These Lions Ain’t Lyin’ 🦁

09/08/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

Detroit Upsets Short-Handed Chiefs (21-20) to Kick Off 2023 NFL Season

What a start to the 2023 NFL season! The reigning champs got the honors of hosting the season-opener, but it wasn’t a happy occasion by evening’s end in Kansas City. The Lions went into Arrowhead and stunned the Chiefs on Thursday Night Football (21-20) thanks to a fearless game plan and a prolific offense. Here’s how it went down.

TNF Recap: Detroit head coach Dan Campbell opted to fake punt from inside his own 20 in the first quarter, and got it. That bold decision sparked a 14-play, 81-yard, 8-minute drive that set the tone for a night of blue-collar Lions football. The short-handed Chiefs — without TE Travis Kelce and DL Chris Jones — put 14 points up in the second quarter to take a 14-7 halftime lead, but KC didn’t sniff the end zone again in the second half. The Chiefs didn’t have a wideout catch more than three passes, and Lions’ rookie safety Brian Branch logged his first career interception for a 50-yard pick-six.

In the end, RB David Montgomery punched in the go-ahead touchdown with seven minutes left, and the Lions’ defense locked up Mahomes on his final two drives. It’s a 1-0 start for the boys from Detroit and 0-1 for the champs. These Lions aren’t lying…

Fun Fact: The Chiefs hadn’t lost a season-opener in eight years (2014). QB Alex Smith won his last three season-opening starts before Mahomes took over and won the last five.

QB Comparison

J. Goff (DET): 22/35, 253 yards, 1 TD

P. Mahomes (KC): 21/39, 271 total yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT

Other Top Performers

RB D. Montgomery (DET): 21 carries, 74 yards, 1 TD

WR A. St. Brown (DET): 6 receptions, 71 yards, 1 TD

RB J. Gibbs (DET): 9 touches, 60 yards

Watch: Lions Stun Short-Handed Chiefs (21-20) in NFL Season-Opener

FOX Sports: Social Media Loves Dan Campbell for 1st-Quarter Fake Punt

AP: Lions Spoil Chiefs’ Celebration of Super Bowl Title With 4th-Quarter Rally

Photo: Cooper Neill / Getty Images