Now that the 2023 NFL Draft has happened, it is time for fans to face the 2023 NFL regular-season schedule will be announced later this month.
Assuming the NFL upholds the tradition of the past season’s Super Bowl winner hosting the NFL Kickoff Game, then the Kansas City Chiefs led by Patrick Mahomes will be the home team for the first contest of the year. The Chiefs’ home opponents will be the Denver Broncos, LA Chargers, Los Angeles Raiders, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, and Philadelphia Eagles.
Keeping this in mind, some NFL analysts have answered the following questions:
Who would you most want to see the Chiefs play to open the 2023 NFL regular season?
Pick: Philadelphia Eagles – Steve Mariucci
The loaded nature of the Kansas City Chief’s home schedule should bring about many prime-time appearances for Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes and Co., but the best game fans will get for a kick of the 2023 NFL Regular season is a rematch of the Super Bowl LVII.
The Philadelphia Eagles made it clear this offseason that they will take the crown, keeping a number of veteran playmakers, signing star quarterback Jalen Hurts to a huge extent and nailing the draft. A clash of the two titans in early September would set the stage for the rest of the regular season.
Pick: Buffalo Bills – LaDainian Tomlinson
Some of the best news in the last few years has been for Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen, including the AFC Divisional Round gem from the 2021 playoffs. Kansas City has something the Buffalo Bills want: the Lombardi Trophy.
Buffalo detect the tone again for a Super Bowl-or-bust 2023 campaign by defeating the NFL champs – or the Chiefs will remind everyone why they are still top dogs in the League. It’s a win-win for football fans.
Pick: Denver Broncos – Steve Smith Sr.
A division game may not be the most popular pick for a team that was the AFC West’s worst in 2022, but with head coach Sean Payton in their ranks, the Denver Broncos now have an advantage they were previously missing a year ago.
The people want to know if the Super Bowl winner can straighten out Russel Wilson. This will be a huge challenge right off the bat.
Pick: Philadelphia Eagles – Marc Ross
Although they are a lot of great options for this spot, Eagles-Chiefs is the right choice. Back in February, these teams showed that they were meant for the spotlight, so it is only natural that the 2023 NFL regular season begins with the two-star quarterbacks and their incredible squads.
The last time there was a Super Bowl rematch in the next season’s kickoff game was 2016 when Von Miller’s Denver Broncos defended their victory and defeated Cam Newton’s Carolina Panthers. Can Kansas City beat Philadelphia again?
Pick: Cincinnati Bengals – Maurice Jones-Drew
Quarterbacks are the kings of the league, and Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow are the two leaders who set the pace for this position now. Mahomes and Burrow faced off in the last two AFC Championship Games, with each of them winning one match.
Will this year’s Kickoff Game preview a third consecutive AFC title game matchup? It is possible.
Pick: Philadelphia Eagles – David Carr
The quarterback games presented by the Chiefs’ home schedule are unbelievable, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, Justin Fields, Justin Herbert, Jared Goff and Jimmy Garoppolo make an appearance.
Nothing would be more satisfying than seeing Hurts, the main man of the offseason after signing a mega extension, get another shot at dethroning Patrick Mahomes on Thursday night after they both delivered a legendary match in February.
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