—The Lions didn’t make the playoffs last year and struggled at times in the preseason, but they like to think they are an up-and-coming team. The NFL even gave them the high profile opening Thursday night game at the defending champion Chiefs. The Lions will find out if they are ready for the challenge. Meanwhile, the Chiefs begin their bid for their fourth Super Bowl appearance in the last five years.
–The NFL didn’t waste any time showcasing Aaron Rodgers’ transition to the Jets. He will play his first Jets game on Monday against the Bills, who have beaten the Jets six times in a row so it won’t take long to find out how much of a difference Rodgers can make.
–Rodgers used to say he owned the Bears. Now Jordan Love takes over as the Packers quarterback after sitting on the bench for three years and will play the Bears in his first game. The Packers have beaten the Bears eight consecutive times. Can Love keep the streak going?
–The Cowboys have beaten the Giants 11 times in the last 12 meetings, but they will get the first Sunday night game because, well, they are the Cowboys and are ratings gold. And New York is the biggest market.
–The 49ers will play the Steelers for just the fourth time since 2011 and it an important game for two second year quarterbacks. Brock Purdy of the 49ers wants to pick up where he left off last year when he was injured in the NFC title game. The last pick in the draft last year, Purdy was so effective that the 49ers are convinced he is their quarterback of the future and traded away Trey Lance. Meanwhile, the Steelers’ Kenny Pickett was drafted in the first round by the Steelers last year to be their quarterback of the future and he may live up to that billing.
–Philadelphia, the Super Bowl losers, will be shown in much of the country as the doubleheader game on Sunday afternoon. They play at New England, but the Patriots aren’t what they were when they had Tom Brady and the Eagles may dominate this game.