After downing the Washington Commanders 28-7 on Monday Night Football, the Kansas City Chiefs are firmly atop the Super Bowl odds at +450.
Not only that, but after his third-straight three-touchdown game, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes leads the NFL MVP odds at +140 at the BetMGM sportsbook.
In Week 9, KC has its toughest test yet on the road against the Buffalo Bills.
The results could massively alter the Super Bowl, AFC championship, and MVP odds landscape.
With that, here are my predictions for this week’s games.
Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings lost QB Carson Wentz for the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury, and now they’re turning back to J.J. McCarthy, who’s been out since Week 2 with an ankle injury.
When he was on the field, McCarthy completed just 58.5 per cent of his passes and had two touchdown passes against three interceptions.
This is a situation where I’m taking the team opposite the Vikings until McCarthy shows he’s a trustworthy QB.
PREDICTION: Lions -8.5 (-110)
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Chicago Bears
Bengals QB Joe Flacco seems unlikely to suit up in this game with an AC joint sprain, which means Jake Browning will be under centre.
With Flacco, I’d take the Bengals +3, but without him, Browning is far too turnover-prone for my liking.
PREDICTION: Bears -3 (-105)
Green Bay Packers vs. Carolina Panthers
After last week’s performance against the Bills, there’s no chance I’m considering the Panthers here.
Maybe it’ll look more functional this week with Andy Dalton in his second game under centre, but I’m not willing to roll those dice.
PREDICTION: Packers -13 (-110)
Tennessee Titans vs. Los Angeles Chargers
The Titans are a complete disaster.
I’ll just leave it at that.
Pass.
PREDICTION: Chargers -9.5 (-110)
New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons
My hunch is that Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr., wide receiver Drake London, and safety Jessie Bates III (who left Week 8 with an injury) will play in this game.
Even if that’s the case, the Falcons are in for a tough time against the Patriots, who allow just 76 rushing yards per game (second-fewest) and who, over their last three games, have surrendered a mere 194.7 passing yards per outing (ninth-fewest in that span).
Additionally, I cannot bet against Patriots QB Drake Maye. He’s a legitimate MVP candidate who leads the league in completion percentage (75.2 per cent) and is fourth among QBs in rushing yards (250).
PREDICTION: Patriots -5.5 (-110)
New York Giants vs. San Francisco 49ers
The Giants play a lot of man coverage, and against it this season, 49ers QB Mac Jones has stayed out of the interception column, but he’s averaging just 4.9 yards per attempt.
Examining the Giants, their offensive line has been solid, and the 49ers’ pass rush has been more mediocre than competent. Yes, they traded for former Patriots edge rusher Keion White, but a guy with just three pressures across 76 pass-rushing snaps with New England isn’t going to change that.
I’ll take the home team plus the points.
PREDICTION: Giants +2.5 (+100)
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Indianapolis Colts
The Steelers are allowing the third-most yards per game (386), which includes the most passing yards (273.3) per game.
The Colts' offence has been a freight train this season, averaging a league-high 33.8 points per game.
I know the Steelers are at home, but their defence has been their Achilles heel.
PREDICTION: Colts -3 (-115)
Houston Texans vs. Denver Broncos
This is a battle of two strong defences, but the Broncos have the better running game and a slightly more reliable QB.
This is close to a toss-up, but I’ll take the points.
PREDICTION: Broncos +1.5 (-110)
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Raiders are a borderline disaster.
They have WR Jakobi Meyers publicly requesting a trade, and now they face a Jaguars defence that’s second in the league in interceptions at 1.4 per game. This doesn’t bode well for Raiders QB Geno Smith, who’s tied for the league lead in interceptions.
PREDICTION: Jaguars -3 (-120)
Los Angeles Rams vs. New Orleans Saints
The Saints have allowed the third-most pressures over the last three weeks, and QB Tyler Shough is making his first NFL start against the Rams, who are fourth in the league in pressures with 123.
In the words of Scooby-Doo: Ruh roh.
PREDICTION: Rams -14 (-120)
Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs
In the game of the week, I’ve been going back and forth and thinking about it while writing up these other matchups.
I’m going to lean toward the Bills at +2. They’re at home, and while their run defence is putrid, the Chiefs don’t have the players to take advantage of that.
That said, this could go either way.
PREDICTION: Bills +2 (-110)
Washington Commanders vs. Seattle Seahawks
Commanders QB Jayden Daniels is back at practice, which is good news for his chances of playing, but the Seahawks' offence, coupled with their run defence, will be tough to beat.
The Seahawks are tied for fifth in the NFL in points (27.6) and allow just 75.7 rushing yards (fewest) per game.
The hook makes me more trepidatious, but the Seahawks are the right call.
PREDICTION: Seahawks -3.5 (+100)
Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals
While the Cowboys' defence has been tough to watch this season, the Cardinals' defence hasn’t exactly been the ’85 Bears, as they’re allowing 234.9 passing yards per game (eighth most).
Additionally, I’m not entirely confident in what Cardinals QB Kyler Murray can do against the Cowboys' defence in his first game back since Week 5.
Thus, I’ll lean toward the Cowboys, but full disclosure, I’m prepared to be wrong.
PREDICTION: Cowboys -2.5 (-115)
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