There were countless options, with intriguing storylines, as the NFL was creating the 2023 schedule but ultimately, they decided to showcase the Detroit Lions at Kansas City for the prime-time Thursday night kickoff game on Sept. 7.
Obviously, the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs - led by reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes - will always draw interest, but it's a big deal for Detroit to receive such national coverage, especially since they were the only NFL team without a prime-time game on the schedule at this same point last year.
Mike North, the NFL's Vice President of Broadcast Planning said the Lions "earned" the spotlight after winning eight of their final 10 games in 2022 to finish at 9-8.