It’s hard to believe that the 2023 NFL season is almost upon us. Week 1 action is right around the corner and the first game is going to be a good one. On Thursday night to begin the season, Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions will face off against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.

While the Chiefs are favored to win this game, no one should count out the Lions. They are not going to go down without a fight. Detroit has improved tremendously since last season on paper.

Ahead of the big season opener, Lions’ quarterback Jared Goff spoke out and made a very bold statement. It’s clear that he believes his team can beat the defending champions.

Goff made it clear that he would “embrace” an offensive shootout between the Lions and Chiefs. He has had one before, back during his tenure with the Los Angeles Rams.

Looking at the two teams, the Lions may have a bit of a tough time keeping up with the Chiefs’ offense. Jameson Williams is out due to suspension, which takes away a major playmaking threat for Detroit. However, they do have plenty of guys who can produce at a high level.

The Lions will have their work cut out for them defending superstar tight end Travis Kelce. No one has been able to “stop” Mahomes, but they can at least try to slow him down.

What could the difference in this game end up being? Quite simply, whoever is able to make a defensive play or two has a good chance to come out victorious. If there’s one thing that the Lions have focused on building, it’s a defense capable of making plays.

All of that being said, this should be a very entertaining game to watch to begin the 2023 season. Mahomes and the Chiefs are once again Super Bowl favorites and are expected to win this game, but Jared Goff and the Lions are excited about the chance to make a major statement to the rest of the NFL with a big-time upset.