There are few days better than the first “Thursday Night Football” game of the NFL season.

With a total in the mid-50s, Chiefs and Lions will square off in what likely will be one of the most entertaining games of the year.

When I was thinking about how to attack the matchup from a betting standpoint, my eyes were immediately drawn to veteran running backs David Montgomery of Detroit and Jerick McKinnon of Kansas City.

They each have specific strengths and aren’t every-down backs.

And while they may not be “sexy” options, they’re reliable.

Everyone’s eyes are drawn toward the young running backs: Jahmyr Gibbs and Isiah Pacheco.

Detroit drafted Gibbs in the first round this year and he figures to make an immediate impact.

Pacheco burst onto the scene last year for the Chiefs and should take on the bulk of the carries Thursday.

The backfield situations remind me of when you get your first car.

You’re 17, dumb and naive.

In my case, all I wanted was a Chevy Camaro or a blacked-out Maserati. That’s Gibbs and Pacheco.

But alas, it’s not happening.

Your parents know better than to let you ding up an expensive car and they sure as hell don’t want to spend the money for it.

Who was always there for you? A reliable Honda Accord-like car.

They weren’t pretty, but did the job efficiently. That’s Montgomery and McKinnon.

The talk of the town is Gibbs this, Pacheco that.

There’s a reason why Montgomery was brought into Detroit.

The Lions deployed a similar strategy last year with D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams.

A finesse runner and a bruiser.

Meanwhile the Chiefs re-signed McKinnon to help with pass protection and third-down work alongside Pacheco.

Let’s start with Montgomery.

He is the battering ram who fights through contact into the end zone.

Williams scored 17 touchdowns in 2022 for Detroit and had the second-most touches inside the red zone in the NFL (62).

Gibbs is a change-of-pace back and perfect complement to Montgomery.

Tack on Chris Jones’ absence from the Chiefs’ defensive line and there’s an opening for the Lions to attack up the middle behind Montgomery.

Rather than focusing on Montgomery’s rushing yards prop, I’m looking toward his touchdown prop (+120).

The prop: David Montgomery, anytime touchdown scorer +120 (FanDuel)

Kansas City is more in flux. Travis Kelce hyperextended his knee and, as of Wednesday afternoon, was questionable to play in the season opener.

Skyy Moore — who was minimally involved last season — has been thrust into a role as an every-down receiver.

All of that opens the door for Detroit to keep things close and force Kansas City into a pass-heavy game script.

Pacheco himself is working back from two surgeries and returned to practice in late August.

We could see him in a limited role Week 1 as he continues to work back to a full workload.

And he’s not a typical pass-catching back, either.

As for McKinnon, he hauled in 25-plus receiving yards in five of the Chiefs’ final seven regular-season games.

He was targeted 4.2 times per game, and that number should carry over into this season.

His receiving yards prop currently sits around that 24-26 range.

Kelce’s potential absence will open the door for McKinnon even more.

This is already a Chiefs roster that’s extremely inexperienced.

They’re all shiny and new objects, and bettors are more inclined to target the Skyy Moores and Kadarius Toneys of the world.

But who will be there in the end, ready to help Patrick Mahomes out of the backfield? Old reliable, Jerick McKinnon. 

The prop: Jerick McKinnon over 25.5 receiving yards -113 (BetRivers)