Next Season's Opening Game

The confetti hadn't even stopped falling at State Farm Stadium when talk shifted to next season.  Specifically, it shifted to one of the NFL's more-recent traditions.  The one where the Super Bowl champion opens at home on Thursday night in the first game of the NFL season.  The Royals are home that day, but playing an afternoon game, so the Chiefs won't have a problem continuing that tradition.

And, in an interesting little twist, the 17th game next season is NFC East at AFC West.  Which means we'll have a Super Bowl rematch in Kansas City next season.  So, it's probably a good bet that we'll see that one as the opener, which would mark the second time that the season started with a Super Bowl rematch (Carolina at Denver in 2017 was the first).

However, there's another interesting wrinkle to all of this.  The Chiefs are the "home" team in one of the Germany games next season, and you know the NFL will want a good matchup in that one, as well.  So, I'm very curious to see which game ends up getting chosen for both the opener and the Germany game.  Because Kansas City's home schedule next season is full of marquee games.

Their three non-division AFC home games are all against playoff teams.  Somehow, they ended up with both Buffalo and Cincinnati scheduled to come to Arrowhead, along with Miami.  Plus, the Chargers made the playoffs last season, too (although, I think it's highly unlikely they choose a division game for either).  The only games that I think we can count on definitely NOT opening the season are against the Bears and Lions.

My guess is the Germany game and season opener will come down to Buffalo, Cincinnati, Miami and Philadelphia.  Two will get those marquee spots.  One of the other two will be a Sunday night game, and the last one will be protected by CBS as a national late game.  Here's which games I think it'll be, ranked in order of least likely to most...

9. Bears: Absolutely no chance!  Under no circumstances will the NFL have the Super Bowl champion play the team that had the worst record in the league in a marquee game on a national stage.  This will be a regional Sunday 1:00 game.

8. Raiders: Chiefs-Raiders games are fun and always intense.  But that's not enough of a reason to bump this game up from the 8-spot.  Especially since the Raiders probably won't be very good in 2023.  And since there are much better matchups available to choose.

7. Lions: Early prediction: Detroit will be a playoff team in 2023.  The Lions weren't in 2022, though, and they won't waste a Chiefs' national game on them.  Not when the NFC North teams that Kansas City visits are Green Bay and Minnesota, and it's far more likely one of those ends up in primetime.  

6. Broncos: They gave Denver a ton of primetime games at the beginning of last season because of Russell Wilson.  That turned out to be a bad idea.  The Broncos didn't just suck.  They were also boring.  So, there's absolutely no chance they play the Chiefs on opening night.  I only rank it above the other three games because Sean Payton is the Broncos' coach now, so there'll be at least some interest because of that.

5. Dolphins: For some reason, I think this one's headed to Germany.  I just don't see them setting either the Buffalo-Kansas City or Cincinnati-Kansas City games for a 9:30 AM kickoff on NFL Network.  Besides, the German fans won't care.  The game will be a sellout regardless.  So, Tyreek Hill's return to Arrowhead will have to wait.

4. Chargers: Last season, Chiefs-Chargers was the first Thursday night game on Amazon Prime.  I wouldn't be surprised if they pick that matchup again, but probably the one at SoFi.  (They can't put all of the Chiefs' marquee home games on national TV!)  Although, if the rematch at Arrowhead gets scheduled for Week 18, which I'm betting it will, it could end up on national TV, too.

3. Bills: This one was a CBS national doubleheader game last season.  Which is why I think this year it'll be on a Sunday night.  It wouldn't be completely out of left field if they made it the opener.  And I doubt anyone would complain if they did.  I just don't think they will.  Not with Cincinnati and Philadelphia also available as choices.

2. Bengals: No one would have an issue with an AFC Championship Game rematch to open the season.  I have a sinking suspicion CBS will want this one for a national doubleheader game, though.  Last year, Bills-Chiefs was the doubleheader game and Bengals-Chiefs was on a Sunday night.  That's why I think they reverse it in 2023.

1. Eagles: When they added the 17th game to the schedule, this is what they had in mind.  Last season, the Rams' 17th game was at home against the Bills...and they made it the season-opening Thursday night game.  Throw in the fact that it's a Super Bowl rematch, and I don't see how they can resist!  It would be incredibly shocking if the 2023 season doesn't begin with the same matchup that ended the 2022 season.