Spanish language audio provided by telmundo Deportes or watch tonight's game in Spanish on universo Geo proudly presents the Sunday night [Applause] Anthem a perfect Sunday night for football it's time to go to work we're going to have to be aggressive in 3 2 been Sunday night in a fight [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] suay that is unbelievable this is out of control in here got it what a [Applause] play Harry Underwood is rocking and so is downtown Detroit like it did last year of the playoffs we start the season inside rockus for field home of the NFC North champion straight lions and their quarterback Jared Goff against the fellow number one overall pick he was traded for Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams it's the season premiere of NBC's Sunday Night Football thanks for having us in Mike too Chris Collinsworth Melissa start season 19 of Sunday night we had the pleasure of being here last year for two playoff games the Lions first two home playoff wins in 32 years they're still celebrating last year it was about Hope but this year in Detroit CH it's about expectation and nobody's laughing about the Lions going to the Super Bowl anymore they were 30 agonizing minutes away just last year but this year they are so much more talented than what they were a season ago especially on the defensive side of the ball do never underestimate these Detroit Lions the Rams won seven of eight to get into that wild card game here last year they still have the offensive Superstars including Matthew Stafford the X line but they're missing one massive p with the retirement of future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald yeah Aaron Donald's one of the best players I've seen at any position during the course of his career and he's going to be missed out here of course so the burden now really falls on the offensive side Matthew Stafford who got so hot at the end of last year Cooper Cup who's healthy now and should be right and pukaa who had that incredible incredible rookie season last year it's going to be bombs away for the Rams it's going to be crazy in here again tonight onepoint playoff game last year in the Wild Card lot of the same big names are on the field here in Detroit the Lions and the Rams what a way to start season 19 of Sunday Night Football on [Music] NBC NBC Sports welcomes you to the following presentation of the National Football [Music] League I have never seen a receiver with more god-given ability than Calvin Johnson I spent a lot of time in this Stadium a lot of Sundays a lot of memories going to play by meat but man there was something different something magical this is out of control in here about those two nights in January last year touchdown Detroit still gives me chills thinking about it now for the first time in 32 years we were one game from the Super Bowl you realize I played a season here where we didn't even win one game now there are no Sundays left the first team in NFL history to go 0 and 16 that's why the playoffs Miss so much to all these people and this city that's why it's so excited that this feels like just a start the next chapter kicks off with our old quarterback coming back to town for a little rematch this game means something extra to him the Detroit Lions Super Bowl contenders kicking off Sunday Night Football get used to the sound of that America and let him hear you Detroit Lions Rams let's play some ball follow favorite Calvin Johnson the Lions alltime leading receiver of the story of this night in Fort field as we continue the NFL kickoff weekend presented by YouTube TV game one for the Rams and lions Melissa Stark the Lions hope this year has one more game yes they do Mike very high expectations for this team head coach Dan Campbell was asked in the off season is it Super Bowl or bust he said I see Super Bowl I don't know what bust is he told us on Friday we know what the aspirations are but there are steps you have to take to get there and that starts with the Rams tonight wide receiver Aman Ros Brown admitted it's hard not to look ahead to a potential Super Bowl when we were so close last year but we know it's a week-by-week process defensive end Aiden Hutchinson now entering his third season told us he remembers dark days for the Lions his rookie season when they started one and six but that it has been a steady rise since then adding this success isn't a moment in time we drafted players that are the foundation of this organization and will be here a long time it's his fourth year Melissa 12 wins the first two years 12 and the first division title for this franchise in 30 Seasons last year on the other side it's Shawn McVey 38 years old already his eighth year as the head coach he's been to the playoffs five over the first seven seasons Lions won the toss and deferred so they will kick it off to the Rams here's how this Dynamic kickoff has played out today lowest in the NFL history 22% returns this week including Thursday and Friday a third of the kicks have been returned and the average Drive starts five yards better than it was under the previous rules Lions have an NFL debut first year kicker Jake bat set to kick it off former Michigan Wolverine Blake corm and rookie Jordan Winnington back for La Wild Card matchup last year won by Detroit by one two teams with playoff aspirations begin 2024 it starts with the Touchback rants will get it at the 30 and that means Matthew Stafford comes back to Ford Field