The Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl celebration was momentarily dampened as the Detroit Lions struck first in the highly anticipated 2023 season opener.
Rookie wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown electrified the crowd with the first touchdown of the 2023 season. On a crucial 3rd-and-6 play, St. Brown showcased his skills by hauling in a 9-yard reception. Quarterback Jared Goff initially looked for running back David Montgomery on the wheel route, but with tight coverage, he swiftly shifted his focus to St. Brown, his reliable target who emerged as a standout performer last year, recording an impressive 106 catches for 1,161 yards.
Their scoring drive followed an audacious move by Lions head coach Dan Campbell, who surprised everyone with a fake punt on 4th-and-2 from their own 17-yard line. Jalen Reeves-Maybin took the direct snap and bulldozed his way up the middle, gaining three crucial yards. This bold decision immediately shifted the momentum in favor of the Lions.
What seemed like a potential three-and-out for the Lions turned into a remarkable 14-play, 91-yard touchdown drive that consumed just over eight minutes of game clock. The Chiefs, expecting a joyous celebration after their Super Bowl LVII victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in February, were now faced with an early setback against a determined Lions team.
After securing the first touchdown of the season, St. Brown and Lions are off this weekend. Before the Lions next matchup against the Seahawks, St. Brown got the opportunity to participate as a tunnel captain for the USC Trojans in their game against Stanford. Leading the Trojans in the tunnel on Saturday, St. Brown helped take on the role to boost morale for USC, leading to a blowout win.
As we look ahead to 2023, things are looking good for Amon-Ra St. Brown and he will likely play a pivotal role in leading Detroit's transformation.
