The NFL schedule for 2023 is finally out. And the NFL world is in for a treat. They will witness the reigning champions Kansas City Chiefs play against the Detroit Lions in the opening game of the 2023 season in Kansas City. They were eliminated from the playoffs last season after the Seattle Seahawks won against the Los Angeles Rams 19-16. But last season saw them improve drastically after the 3-13-1 campaign of 2021. Nevertheless, playing against the reigning Super Bowl champs as the opening game of the season is no joke for the Lions, especially after not even making it to the playoffs since 2016.

This makes us wonder what must have Roger Goodell thought while drafting the schedule for the new season. Lions’ HC Dan Campbell opens up about what he feels the true intentions of the NFL commissioner and his team might be.

HC believes Goodell and Co see them as underdogs to be defeated by the Kansas City Chiefs

It is no surprise that when drawing a comparison between the Chiefs and the Lions; the Lions are the undeniable underdogs in the matchup. And facing the winners of last season’s Super Bowl is definitely not an easy task, as a humiliating defeat could mean that the morale of the whole team will be down for the rest of the season. During a recent episode of the Good Morning Football show with host Kyle Brandt, Campbell talked about what must have Commissioner Goodell and his team thought while drafting them as the new season opener game.

Campbell said, “I’m being totally honest with you as to why give us Kansas City. Okay, well you finished a year a certain way, but it also means that they’re betting on you won’t get our a** kicked. We may get beat but I’m trying to get your a** kicked. That’s what they are saying.”

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While the Detroit Lions might not be the favorites in the matchup, they have certainly shown a lot of improvement last season in the league.

Can the Lions continue their improvement in the NFL?

While the Lions may not be considered a top-tier team, they are definitely competitive in nature. The Dan Campbell regime saw a drastic improvement in its second year. Even if the Lions drafted QB Hendon Hooker in the third round of the 2023 Draft, they are putting their trust in Jared Goff to lead the team on the field. And Goff has done enough to earn that respect from the Lions fanbase last season. He led the Lions to a winning record and also holds the NFL’s streak of most throws without an interception last season. But their defense still needs a lot more work to be put in. The defense struggled a lot last season to stop runs and passes made by other teams. 

While the opening competition of the new season is tough for the Lions, they will be looking forward to doing their best, and ensuring that they continue to prove themselves in the coming days ahead.

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