Don't Trust the Chiefs to Win the AFC

Now is a good time to start backing away from betting on the Kansas City Chiefs to win the AFC Conference. Some bettors out there may already have felt this way by just looking at the Chiefs’ modest 4-4 record.

But it’s much deeper than that.

Kansas City’s defense is currently 25th in passing defense, 22th in rushing defense, and have allowed 27.5 points per game. They continue to fail on keeping opponents off the scoreboard, and the worst part about it, quarterback Patrick Mahomes keeps bringing the opponent offense back on the field by turning over the ball.

The Chiefs are tied with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the worst turnover differential in the NFL at minus-11. “Tied with the Jaguars” is all I need to hear to keep me from betting on something.

According to WynnBET Sportsbook, Kansas City still sits at the third-shortest odds to win the conference at +600. The Chiefs are behind only the Buffalo Bills (+200) and Baltimore Ravens (+400). 

You could do much better, like taking the Los Angeles Chargers at +1000, the Cleveland Browns at +1200, or the Pittsburgh Steelers at +3000.

In six of eight games played so far this season, Kansas City has allowed 27 or more points, and in Week 8, they narrowly escaped with a three-point win over the New York Giants.

These are not the signals of a well-oiled machine expected to make a run through the AFC Playoff picture. 

Patrick Mahomes has 10 interceptions in the first eight games, already flirting with his career-high in interceptions in the first half of this season alone. 

This Chiefs’ defense is one of the worst in the NFL, and as long as Mahomes ain’t right, neither will be Kansas City as an AFC Championship pick.