The Kansas City Chiefs are the hottest team in the AFC, while the New England Patriots are the gold standard. Who wins on Sunday?
Is there a hotter player in the NFL than Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes? On the young season, Mahomes has completed 64 percent of his passes for 1,513 yards and 14 touchdowns. The second-year gunslinger has just two interceptions on the season and a highlight reel chock full of exciting plays. His quarterback rating is 112.7. Mahomes has the Chiefs at 5-0 as the AFC’s only remaining unbeaten team.
Things get tougher on Sunday, however, as the Chiefs travel to New England Patriots to face the longtime kings of the AFC, the Patriots (3-2), and future Hall-of-Fame quarterback, Tom Brady. It’s sure to be Kansas City’s stiffest test thus far in 2018. These two teams met in the season opener in 2017 when Alex Smith was under center for the Chiefs, and K.C. won 42-27 in Kareem Hunt’s impressive NFL debut.
After losing two of their first three games, the Patriots have won the past two weeks by a combined score of 76-31 over the Dolphins and Colts, respectively. Just when Miami jumped out to a 3-0 start and had everyone thinking New Englands’s longtime stranglehold over the AFC East was coming to an end, Brady and the Patriots reverted back into an offensive juggernaut.
Now, with Julian Edelman in his second game back and rookie running back Sony Michel showing why he was a first-round pick, this offense has gotten even more dangerous.
That’s bad news for a struggling Kansas City defense. The Chiefs are dead last in the NFL in total defense as opponents are averaging almost 462 yards of offense per game. Making matters worse, the Chiefs allow 343 yards passing per game. Think Brady is excited at those numbers?
New England’s defense is always a work in progress early in the season. Head coach Bill Belichick likes to see what he has and tinkers with his rotation and schemes. This season, the Patriots are in the middle of the pack, ranking No. 16 in total defense. New England is vulnerable against the run, allowing 4.4 yards per attempt. Hunt could have a big day for the Chiefs.
TV and Live Stream Info
Date: Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018
Start Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Location: Foxborough, Mass.
Stadium: Gillette Stadium
TV Info: NBC
Live Stream: FuboTV
Michel should have a big day against the Chiefs. That doesn’t mean James White won’t be involved. Arguably the NFL’s top pass-catching back, White leads the Patriots with 32 catches and four touchdown receptions in 2018 and is second on the team in yards behind tight end Rob Gronkowski.
Betting Odds (via Odds Shark)
Point Spread: New England -3.5
Moneyline: Kansas City +134, New England -159
Over/Under: 58
Prediction
This game should be a fun to watch. The over/under anticipates that this will be a high-scoring affair and there’s nothing to indicate anything different. Both teams score lots of points and are led by outstanding quarterbacks. Mahomes is young but has proven already he belongs.
The home-field advantage for the Patriots should be enough to propel them to victory. It won’t be easy, though, as Mahomes will lead a late rally, but will fall just short as Kansas City is handed its first loss of the season. Don’t be surprised if these two teams meet in January.
Final Score: New England 34, Kansas City 31