How to watch and stream Chiefs-Lions in Week 1

The Kansas City Chiefs are set to face the Detroit Lions in the NFL Kickoff Game on Thursday night. The Chiefs begin their Super Bowl title defense in front of a home crowd at Arrowhead Stadium. It'll be their first true banner at Arrowhead Stadium given the fact that they had reduced capacity due to […]

Charles Goldman — NFL Managing Editor

Sep 6, 2023 6:30 PM EDT

The Kansas City Chiefs are set to face the Detroit Lions in the NFL Kickoff Game on Thursday night.

The Chiefs begin their Super Bowl title defense in front of a home crowd at Arrowhead Stadium. It'll be their first true banner at Arrowhead Stadium given the fact that they had reduced capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 after their Super Bowl LIV win. While this will be a big moment for fans to celebrate, the team has preached that they've already turned a page on 2022 as they look to start things off on the right foot for the 2023 NFL season.

Detroit Lions (0-0) at Kansas City Chiefs (0-0)
Date: Thursday, Sept. 7
Time: 7:20 p.m. CT
Location: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium – Kansas City, Missouri
Betting odds: Chiefs -5.5, Over/Under 53
How to watch on TV: KCTV5 (CBS Local/National).
Streaming: FuboTV, YouTube TV, NFL+, Network apps, etc.
Radio: WDAF (106.5 FM or on Chiefs mobile app)

Who steps up in place of Chris Jones?

While Jones suggested if a deal got done, he'd be ready to suit up and play tomorrow, no one seems to expect that will actually happen. It'll be curious to see how the defensive line room handles his absence and who steps up to make an impact on the defensive interior. Derrick Nnadi and Tershawn Wharton are listed as starters, but it could be rookie Keondre Coburn or trade acquisition Neil Farrell Jr. who really flashes in his absence.

Travis Kelce, a game-time decision?

Kelce hyperextended his knee in practice on Tuesday, and thankfully the MRI results have revealed no serious injuries. He was only ruled questionable heading into the game, which suggests there still exists a chance he could play. CEO and Chairman Clark Hunt suggested that this is an issue of pain management. Expect Rick Burkholder will have the final say on whether Kelce looks good enough in pre-game warm-ups to have a shot at playing.

5 players to keep an eye on:

TE Noah Gray: If Kelce is out of the game or even limited, it'll be a big opportunity for the third-year tight end out of Duke. Not only will he get more work as a blocker, but he'll also get to put his pass-catching skills on display. He was targeted in every single game last season and is coming off a career year with 28 catches for 299 and a touchdown.
RT Jawaan Taylor: The weak link on the offensive line during the preseason, the Chiefs will need Taylor to elevate his game as both a run-blocker and pass-blocker in Week 1. The Lions have a wealth of talent at the edge rusher position, so Taylor is going to have his hands full.
LB Drue Tranquill: There has been lots of talk about Lions rookie RB Jahmyr Gibbs and his threat as a pass-catcher leading up to this game. Tranquill was the eighth-best linebacker by coverage grade in 2022 among linebackers with at least 1,000 defensive snaps per PFF.
RB Isiah Pacheco: Remember, Pacheco had just one carry during the preseason due to a shoulder injury. He's healthy and ready to go in Week 1, but this is going to be the first extended playtime for him since Super Bowl LVII.
DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah: The rookie out of Kansas State was the team's highest-graded edge defender during the preseason. He had some really strong flashes as a pass-rusher and the Chiefs will need that to continue with their biggest pass rush threat sidelined.