Early NFL picks, predictions for Week 1 of 2023 season

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Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season is still almost four months away, but that doesn’t mean we can’t take a way-too-early look at the slate of games, and try our hand at making some predictions. Teams have largely finished shaping their rosters through free agency and the NFL Draft. Although there’s still plenty of time left between now and the regular season, we’re going to make some early NFL picks and predictions.

What are the top matchups of the 2023 NFL season in week 1? What matchups are in prime time? What teams could start the season with a bang? Let’s take a look at all 16 games on the loaded Week 1 slate.

Early NFL picks, predictions for Week 1 of 2023 season

GLENDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 12: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs motions against the Philadelphia Eagles during the fourth quarter in Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium on February 12, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) /

Detroit Lions (9-8) @ Kansas City Chiefs (14-3)

Thursday, 8:20 p.m. ET, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City

The season kicks off in a pretty surprising way with the Kansas City Chiefs coming off of their latest Super Bowl win and beginning their title defense with a home opener against…The Lions?

The Detroit Lions?

Yes, the Detroit Lions. These aren’t your older brother’s Detroit Lions, though. These are the new-look Detroit Lions, one of the hottest teams at the end of the year last year and one of the league’s best offensive attacks.

The Lions, led by Jared Goff offensively, finished 5th in the NFL in scoring last season. They had the fewest turnovers in the entire league. They were fourth in red zone percentage and 8th in the league in passing. Not bad for a team that was completely written off after the Matthew Stafford trade in 2021.

The Chiefs, of course, don’t care about how upstart the Lions are. They have one of the top home-field advantages in the league and no matter who is on the roster besides Patrick Mahomes, it’s going to take a herculean effort for a team like Detroit to come into Kansas City and get a Week 1 win.

It’s great to see the Lions getting some recognition from the NFL schedule-makers as one of the two featured teams to kick off the season, and this game may even be close through three quarters. But ultimately, the Chiefs will pull away.

Prediction: Chiefs win 34-23

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