As the 2023 NFL season is just around the corner, all the teams are putting the final touches to their systems. Although tactics and strategies are a constant evolution process throughout the season in the league, most teams will already have a fair idea of their strengths and weaknesses by now. Along with the teams, their fans are also getting ready for the upcoming season planning out their schedules accordingly.
However, before we get to the first game of the season, the teams will first have to slowly get back into the grind that the NFL demands by completing the three week preseason which is set to begin from August 11, 2023. Not to forget the Hall of Fame game which is set to take place in just a couple of days as the Cleveland Browns take on the New York Jets at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.
Which teams will open the 2023 NFL season?
The NFL has since 2004 started a new tradition with respect to the opening game of the season. Except for a couple of exceptions, the NFL season has always started with the defending Super Bowl Champions hosting the first game of the season. The 2022 season culminated with the Kansas City Chiefs lifting the Lombardi Trophy and as a result they will host the Detroit Lions at Arrowhead stadium this year.
When will the 2023 NFL season kickoff?
Get ready to mark your calendar since the 2023 NFL season will open with the Chiefs and the Lions on Thursday, September 7. Another customary tradition that the league has started since the turn of the century is opening the new season on Thursdays. The rest of the teams will get their campaigns underway the following Sunday and Monday.
Past NFL season openers
The season openers which are called the NFL kickoff games are not just about one match. In fact, prior to the game, the league holds a concert and other such ceremonies to get the new season officially underway.
There have been some great matchups that have taken place as the opening game of the new season. Let us revisit some of the past matches that graced the occasion and with it the significance that they held.
| Season | Home team | Away team | Location | Score |
| 2002 | New York Giants | San Francisco 49ers | Giants Stadium | 13-16 |
| 2003 | Washington Redskins | New York Jets | FedExField | 16-13 |
| 2004 | New England Patriots | Indianapolis Colts | Gillette Stadium | 27-24 |
| 2005 | New England Patriots | Oakland Raiders | Gillette Stadium | 30-20 |
| 2006 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Miami Dolphins | Heinz Field | 28-17 |
| 2007 | Indianapolis Colts | New Orleans Saints | RCA Dome | 41-10 |
| 2008 | New York Giants | Washington Redskins | Giants Stadium | 16-7 |
| 2009 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Tennessee Titans | Heinz Field | 13-10 |
| 2010 | New Orleans Saints | Minnesota Vikings | Louisiana Superdome | 14-9 |
| 2011 | Green Bay Packers | New Orleans Saints | Lambeau Field | 42-34 |
| 2012 | New York Giants | Dallas Cowboys | MetLife Stadium | 17-24 |
| 2013 | Denver Broncos | Baltimore Ravens | Mile High Stadium | 49-27 |
| 2014 | Seattle Seahawks | Green Bay Packers | CenturyLink Field | 36-16 |
| 2015 | New England Patriots | Pittsburgh Steelers | Gillette Stadium | 28-21 |
| 2016 | Denver Broncos | Carolina Panthers | Mile High Stadium | 21-20 |
| 2017 | New England Patriots | Kansas City Chiefs | Gillette Stadium | 27-42 |
| 2018 | Philadelphia Eagles | Atlanta Falcons | Lincoln Financial Field | 18-12 |
| 2019 | Chicago Bears | Green Bay Packers | Soldier Field | 3-10 |
| 2020 | Kansas City Chiefs | Houston Texans | Arrowhead Stadium | 34-20 |
| 2021 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Dallas Cowboys | Raymond James Stadium | 31-29 |
| 2022 | Los Angeles Rams | Buffalo Bills | SoFi Stadium | 10-31 |
The 2002 and 2003 seasons did not feature the Super Bowl champions as that trend had not been established at the time. Similarly, the 2019 season also did not feature the Champions as it was the hundredth year of operations and thus the league decided to go with the Packers and Bears rivalry. In the 2013 game, the Ravens who were the defending champions had to play away due to scheduling problems as the Baltimore Orioles were playing their MLB game in that stadium. The 2016 kickoff game was actually the rematch of the previous Super Bowl between the Broncos and the Panthers.
FAQs
A. The 2023 NFL season will open on Thursday, September 7 as the Chiefs take on the Lions.
A. The defending champions, the Kansas City Chiefs will go up against the Detroit Lions to start the 2023 NFL season.
A. NBC will broadcast a special edition of Thursday night edition of Sunday Night Football between the Chiefs and the Lions on September 7, 2023.
