The Kansas City Chiefs will face their first test against the Detroit Lions on Thursday, September 7 in the NFL’s first game of the 2023 season. The highly anticipated matchup is expected to be a spectacle of epic proportions, as the AFC powerhouse Chiefs take on the upstart Lions at Arrowhead Stadium to begin their Super Bowl defense campaign.
While both teams have their strengths and weaknesses, Kansas City has been the predicted winner for this tilt since the 2023 schedule was announced. But, the Chiefs will play without their best defensive player in Chris Jones, and Travis Kelce’s status for the game is unknown after he hyperextended his knee on Tuesday.
Buy Chiefs TicketsCheck out the picks from our expert crew here at Chiefs Wire ahead of Thursday’s matchup:
Wesley Roesch's pick
Can the Chiefs win this game without Chris Jones and Travis Kelce? Well, it might not be pretty, but yes, they can. The Andy Reid-led Chiefs have only lost once in Week 1 in 10 seasons. They’ve had months to game plan for this matchup, and while that game plan likely included Jones and Kelce, I don’t think their absences will cause them to deviate from the plan too much.
Patrick Mahomes will still take what the defense gives him, even if it’s Justyn Ross or Richie James or whomever he’s throwing to. Then he’ll stretch the field. That’s where Marquez Valdes-Scantling comes in. The fact is, even without Kelce, Mahomes still has a great rapport with plenty of these guys. He’ll make it work.
Defensively, I expect coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to get creative and maybe a little crazy. He’ll throw weird blitz packages at Jared Goff. And while Goff is good and should be able to get his yards, I don’t think he’ll be able to keep up with Pat.
Chiefs 35, Lions 31
Ed Easton's Pick: Chiefs win 35-21
The Kansas City Chiefs return to action on Thursday with games that will count in the standings as they face off with the Detroit Lions. The much-anticipated game will have an interesting storyline after the injury suffered by Travis Kelce, possibly affecting the Chiefs offense. Whether Kelce plays or not, Patrick Mahomes will utilize his seven receivers efficiently and continue his interception-less streak when starting Week 1 games.
The Chiefs’ defense will be motivated to prove they can be effective without Chrus Jones in the lineup, putting pressure on Jared Goff. The running game will have some success for Detroit, but the defense will hold in clutch short-yardage moments. The fantastic Arrowhead Stadium crowd will propel Kansas City as they will take the game with a solid performance in the fourth quarter to seal it.
Nick Roesch's Pick
The Chiefs will face perhaps their biggest Week 1 test of the Patrick Mahomes era on Thursday night. Detroit finished the 2022 season with a ton of momentum and made a lot of nice upgrades in the offseason. Combine that with K.C. being without Chris Jones and potentially Travis Kelce, the Chiefs are going to have to play a very good game to get a win.
While I like the upgrades the Lions have made, they haven’t had a chance to gel yet. I expect Mahomes to test Detroit’s revamped secondary and have success. Defensively, Steve Spagnuolo can get creative with blitzes and get pressure on the immobile Jared Goff.
The Lions are a young team that is likely going to start this game wide-eyed and overzealous, which could lead to them making mistakes. The Chiefs just need to stay poised and execute. They’ve been there, done that and know how to finish games. I think this will be a high scoring affair, with the Chiefs making the least amount of mistakes being the difference.
Chiefs 38, Lions 34
John Dillon's Pick
This game has all the makings of an instant classic to start the 2023 season, and despite the absence of Chris Jones and the uncertainty surrounding Travis Kelce’s status, the Chiefs should be expected to get their first win in this matchup.
Detroit hosts a talented roster that will likely keep the final score close, but the Lions aren’t on Kansas City’s level on paper. Anything can happen in Week 1, but I just don’t see the upset happening tonight. I’ll take the Chiefs to win with a final score of 32-19 for a scorigami victory.
