Dan Campbell offers punch line for the Lions playing the Chiefs in Week 1

In his own unique way ultimately, Dan Campbell made it clear he knows why the Detroit Lions are playing the Kansas City Chiefs in the Thursday night season opener.

For some NFL fans, the announcement that the Detroit Lions would be playing the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in the Thursday night season opener drew a raised eyebrow. Or something less subtle to convey disbelief, within digital muscles or otherwise.

But those involved in the schedule making process have been clear. The Lions garnered attention, and proved worthy, after winning eight of their last 10 games last season. And they are on an uptick. Four prime time games on their schedule is the entire proof in that pudding.

Head coach Dan Campbell was on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” Friday morning, naturally to talk about the 2023 schedule and the Lions drawing the Chiefs in the game that will kickoff the season.

Via MLive, Campbell talked about getting the Chiefs game.

"I mean, look, I would say that certainly we’re beginning to get noticed, That’s what it means”, Campbell said."

Dan Campbell has perfect punch line for why the Lions got the Chiefs in Week 1

Campbell continued, with a NSFW (or “NS” for morning television, even given the outside the box, casual nature of the show he was on) punch line for the Lions drawing Kansas City on the Week 1 opening game stage.

"Now I’ll say this, this is my first thought, if I’m being totally honest as to why they would give us Kansas City. Well yeah, we finished the year (well) certainly, but it also means they’re betting on we won’t get our asses kicked, all right? You may get beat, but you won’t get your asses kicked. That’s what they’re saying. So, that’s fine."

Indeed, the league clearly believes the Lions can give the Chiefs a competitive game on that big stage–even if they lose. On Sept. 7, we’ll find out if that belief was well-founded.