The 2023 NFL Preseason has concluded, and the rosters for all 32 franchises have been set; it is finally time for some 2023 NFL regular season football.
What better way to start the season than with an intriguing Thursday Night Football opener between the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs? With an exciting night on the horizon, let’s look at the Thursday Night Football start time, TV Channel, live stream options, and more.
What Time Does Thursday Night Football Start?
The 2023 Thursday Night Football season opener sees the defending Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, hosting the up-and-coming Detroit Lions at Arrowhead Stadium at 8:20 p.m. ET. Both teams have massive expectations for the 2023 regular season. However, could some injuries and holdouts open the door for the Lions in Week 1? Here’s a look at tonight’s game’s start time, TV channel, and live stream option.
Detroit Lions at Kansas City Chiefs
- Start time: 8:20 p.m. ET
- Channel: NBC
- Live stream option: Peacock, FuboTV
The Chiefs could be missing two of the most important players on their roster Thursday night. While slated as questionable, TE Travis Kelce will be hampered by a knee bone bruise. Kelce was targeted 16 times on third and short last season and scored 12 touchdowns last season, the most among NFL TE’s and Chiefs pass catchers; it’s clear his availability is vital to the Chiefs’ offense.
The more significant issue could be defensive tackle Chirs Jones’ holdout. The defensive tackle is looking for a pay raise, and it’s easy to see why. Continually one of the best interior defensive linemen in the NFL, Jones missed just one tackle last season on 30 opportunities and had 15.5 sacks for the Chiefs last season. With the additions the Lions made in the offseason, this massive hole in the defensive line could become an issue for Kansas City.
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The Lions have put together one of the best offensive lines in the league and set up QB Jared Goff with many weapons. WRs Amon-Ra St. Brown and Marvin Jones Jr. look to build upon impressive seasons last year, while the Lions drafted athletic TE Sam Laporta to shore up the TE group.
However, the most significant change was in the RB room. The signing of David Montgomery and drafting Jahmyr Gibbs radically changed the look of the offense. With Gibbs slotted as the starter, will the Lions be able to take advantage of the hole left by Jones? A win over the reigning Super Bowl champions would be quite the start to the Lions’ 2023 season.
2023 Thursday Night Football Schedule
With Thursday Night Football ready to kick off tonight, let’s take a look at the rest of the TNF schedule for the 2023 NFL season. Week 1 will be one of two Thursday night games aired on NBC, with the rest featured on Prime Video.
Week 2, Sept. 14
Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles
- Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Channel: Prime Video
Week 3, Sept. 21
New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers
- Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Channel: Prime Video
Week 4, Sept. 28
Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
- Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Channel: Prime Video
Week 5, Oct. 5
Chicago Bears at Washinton Commanders
- Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Channel: Prime Video
Week 6, Oct. 12
Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs
- Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Channel: Prime Video
Week 7, Oct. 19
Jacksonville Jaguars at New Orleans Saints
- Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Channel: Prime Video
Week 8, Oct. 26
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Buffalo Bills
- Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Channel: Prime Video
Week 9, Nov. 2
Tennessee Titans at Pittsburgh Steelers
- Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Channel: Prime Video
Week 10, Nov. 9
Carolina Panthers at Chicago Bears
- Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Channel: Prime Video
Week 11, Nov. 16
Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens
- Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Channel: Prime Video
Week 12, Nov. 23 (Thanksgiving)
San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks
- Start time: 8:20 p.m. ET
- Channel: NBC
Week 13, Nov. 30
Seattle Seahawks at Dallas Cowboys
- Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Channel: Prime Video
Week 14, Dec. 7
New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers
- Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Channel: Prime Video
Week 15, Dec. 14
Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders
- Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Channel: Prime Video
Week 16, Dec. 21
New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Rams
- Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Channel: Prime Video
Week 17, Dec. 28
New York Jets at Cleveland Browns
- Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Channel: Prime Video
