The Detroit Lions haven’t been to the NFL playoffs since 2016. The Kansas City Chiefs have been to the Super Bowl three times since then, with two wins, including a 38-35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in the final game of the NFL’s 2022 season.

In the first game of the NFL’s 2023 season, the Lions backed up their offseason hype as postseason contenders by knocking off the Chiefs 21-20 on Thursday night in Kansas City, Missouri.

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And Detroit did it with the help of two rookies from Alabama.

A second-round draft choice on April 28, Brian Branch became the first player with an interception off Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes in a season-opening game and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown as the Lions tied the game 14-14 with 10:54 left in the third quarter.

Branch also recorded three tackles in his NFL debut. He left the game briefly in the second half because of cramping.

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Also making his NFL debut was first-round pick Jahmyr Gibbs. The former Alabama running back kicked off his career with 42 yards on seven rushing attempts and 18 yards on two receptions.

Gibbs had a 17-yard run as Detroit moved 91 yards in 14 plays (including a fake punt) for the first points of the game. He had an 18-yard gain in the fourth quarter to help the Lions run some time off the clock after they had taken a 21-20 lead with 7:06 to play.

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Detroit still had to stop one more Kansas City possession, and did so with two minutes remaining.

Including Branch and Gibbs, 13 players from Alabama high schools and colleges are on the rosters of Detroit and Kansas City:

· Lions defensive tackle Isaiah Buggs (Alabama) was designated as game-day inactive. Buggs played in every game and started 13 for Detroit last season, but this week’s injury report listed him as having an illness.

· Chiefs defensive tackle Neil Farrell Jr. (Murphy) was designated as a game-day inactive. Farrell joined Kansas City on Aug. 29 in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders.

· Lions defensive tackle Brodric Martin (Northridge, North Alabama) was designated as a game-day inactive. Martin was a third-round selection in the NFL Draft on April 28.

· Chiefs quarterback Chris Oladokun (Samford) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Chiefs running back La’Mical Perine (Theodore) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Chiefs tight end Gerrit Prince (UAB) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Chiefs wide receiver Justyn Ross (Central-Phenix City) had one reception for 6 yards. Ross made his NFL debut after missing the 2022 season because of an injury.

· Kadarius Toney (Blount) started at wide receiver for the Chiefs. Toney played in the opening game despite having surgery to repair a torn meniscus in late July, and he had one reception for 1 yard and one rushing attempt for minus-1 yard. Toney was targeted five times by Mahomes, but the pass intercepted by Branch went off his hands and he couldn’t come up with the football after getting behind the Detroit defense on Kansas City’s last possession.

· Chiefs offensive tackle Prince Tega Wanogho (Edgewood Academy, Auburn) played but did not record any stats.

· Chiefs wide receiver Montrell Washington (Samford) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (Alabama) is on the suspended list and not eligible to play. Williams must sit out the first six games of the 2023 season for violating the league’s gambling policy.

The teams return to the field on Sept. 17, with Detroit hosting the Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City visiting the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.