The reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs will open their season at home against the Detroit Lions.
At first glance, this sounds like a terrible matchup, but the Lions are on the rise and could present a surprising challenge for the Chiefs.
The NFL Week 1 Odds list the Chiefs as -7 point favorites with a betting total of 54.
The two don’t play each other often, with two matchups since 2015. The Chiefs walked away winners in both games, but the Lions covered the most recent game as TD underdogs. The Over is 8-0 between the two dating back to 1990.
Lions vs Chiefs Offensive Comparison
When comparing offense rankings from 2022, the two are closer in production than you might think. The Chiefs were well-publicized as the best offense in the NFL last season and led the league in both yards and points per game. They barely rushed the ball but ranked first in yards per pass and passing yards per game.
With Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce leading the charge again, the Chiefs should be among the top offenses in the league again in 2023.
The Lions’ new-look offense didn’t lag too far behind the Chiefs despite what public perception of the team. Detroit Lions ranked fifth in PPG, fourth in yards, and fifth in touchdowns per game.
Jared Goff passed for over 4,400 yards last year, while Jamaal Williams had his first 1,000-yard season after getting drafted in 2017. Williams also led the NFL in touchdowns with 17.
While both offenses rank among the best in the league, a considerable gap exists between their defensive skills.
Lions vs Chiefs Defensive Comparison
The Kansas City Chiefs are not a lockdown defense by any stretch of the imagination, but they do some things right. KC had one of the better-rushing defenses in the NFL, and teams ran only 37.81% of the time. But, teams were not exactly reluctant to rush on the Chiefs but preferred to exploit their terrible passing defense.
KC finished the season, allowing 225.1 passing yards per season and ranked 22nd in opponent completion percentage. The Chiefs allowed the 18th most points and 14th most yards per game surrendered.
The Chiefs would struggle to win games with such a poor secondary if it weren’t for their top-tier offense.
On the other hand, the Lions need to step up on defense if they have any shot at keeping pace with the Chiefs. Detroit ranked among the league’s worst in opponents’ points, yards, plays, and touchdowns per game. Offenses converted more than 45% of third-down conversions and an eye-watering 55.56% of 4th down conversions.
Regarding this matchup, the NFL lines feel slightly off due to the potential for this game to be a blowout.
The Chiefs have one of the most fearsome passing attacks in the league, while the Lions allowed the most yards per pass in 2022. There is little debate that Mahomes and Co. will likely carve the Lions’ defense up like Thanksgiving dinner.
The Chiefs are heavy favorites to win the AFC West, while the Lions are a tempting bet at their current NFL odds to win the NFC North after going 9-8 last season.
Fun facts about the Detroit Lions
- The Lions have just one victory in the playoffs since winning the NFL Championship in 1957.
- Because their NFL title run happened in the late 1950s, the Lions have never played in the Super Bowl.
- The Lions only have a winning record against only six other teams; the Cardinals, Falcons, Browns, Giants, Jets, and Buccaneers.
Fun facts about the Kansas City Chiefs
- The Chiefs franchise started its life as the Dallas Texans as one of the first teams in the American Football League (AFL) in 1960.
- Before their recent success with Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid, the Chiefs suffered the longest Super Bowl drought in NFL History. Before 2020, the Chiefs had gone 50 years without a Lombardi Trophy.
- They are among the least valuable teams in the NFL, with Forbes ranking them 24th with a valuation of $3.7 billion as of August 2022.
