Kansas City Chiefs (8-1 6-3 ATS) at Las Vegas Raiders (6-3 6-3 ATS)
The Kansas City Chiefs head to Sin City looking o avenge their only loss of the season facing the Las Vegas Raiders. The Chiefs are a 7-point road favorite with the total sitting at 56.5.
While the total has slightly gone up since opening the spread has remained the same.
Both teams have Covid-19 issues, as 11 players from the Raiders’ defense are on the Covid-19 list and three of the offensive lineman, including two starters, are on the list as well.
The Chiefs have won four in a row since losing to the Raiders 40-32. They are the second-highest scoring team in the league and while their scoring defense ranks fifth in the league they did give up 31 points in their last game.
The Raiders have won three in a row and they are two games back of the Chiefs in the AFC West. Derek Carr has played well and the team can score and the strength is the run game, which ranks seventh in the league in rushing yards per game.
Las Vegas is coming off a 37-12 blowout win over the Denver Broncos in their last game and face a rested Chiefs team that is coming off a bye week.
A Win is a Win, but Not a Great One
In their last game, the Chiefs beat the 3-6 Carolina Panthers 33-31 where they were outgained 435 yards to 397 yards and had the game’s only turnover.
Patrick Mahomes is the front runner for the MVP with 25 TD and only one INT with the only pick coming in the loss to the Raiders. He has nine TD in his last two games and he has all the weapons on the outside.
KC ranks 14th in the league in rushing yards per game. Rookie RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire leads the team with 586 yards and is averaging 4.7 yards per carry. However, in his last two games, he only has 35 rushing yards on 11 carries. The Chiefs have only rushed for 86 yards in the last two games and they may need more balance in this game.
In the 40-32 loss to the Raiders a few games back the Chiefs only scored eight points in the second half and were sloppy with 10 penalties for 94 yards. Mahomes and company will be facing a Raiders’ defense that may be depleted but has only allowed an average of 14.6 ppg in the last three games.
Secondary Comes Up Big
In the Raiders’ last game the Raiders beat the Broncos 37-12 where their secondary had four INT and the team forced five turnovers. They may need to come up with some picks facing Mahomes and they are the only team that has picked him off this season.
In Las Vegas’ three-game win streak Carr has not passed for over 165 yards but did not have any INT and had three TD. He has the weapons with TE Darren Waller leading the team with 431 receiving yards and three WR’s that have at least 251 receiving yards.
On the season the strength of the KC defense has been a pass defense that is giving up an average of 215.7 passing yards per game. However, they gave up 331 passing yards in the win over the Panthers.
Josh Jacobs ranks fourth in the league in rushing yards and he has rushed for at least 112 yards in two of his last three games. He had 77 rushing yards and only averaged 3.3 yards per carry in the win over KC but his 23 carries helped keep Mahomes off the field.
Prediction
The Raiders are a good team but not a great one like the Chiefs, who will look for some payback in this game. They will get it, as Mahomes will be big and they will also run the ball well with Las Vegas likely missing some starters on the defensive side of the ball. Look for KC to send a statement in this game showing they are THE team to beat and in Sin City on Sunday night primetime they will win and cover.
PICK: Chiefs -7