In the first half of 2023, the National Football League (NFL) has started turning up the heat with the seven-round drafting. Here, the 2023 Drafts ended with 259 prospects becoming official league players.
Furthermore, the league will continue to raise the heat, especially with the kickoff games that will commence in four months. However, if you think it’s best to sit back and ignore the latest updates on the kickoff games, as there are still four months left, you could just be making the mistake of an action-packed season.
Every team will know the order of the games soon, thus it’s best to start reading up on match updates to map out the possible events for this season. Here is a guide to help you:
When Will the NFL Schedule Be Released?
Although the 272 matchups for this season were already decided at the end of the 2022 regular season, the final NFL match schedule is yet to be released. Moreover, you’ll see such a schedule on Thursday, May 11, 2023.
The scheduled release is a primetime event for the league and its fans since it indicates match odds. Moreover, it allows fans to look back on previous matchup games to use for future NFL betting. Not only this but select premier games will also be released before May 11, which gives fans more team matchups and games to look forward to.
On May 10, the league will reveal international games on major sports networks such as ESPN. Likewise, the same day will see another two scheduled releases for the Black Friday Game on Amazon and select individual games on CBS Mornings and Fox. Overall, it’s best to mark your calendar and stay tuned for the scheduled release!
When Does the Kickoff Game Start?
Thursday football is the best night of all, mainly since the 2023 kickoff games will commence on a Thursday four months from now, on September 7, 2023. Last season, the NFL Kickoff games occurred on September 8, 2022, with the Los Angeles Rams against the Buffalo Bills.
In the league, the kickoff games always happen on Thursday, a tradition long held ever since 2002. The only exception to this rule was during the 2012 game, as the game was moved to Wednesday.
During this season, the move allowed the kickoff game to avoid any schedule conflict as former President Barack Obama was set to give his acceptance speech during the Democratic National Convention that Thursday. Additionally, since the season is yet to start, there’s still time to reflect on your favorite team’s past performances and records and predic their future performance.
Who Will Play in the Kickoff Game?
Since the Kansas City Chiefs were the last reigning kings of the Super Bowl, you’ll see them first during the kickoff games this season. Moreover, being the reigning champions also means that this team will have the grand honor of hosting the first game this season, so you’ll see plenty of them during the kickoff.
Although you’ll find that the opponent for the Chiefs is not yet known, countless intriguing matchups are underway, one of which is the Philadelphia Eagles. Since these two teams had a face-off during the Super Bowl LVII last year, fans are eyeing to see another intense game during the kickoffs.
Last season, the Kansas City Chiefs were on a roll as they dominated games in the AFC West and ultimately gained a 14-3 record. On the other hand, the Philadelphia Eagles also made a name for themselves as they emerged as the NFC Champions, proving to be a powerful team in the league.
Moreover, the Super Bowl LVII ended with only a two-score gap, with the Chiefs reigning with 38 points and the Eagles with 35. Nonetheless, fans are excited to see another play-off between these two teams.
Does Any NFL Team Have International Games?
Not only will the Kansas City Chiefs host the kickoff games and open the season, but they will also feature one of their home games abroad. Furthermore, the Chiefs will be joined by the New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans, and Jacksonville Jaguars. These five teams will break out their passports with international games in their schedule this season.
The Bills and the Titans will see three games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, while the Jaguars will have their game at Wembley Stadium for the ninth time. The Chiefs and the Patriots will have their games in Germany, with the cities and venues to be announced later.
These international games allows the league to expand the beauty of the sport and develop the skills of young adults worldwide. Moreover, international fans can see and participate in the games in person.
Final Thoughts
Although the kickoff games are yet to commence, it never hurts to be prepared and updated on the best football league. Moreover, there are plenty of games to watch, especially since the NFL has also prepared international and premier games for avid fans!
