Chiefs-Lions 5 things to watch, starting with an epic KC streak against NFC opponents
The NFL season kicks off with the Chiefs playing host to the Detroit Lions on Thursday Night Football in Kansas City.
Here are five things to watch in the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, starting with an opportunity for the Chiefs to match an NFL record.
We’re going streaking
The Chiefs’ success in openers under Andy Reid (9-1) as head coach and with Patrick Mahomes as their starting quarterback (18 touchdowns, no interceptions) portends a good start to the 2023 season.
And there’s another trend that smiles on the Chiefs against the Detroit Lions: They hold a 16-game winning streak in regular-season games against NFC opponents.
The winning ways started in 2019 — oddly enough, during the stretch when Mahomes was out with a knee injury. With Matt Moore as their starter, the Chiefs lost to the Green Bay Packers at Arrowhead in Week 8. The next week, Harrison Butker hit a walk-off 44-yard field goal for a 26-23 victory.
That’s when the streak started. The Chiefs have lost to an NFC team just once during that stretch, going 2-1 in the Super Bowl.
The NFL record for most consecutive regular-season inter-conference victories is 17 by the New England Patriots from 2005-09.
Another oddity: The Lions haven’t played in Kansas City since 2003. Every other NFL team has visited Arrowhead since 2015. One reason for the absence: The Chiefs surrendered home turf in 2015 when they played Detroit in London.
What else happened in KC sports on that day? After the Chiefs knocked off the Lions 45-10, the Royals defeated the New York Mets in Game 5 to capture the World Series title.
Lions’ defense working on its roar
Lions general manager Brad Holmes made upgrading the secondary an offseason cause. Detroit added three defensive backs in free agency, including C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who shared the NFL lead with with six interceptions while playing for the Eagles last season.
He also selected Brian Branch in the second round of the NFL Draft. Branch will do all he can to help defeat the Chiefs, but he has a fond spot in heart for Kansas City. He was one of 17 players invited to attend the draft here in April.
Branch was one of just four of those 17 who were not selected in the first round. The three others, including Kentucky quarterback Will Levis, quickly departed Union Station. Not Branch. He stayed and finally left the green room when the Lions selected him No. 45 overall. He received a nice ovation from Chiefs fans in attendance.
Now, Detroit seeks to improve a defense that finished last in the NFL in yards allowed and tied for 28th in points allowed.
Introducing Jahmyr Gibbs
A solid rushing offense helped the Lions win eight of their final 10 games last season, and during that stretch they averaged 128 yards per game on the ground. Gone is rushing leader Jamaal Williams, but the Chiefs should get a heavy dose of rookie Jahmyr Gibbs, the No. 12 overall pick from Alabama.
A trendy pick for offensive rookie of the year, Gibbs has caught the attention of Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who said KC’s coaches have watched film of Gibbs at Alabama.
“They found ways to get him the ball on the perimeter, and we expect this team (the Lions) to do the same thing,” Spagnuolo said. “He is really good with the ball in his hands. It’s all eyeballs on number 26 (Gibbs) when he goes in the game.”
Who gets sacks and rookie snaps?
With Chris Jones’ holdout extending into the first game, the Chiefs will be without their 2022 sack leader (15 1/2). If the Chiefs pressure Lions quarterback Jared Goff, who gets there first?
Pressure on Goff figures to come from different position groups and angles. The team that finished second in the NFL in sacks last season (55) got 3 1/2 sacks from cornerback L’Jarius Sneed and seven total from its linebackers.
Maybe Chamarri Conner gets one. The fourth-rounder from Virginia Tech, who has lined up at safety and corner, will have a chance to make an early impact among members of this year’s draft class.
First-rounder and local product Felix Anudike-Uzomah figures to rotate with defensive ends on third down. Wide receiver Rashee Rice will fight for snaps and hopes to avoid the drops.
Chiefs spotlight on: Nick Bolton
Tackling machine Nick Bolton should get off to a fast start against the offense-minded Lions. Bolton finished second in the NFL last year in solo and combined tackles, but his season highlight came in the Super Bowl when he returned a Jalen Hurts fumble for a touchdown.
Bolton said he’ll be more prepared for this opening game than he was for the first game of his career, in 2021 against the Cleveland Browns.
“A guard pulled up on me and I hit him with my right shoulder and stalemated him for about two seconds and then I got put on my back pretty quick,” Bolton recalled.
“That was probably my ‘Welcome to NFL moment.’ That was the first time I think I’ve ever been put on my back like that in my whole life so definitely was an eye opener for me.”
This story was originally published September 5, 2023 at 12:48 PM with the headline "Chiefs-Lions 5 things to watch, starting with an epic KC streak against NFC opponents."