Chiefs at Broncos: Preview, prediction, odds and pick
By Brad Weiss
With the No. 4 seed in the AFC Playoffs already locked up, the Kansas City Chiefs will turn to Patrick Mahomes II in their AFC West matchup with Denver.
The Kansas City Chiefs are going to rest Alex Smith this weekend, this after locking up the No. 4 seed in the AFC Playoffs. It has certainly been a roller coaster season for the Chiefs, and their veteran quarterback, who have been pretty inconsistent throughout. Kansas City started the year out so strong, winning their first five games, but then they were terrible, and were barely able to hold on in the AFC West.
No matter what way you get there, the first goal is to win your division, and the Chiefs accomplished that task last weekend. Their opponent on Sunday, the Denver Broncos, have been one of the worst teams in the conference in 2017, and have yet to find their groove under first-year head coach Vance Joseph. Denver looked pretty good to start the season, but have started a total of three quarterbacks since, and none of them have played good football.
This game does not have much meaning, though anytime AFC West opponents get together, it is bound to at least be competitive. These two teams do not like each other, and Denver still has some of the best talent in the league on the defensive side of the ball. Rookie Patrick Mahomes II will be making his first NFL start in this one, so keep an eye on how he does against one of the better secondaries in football.
Odds
Line: Denver Broncos (-3.5)
Over/Under: 38.5
The Broncos are actually home favorites in this one, as they will be spotting 3.5 points to the rookie Mahomes on Sunday. The over/under is set at 38.5, and with so many questions on offense for both teams, they may find it hard to go over that number. This line will change a lot throughout the week, so head on over to OddsShark.com for any changes up until kickoff.
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Despite the fact that the Chiefs are resting some of their key players, they should still win this game on Sunday. The Broncos have been atrocious this season, and it could mean that first-year head coach Vance Joseph will be a one-and-done coach. There is enough talent on the Broncos defense to cause havoc on the rookie in this one, but the offense just does not have enough firepower to get it done.
Final Score: Chiefs 17, Broncos 14