The 2023 hasn't even  Tyler Glasnow Jersey been released yet, but there's already one huge surprise: The will be playing in the opener.The league that the will be hosting the Lions in the NFL's annual Thursday night opener that will be kicking off from Kansas City at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sept. 7.The defending champion has been hosting the first game of the NFL season for most of the past 20 years, so it was pretty clear that the Chiefs would be hosting the opener. However, it's a total surprise to see the Lions playing in this game.The Chiefs have a loaded home schedule and NFL fans have spent the past three months in Week 1. The NFL could have scheduled a Super Bowl rematch with the or even an AFC Keone Kela Jersey  Championship rematch with the . The league also could have put Bills-Chiefs in Week 1 or even return to Kansas City, but instead, it will be the Lions who will be playing under the national spotlight to open the season (By the way, Tyreek Hill's return  Jordy Mercer Jersey to Kansas City won't be even be happening because the Chiefs will be playing the in Germany).  The opener is one of the most high-profile games on the schedule so this tells you how the league feels about the suddenly resurgent Lions, who closed out the 2022 season by going 8-2 over their final 10 games.This game will mark the first time that and have faced each other since 2018, when the beat the Chiefs 54-51 in what still ranks as Pablo Reyes Jersey  one of the wildest games in NFL history. If the opener goes anything like that game, then the NFL will be thrilled with its  Francisco Liriano Jersey choice to put Detroit in the game.Also, this game will mark Detroit's first visit to Kansas City in two decades. The last time the Lions visited the Chiefs came back in December 2003. Kansas City was supposed to host the Lions in 2015, but that game got moved to London.  If you're interested in what other have already been announced, . Click here Click here Click here