(Kansas City) At this point, the Kansas City Chiefs are done celebrating their most recent Super Bowl championship as they prepare to face the Detroit Lions on Thursday night in the NFL Opener.
The Chiefs could become the first team to defend their Super Bowl title in nearly two decades.
Keeping that focus has been difficult.
The Chiefs spent the offseason wondering if Chris Jones would finally join the team, when it appears the star defensive tackle didn’t play a preseason game or attend training camp.
On Tuesday, the team saw tight end Travis Kelce limping out of practice due to knee hyperextension. His presence for the game against the Lions is yet to be confirmed.
Add to that the fact that Chiefs fans are still talking about their February win over the Philadelphia Eagles, their attempt to set a record for the largest pre-game tailgate, and a banner ceremony. As they enter Arrowhead Stadium, there’s more than enough reason to keep the Chiefs distracted as they begin their quest for a fourth Super Bowl final in five years.
“Look, right now the players are focused on the Lions,” said Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, who has won eight straight openers. Everything else will be an exciting environment, but right now we have to make sure we’re not looking at that, just Thursday’s opponent. »
After losing six of their first seven games of the season, the Lions responded well last season winning eight of the last 10. Few teams scored as much as the squad led by quarterback Jared Goff during that streak.
The Lions could be even better on offense this season, having added David Montgomery through the free agent market. They also selected running back Jahmyr Gibbs in the first round of the last draft, before choosing tight end Sam LaPorta in the third round.
“We haven’t had a great start in the last two years,” Goff said. We became more aware of that, I think, by making sure we didn’t put ourselves in difficult conditions from the start. At the same time, we want to win all our matches. »
This is the case of the Chiefs, who have done well in this regard.
The team has won the All-American West Division title for the past seven seasons, in addition to hosting the Western Conference Finals game for the past five seasons, a record. Additionally, quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the most valuable player of the last Super Bowl, has never lost an opener in five starts as a starting quarterback.
“Pre-season games are one thing,” Mahomes said. However, you will have to step up your game in the regular season and it will not always be perfect. »