Turns out it did really matter that the Kansas City Chiefs didn’t have tight end Travis Kelce nor defensive tackle Chris Jones for Thursday night’s season opener against the Detroit Lions.
A couple of mistakes by their two figureheads – quarterback Patrick Mahomes and coach Andy Reid – didn’t help, and the Lions were able to win the NFL’s season opener, shocking the Chiefs 21-20 in front of the entire world on NBC.
Mike Tirico, doing play-by-play on the game, went ahead and said what most viewers were likely thinking: that there was an asterisk by the game due to the absences of Jones and Kelce, Jones due to a holdout for a new contract, and Kelce due to a hyperextended knee suffered in practice earlier this week.
Mahomes, though, looked off his game against Detroit’s aggressive defensive performance, even throwing an interception that rookie Brian Branch returned for a touchdown.
And later in the game, Reid made what many would say was an uncharacteristic coaching mistake. On fourth-down-and-25, from deep in Chiefs’ territory and only trailing 21-20 with two minutes left, Reid elected to try and throw for the first down, rather than punt. Mahomes’ pass downfield fell incomplete. The Lions took over on downs and, even with the Chiefs having time-outs, were able to run out the clock – and deal the Chiefs their first season-opening loss in eight years.
Here’s the Detroit Free Press’ recap of the game, courtesy of Dave Birkett: Detroit Lions make big statement, beat Chiefs in K.C. in opener, 21-20 (freep.com)
So, the 2023 NFL season has started, the Detroit Lions already have their first win, and more surprisingly, the Chiefs already have a loss.
Let the chaos begin. See you Sunday.
