The Detroit Lions, touted as NFL contenders after decades of playoff futility, stunned the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs 21-20 on the road on Thursday to kick off the 2023 season.
Detroit quarterback Jared Goff threw for 253 yards and a touchdown, rookie defensive back Brian Branch returned an interception 50 yards for a score and Detroit's defense came up with a huge stop late to end Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes's perfect record in season-opening games.
"It was a long, hard game," Goff said. "We probably didn't play our best, but we're built for this, we really are — playing the four-quarter game like this."