Bengals could open 2023 NFL season vs. Chiefs on a Thursday night

© Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK Bengals head coach Zac Taylor handled the postgame with class, not wading into waters he probably could have. There was a ton of controversy in this one — just look at the reactions to the “shut down” play in which the Chiefs re-did a third down they had initially failed. Moments like that and the controversial intentional grounding will be used as proof all offseason that the league still has an immense officiating problem.

With Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow’s name coming up around the Kansas City Chiefs right after Sunday’s Super Bowl and the massive rivalry between the two teams now, it’s worth wondering — will the teams open the 2023 NFL season on a Thursday night?

The Chiefs will host the season opener to kick off next season and could play a variety of different teams. One of those would be a Super Bowl rematch with the Eagles. Another could be a showdown with the Bills or a divisional clash.

And another could be a bout with the Bengals.

One could easily see the NFL choosing to put Chiefs-Bengals near the end of the season again due to the possible  AFC playoff seeding implications. Cincinnati playing the Ravens, Bills and Chiefs down the stretch in December again seems likely.

But will the NFL be able to resist the urge to get this trash-talk-filled rivalry as the centerpiece package of a new season? Impossible to say, but there’s at least an outside chance the Bengals help kick off the 2023 regular season.

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