Don't look now, but we're nearly a quarter of the way into the 2023 NFL season.
LIVE: Follow updates, highlights from Lions vs. Packers
It's been a time of thrills and spills, mice and men coalescing on the great green plains to capture the glares of millions. There have been heroes and heartbreak, a murky mix of emotions as some teams fall to the wayside and others cement their status as true postseason contenders.
One such side: the Lions, who have enjoyed a steady start to the year thus far. Detroit has showed signs of brilliance at moments, standing tall with the Chiefs in a Week 1 win and thrashing the weary Falcons in Week 3 to return to the top of its division.
Don't call it a false dawn. The Lions look for real. So too do the Packers, who have accelerated their rebuild with Jordan Love at quarterback. The young QB was an unknown commodity around certain points of the year. Now, he looks a landmark in the pocket, a sign of warm composure that shines bright for Green Bay.
Both teams figure to feature heavily in the puzzle that is figuring out the NFC North crown. And a primetime matchup Thursday can offer a case study on just how competitive this division can be.
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Here's what you need to know about the centerpiece of this week's early football slate, Lions vs. Packers.
Who plays on Thursday Night Football tonight?
- Matchup: Lions vs. Packers
- Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wis.
The Lions and Packers will square off on Thursday Night Football in Week 4. Both teams have shown flashes of brilliance at the start of the season, with Detroit showcasing its playoff potential and Green Bay proving a threatening proposition with Jordan Love under center.
The Lions (2-1) came into 2023 with high expectations. Fueled by a standout run game and QB Jared Goff's lively arm, Detroit established itself as a force to be reckoned with last year.
The Lions solidified their status as one of the league's most compelling teams in Week 1, defeating the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs in impressive fashion. And although Dan Campbell's squad suffered a slight hiccup in a Week 2 loss to Seattle, a wire-to-wire victory over the Falcons seems to indicate that the team is finding its form as of late.
As for the Packers (2-1), 2023 was supposed to be a learning year. After all, it represents Love's first taste of action as a starter. The sample size is admittedly small, but it looks like Love, 24, might have what it takes to last long in this game.
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He has seven touchdowns to just one interception this season. And he's coming off a momentous rally vs. New Orleans, one in which he showed tremendous poise even as the pressure intensified.
These two teams weren't expected to be in the same realm in 2023. And that very well could happen still. But you never know at Lambeau; there's just a certain aura that exists on the frozen tundra, one that could prove paramount under the bright lights of "Amazon Prime Thursday Night Football."
NFL live stream for Thursday night game
- Live stream: Amazon Prime (U.S.) | DAZN (Canada)
Those who want to watch Thursday Night Football during the 2023 NFL season are going to need a subscription to Amazon Prime. Prime Video will be the exclusive streaming home of the program for the next decade, and the games will be broadcast on over-the-air TV only in the participating teams' local markets.
Fans in Canada can stream the action on DAZN, which carries every NFL game.
NFL schedule Week 4
The NFC North clash between the Lions and the Packers will kick off a full slate of games in Week 4.
Both sides enter the matchup with 2-1 records, with Detroit cruising to a comfortable win over the Falcons in its last game. Green Bay found a winner late, coming back from 17 down in the fourth quarter to shock the Saints.
In total, there will be three primetime games on the docket in Week 3. Additionally, Sunday's clash between the Falcon and Jaguars — slated to take place in London — will capture the glare of much of the sporting world.
Below is the full schedule for Week 4 of the 2023 NFL season.
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Week 4
- Thursday, Sept. 28
| Game | Kickoff time | TV channel |
| Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers | 8:15 p.m. ET | Amazon Prime |
- Sunday, Oct. 1
| Game | Kickoff time | TV channel |
| Atlanta Falcons vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (from London) | 9:30 p.m. ET | ESPN+ |
| Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Denver Broncos at Chicago Bears | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles | 1 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Minnesota Vikings at Carolina Panthers | 1 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Los Angeles Rams at Indianapolis Colts | 1 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints | 1 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Cincinnati Bengals at Tennessee Titans | 1 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Pittsburgh Steelers at Houston Texans | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers | 4:05 p.m. ET | CBS |
| New England Patriots at Dallas Cowboys | 4:25 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers | 4:25 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Kansas City Chiefs at New York Jets | 8:20 p.m. ET | NBC |
- Monday, Oct. 2
| Game | Kickoff time | TV channel |
| Seattle Seahawks at New York Giants | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |
