NBC is the provider for Thursday Night Football, with the game against the Lions vs. Chiefs being broadcasted at 8:20 p.m. ET and the Peacock app providing additional coverage.
The NFL has finally made a comeback this Thursday, with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Detroit Lions set to face off after more than 200 days.
Despite having never met before, the Chiefs are riding a winning streak that has lasted since their last encounter in November 2015.
The game seems like a thrilling experience with plenty of points available for both teams on the road. With 6.5 spread in Kansas City’s favor, the over/under rating is 54. Look forward to some touchdowns, highlights, and replays.
Numerous attempts to repeat events.
What is the method behind the Chiefs and Lions’ TNF match?
Despite their mid-summer games being unimportant, the Chiefs and the Lions have both achieved 2-1 records in their preseason matches.
With a point differential of +27 in August, Kansas City scored 24 or more points each and Detroit couldn’t match that score.
If you’re only interested in playing competitive, starter-level football, the Chiefs are on the way to winning the postseason. They beat the Jaguars by seven points and the Bengals and Eagles three each on their way towards victory. Detroit finished 2022 having defeated five of their last six opponents and only suffered two losses since November 1, resulting in a solid 8-2 record.
TNF Week 1: Reports of injury.
It’s crucial to examine the depth charts and roster injuries of both teams as we approach the start of the 2023 season, which is a critical time in the preseason calendar after enduring incredibly demanding practices.
Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, two of Detroit’s wideouts, were injured during August; Williams is expected to be fit for the TNF kickoff, but he has been suspended by the NFL for only six games, rendering his injury insignificant this week. No other skill-position player should worry or cause any concern for fantasy purposes with the Lions currently having such players.
While Isaiah Pacheco’s injury was the main focus of the summer in Kansas City, it appears that he is still expected to get his usual number of snaps on TNF. Meanwhile, Kadarius Toney has been absent from training camp due to a knee injury and should be back playing at least on fewer games.
Despite his knee hyperextension during Tuesday’s practice, Travis Kelce is expected to be out by Thursday. According to reports, the injury was described as a “bone bruise” on Wednesday morning, which could indicate that it may not be able to play in the long term.
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A single statistic that can alter the outcome on TNF Week 1 is a game-changer.
Lions and Chiefs were the top QBs to allow fantasy points to opposing QBS in 2022.
This is a battle of titanic offenses and subpar (fantasy) defenses, following the Detroit Lions’ successful run in the second half of last season. PFF reports that this team led to the eighth-best offense by 2022, while Kansas City’s unit ranked first among all NFL teams.
Despite the fact that the Chiefs’ D is ranked fifth among defensemen in the league, the Lions have some potential to improve. However, this team has been strengthened by the addition of Emmanuel Moseley and C.J. Gardner-Johnson to their secondary.
The Lions and Chiefs both allowed the most fantasy points to opposing QBs in Yahoo leagues, while their defenses only ranked well against RBs.
QB Patrick Mahomes is the clear favorite in an offensive showdown from a fantasy standpoint, even with no obvious weakness on WR1. The man at the other end (QB Jared Goff) and all Lions pass catchers are undoubtedly the beneficiaries.
Two players will be starting and two will remain as substitutes during the TNF.
The KC team has Isiah Pacheco as their starting RB.
Despite not having a snap share above 35% before Week 10 last season, Pacheco consistently carried the ball against Jacksonville and never dropped below that percentage for the remainder of the season. His impressive usage included 126 carries in the last nine games and 633 yards rushes (70+ per game), as well as one touchdown in four out of his last seven games.
Jared Goff, the QB for DET, will start in the starting lineup.
Goff’s roster is in less than 75% of leagues, which means that if you were involved in straight punting on the position during your draft or your league had a 2QB/Superflex format, you may be eligible to waive his contract.
Goff had a record of at least one touchdown in the six games leading up to Week 18, but only exhibited mediocrity in his season finale and failed to throw – with 25 completions and 295 yards per game. Plus, he didn’t throw another pick in any of the last nine games while completing 15 passes for eloquently passing over Garret.
Sam LaPorta, a TE (DET), is the one on the bench.
LaPorta may receive calls to start as early as Week 1, but if he is selected as your team’s tight end via draft, you will likely have no other option. If you’re watching the position after drafting him or deciding who to play in a DFS game, I would suggest not selecting the rookie.
Stathead reports that in the past 10 seasons, only six tight ends have surpassed six fantasy points in their first NFL game, with three receiving more than five targets and only two players topping 45 receiving yards. LaPorta’s rookie year may be impressive, but it takes time for him to mature sufficiently to play against the reigning champions.
A useful tip for the game is to bench all Kansas City’s tight ends, with the exception of Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and watch Mahomes increase his targeting distance.
Skyy Moore (KC) is the WR on the bench.
According to Yahoo, Moore is expected to earn the highest fantasy points among Chiefs wide receivers in Week 1 in half-PPR leagues, just a full point ahead of his teammate Kadarius Toney (who may not be able to play due to lingering injuries from the training camp).
While Mahomes has the ability to elevate anyone and everyone, Chiefs pass-catchers can only rely on TE Travis Kelce as their safe haven (who won’t return in Week 1). Kansas City also lost two notable wide receivers this offseason, including their most-targeted one (JuJual Smith-Schuster). It’s too early to call Skyy Moore a steady performer, let alone the top pick.
Allow the young man to marinate for a week or two until we uncover more information about this offense.
Scouting for potential waiver wire pickups involves two players.
It’s uncertain what will occur with Edwards-Helaire tomorrow or the rest of the season, making this speculative. Is it possible that Kansas City could utilize CEH to reinforce another unit? Will he be utilized regularly with the other two backfield players?
Due to his past inconsistencies, which included playing 13, 10 and 10 games in his first three seasons in the NFL, and his declining per-game production rate, Edwards-Helaire is now a regular in one of every five leagues.
Despite his past struggles, CEH has shown improvement in per-opportunity ways, with averages of 0.67, 0.76, and 0.96 fantasy points per opportunity. If the Chiefs trade or give him more touches, you may want to stay alert and act quickly.
Marvin Jones Jr. (DET) is a defensive player who plays for the team.
Despite the serious injury concerns that initially plagued Amon-Ra St. Brown, the Lions have seen him perform at his best lately. However, Jameson Williams is currently out of action due to an injury and will be suspended for the first six games.
By reading between the lines, you can see where this is heading. Marvin Jones Jr., a veteran player who has only been in league for ten years, may be the one to step up and fill the gap left by Williams.
Jones Jr. is expected to accumulate 93+ fantasy points by 2023. However, the early departure of Williams could elevate his status and transform him into a valuable addition to the deep-league roster via waivers if Goff consistently delivers enough games for players to see him play.