LIVE BLOG: Follow Detroit Lions' Season Opener against Kansas City Chiefs

The Detroit Lions are, at last, kicking off the 2023 NFL season.

Their season opener comes as highly anticipated as any in recent memory, as they are squaring off against the Kansas City Chiefs in the first game of the NFL season.

The Lions are expected to be playoff contenders and are currently the betting favorite to win the NFC North division. In their season opener, they have a chance to prove that they are up for the challenge.

The reigning Super Bowl champions present a stern test for the Lions' new-look defense. Detroit will be without cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, who is still rehabbing a torn ACL suffered last season.

It will be the first time Lions fans see many of their starters in action, as quarterback Jared Goff and others did not play in the preseason. The offense's debut is highly anticipated as the unit enters the second season of Ben Johnson's tenure as coordinator.

"I think, for him, he's more comfortable with us knowing that we understand the offense now," receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown said of Johnson. "So he's able to add wrinkles into the offense now, so he's able to add wrinkles into the offense that maybe we couldn't do last year because we're still trying to pick up things. Being in year two, he's able to add more, whether it's a play off a play, different formations, make it look the same. He just adds small things because he feels comfortable with us, we feel comfortable with what he's calling. He knows the way we like to run our routes, he knows what Jared is looking for, what Jared likes, what he doesn't like. It's just more comfortable within the whole team."

Follow along all throughout the Lions-Chiefs game with our live blog:

11:24 p.m. -- Lions hold on for 21-20 win over Chiefs.

11:17 p.m. -- Patrick Mahomes and Chiefs turn it over on downs. Lions lead, 21-20, at two-minute warning in fourth quarter.

11:16 p.m. -- Chiefs suffer false-start penalty on fourth-and-20, with 2:09 to go in fourth quarter.

11:12 p.m. -- Chiefs stop Jared Goff and Lions on fourth-and-2 conversion attempt.

11:03 p.m. -- David Montgomery helps Lions retake lead, 21-20, with 8-yard TD run.

10:49 p.m. Harrison Butker hits 39-yard field goal to extend Chiefs' lead to six, 20-14.

10:42 p.m. -- Chiefs lead Lions, 17-14, going into fourth quarter.

10:30 p.m. -- Harrison Butker nails 35-yard field goal to give Chiefs 17-14 lead, with 2:10 to go in third quarter.

10:07 p.m. -- Brian Branch with interception returned for touchdown with 10:54 to go in third quarter.

9:39 p.m. -- Lions trail Chiefs, 14-7, at halftime.

9:29 p.m. -- Chiefs take 14-7 lead on TD pass to Blake Bell. 0:34 to play in first half.

9:20 p.m. -- Mike Danna records sack of Jared Goff. Danna has been consistently wreaking havoc against Goff throughout first half.

9:10 p.m. -- Marvin Jones Jr. fumbles in red zone, and Chiefs recover.

9:07 p.m. -- Lions enter red zone on second consecutive drive.

9:05 p.m. -- Amon-Ra St. Brown is dominating Chiefs on crossing routes in first half.

9:03 p.m. -- Since Dan Campbell took over as Lions head coach in 2021, Detroit has attempted eight fake punts, five more than the next closest teams, per ESPN Stats & Info. Detroit has converted a first down on seven of those eight fake punts.

8:57 p.m. Chiefs tie up game early in second quarter, via touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes to Rashee Rice.

8:51 p.m. -- Lions lead reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs, 7-0, at end of first quarter.

8:43 p.m. -- Amon-Ra St. Brown on receiving end of game-opening touchdown, capping off a 91-yard drive. 2:46 to play in first quarter.

8:36 p.m. -- Jalen Reeves-Maybin takes direct snap and converts fake punt on Lions' own 17-yard line.

8:30 p.m. -- John Cominsky wraps up Patrick Mahomes for big third-down stop.

8:26 p.m. -- Lions go three-and-out on first series.

8:25 p.m. -- Taylor Decker, Jonah Jackson, Frank Ragnow, Halapoulivaati Vaitai and Penei Sewell are all on the field at the same time for the very first time.

8:20 p.m. -- The Chiefs have won the coin toss and have deferred. The Lions will start the game with the ball.

8:05 p.m. -- Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones, who is currently holding out for a new contract, is reportedly watching the Lions-Chiefs contest in a suite at Arrowhead Stadium, according to the NFL Network's James Palmer.

5:45 p.m. -- According to multiple reports, tight end Travis Kelce ruled out against Detroit Lions.

5:02 p.m. -- Sources are telling Ed Werder, tight end Jason Kelce is pleading with head coach Andy Reid and trainer Rick Burkholder to play against Lions.

4:35 p.m. -- All Lions checks in at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium

Checked in! Thank you all for the opportunity to cover NFL team pic.twitter.com/MYrtXfZWjD
— DetroitSportsPodcast (@DetroitPodcast) September 7, 2023