In 2023, the Detroit Lions were riding the momentum of a strong finish, coming off a season where they narrowly missed the playoffs.

They ended the 2022 campaign with a 9-8 record, defeating the Packers in Aaron Rodgers’ final Green Bay game, knocking them out of playoff contention. The next season began with a primetime clash against the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.

It was their moment to prove that their late-season surge wasn’t a fluke. They seized that chance and never looked back.

The Lions walked into Arrowhead Stadium on the Chiefs’ Super Bowl ring night and made a statement. They edged Kansas City 21-20, using that momentum to capture their first division title in three decades and reach the NFC Championship Game.

“That was huge, I think that really got our season rolling,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said. “The guys believed we could go in there and win, and they played their hearts out.

“It was great, but that was also two years ago.”

That matchup also marked the first NFL games for running back Jahmyr Gibbs, linebacker Jack Campbell, tight end Sam LaPorta, and defensive back Brian Branch. Branch’s pick-six interception proved a pivotal moment, making the win even more remarkable.

Dan Campbell’s Lions also began their primetime dominance that night. Since then, they’ve become one of the league’s hottest teams.

“Well, it was massive, right?” Lions assistant head coach and receivers coach Scottie Montgomery recalled. “There were so many question marks — about coaching, about players. What stood out was how our young guys like ‘Jah’ and our O-line handled the noise and pressure. They faced a great football team and stayed composed.

“That game helped us realize we could win tight contests against elite teams.”

That was also Montgomery’s first game with Detroit’s staff. He said the biggest takeaway was how young players rose to match their veteran leaders and grow into “A-level” players.

Since that opening night, the Chiefs have reached consecutive Super Bowls, winning another title that same season. The Lions, meanwhile, claimed back-to-back division crowns, posting a franchise-record 15 wins last year and earning their first No. 1 seed.

For Lions quarterback Jared Goff, that game symbolizes a role reversal — now hoping other teams view Detroit like the Chiefs were back then.

While both coaches and players fondly remember that victory, they emphasized that much has changed since.

With new faces on both sidelines and rosters, expectations remain sky-high for both teams.

“Yeah, it’s tough. It’s really tough,” Goff said about maintaining consistent success like Kansas City. “You have to show up every day, keep improving, hold each other accountable, and prove it in practice daily.”

Kansas City has now reached seven straight AFC title games, five of the last six Super Bowls, and earned three championships.

Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard praised Chiefs coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes as surefire Hall of Famers if they retired today. He said the Chiefs matchup adds another challenge to what he called a “murderer’s row” stretch for his defense.

“Their standard is championships, and maintaining that for nearly a decade is unbelievably hard,” Sheppard said. “Schematically, they’re unpredictable. You can’t read them. I’ve always respected coach Reid, but now I understand why he’s so revered. His play-calling keeps you off-balance and never reveals a pattern.”

Since that 2023 opener, the Lions have gone 30-8 in the regular season, while the Chiefs sit at 28-10. Entering this year, Detroit is 4-1, atop the NFC North and tied for the best record in the conference. Kansas City, unusually, is 2-3, with all losses by a combined 12 points.

Campbell said he hopes his team eventually earns the same respect that the Chiefs have commanded for years.

“To keep winning every year, stay hungry, stay disciplined, and remove entitlement — that’s so hard to do,” Campbell said. “That’s why I respect them. They always have a shot because they’ve got that champion’s mindset. But that’s the type of team we’re becoming.

“It’s growing here. That’s our culture. Our players believe it. Every game matters, and you’ve got to take it personally. You’ve got to take it personally.”