The Kansas City Chiefs opened their Super Bowl LVII championship defense on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium against the Detroit Lions on “Thursday Night Football” while missing two superstars: defensive tackle Chris Jones — still holding out for a contract extension — and tight end Travis Kelce, who was kept out of the lineup after hyper-extending his knee during practice on Thursday. Even so, before kickoff, NBC announcers said that nationwide, two-thirds of NFL fans believed the Chiefs would win the game.
First quarter
The Chiefs won the opening coin toss, and customarily chose to defer.