It finally feels like football weather as Michigan gives way to the October chill. The heat stretch is fading, and highs in the 60s will top the charts for the next few weeks and beyond. What better way to welcome football weather than a Lions vs. Chiefs showdown on Sunday night?
This is far from the first meeting between these two franchises. History leans toward Kansas City, who has won 9 of the 15 matchups and outscored Detroit by 33 points — 377 to 344. The rivalry dates all the way back to November 25, 1971.
Because the Lions and Chiefs play in different conferences, they only see each other once every few years — usually just one to four times a decade. So, let’s take a look back through the past five decades of Lions vs. Chiefs history and see how we got here.
1970s
The two teams met only twice in the decade.
- 1971: The Lions won the first matchup 32–21 at Tiger Stadium.
- 1975: Kansas City answered back at home with an overtime thriller, edging out Detroit 24–21.
1980s
The 1980s brought four meetings between the teams — with plenty of back-and-forth results.
- 1980: The Chiefs held home field and squeaked out a 20–17 win.
- 1981: The Lions got their revenge the next year, winning 27–10 behind two Eric Hipple passing touchdowns and a four-yard rushing score from Detroit legend Billy Sims.
- 1987: Kansas City came into the Silverdome and won 27–20 after Gary Ellerson caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Chuck Long with under two minutes left.
- 1988: The Lions returned the favor the next year, winning a low-scoring 7–6 defensive battle, with the only touchdown coming on a 14-yard Rusty Hilger pass to Jeff Chadwick.
1990s
The 1990s were all Chiefs. Kansas City swept the decade, winning all three games.
- 1990: Barry Sanders put Detroit up 14–3 early with two rushing touchdowns, but the Chiefs stormed back to win 43–24.
- 1996: The Lions lost a close one at home, 28–24, as Rich Gannon threw two touchdowns and Marcus Allen added one on the ground.
- 1999: Despite two Charlie Batch passing touchdowns and a Sedrick Irvin rushing score, the Lions fell again, 31–21.
2000s
The 2000s split even at one win apiece.
- 2003: The Chiefs made it four straight over Detroit with a 45–10 blowout.
- 2007: The Lions finally broke through in the new century, winning 25–20 at Ford Field behind touchdowns from T.J. Duckett and linebacker Paris Lenon.
2010s
Detroit started the decade strong — and then fell hard.
- 2011: The Lions dominated 48–3 as Calvin Johnson and Jahvid Best each scored twice.
- 2015: Kansas City got revenge in a 45–10 rout.
- 2019: The two met again in a wild one. Matt Patricia actually had the Lions playing solid football, but a controversial no-whistle fumble recovery turned into a Chiefs touchdown. That swing proved costly as Kansas City escaped with a 34–30 win.
2020s
Then came the Dan Campbell era — and a new chapter.
- 2023: The lone matchup of the decade so far came in the NFL season opener, a game every Lions fan remembers. Rookie Brian Branch picked off Patrick Mahomes in his debut and returned it for a touchdown. Both teams struggled with drops — Kadarius Toney for the Chiefs and Marvin Jones Jr. for the Lions — but Detroit shocked the football world, spoiling Kansas City’s banner night with a 21–20 victory.
That win set the tone for Detroit’s rise under Campbell, as the Lions went on to reach the NFC Championship that season and the Divisional Round the next. Kansas City, meanwhile, went on to make two straight Super Bowls.
The Next Chapter
You can bet the Chiefs still have this one circled for revenge — but Dan Campbell will have his team fueled by grit and ready for battle. It’s going to be a Sunday night showdown in Kansas City, and the winner will take the 16th game in this hard-fought series.