opposite stuff that is going on for the primary recreation of the yr.” —Kelce at the Tremendous Bowl banner-raising rite pregame.
—Box Stage Media
