Arrowhead Pride
Before the Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 5 matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars, every member of our contributor panel picked Kansas City to win. As a group, we expected the Chiefs to win 29-19 — a prediction that carried 26 points of error when compared to Kansas City’s 31-28 loss. Our readers were also taken by surprise. Almost 90% thought the Chiefs would prevail.
In Week 6, the Chiefs face the Detroit Lions on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Kansas City is favored by 2.5 points.
Let’s see what the staff — and our readers — think about the matchup.
If it makes anyone feel better, I’ve done a terrible job picking these games — so me picking the Lions here is probably a good sign for Kansas City. I think the Chiefs’ offense will move the ball. The Lions are banged up in their secondary, and it feels like Kansas City’s offense is turning a corner. The offensive line is rapidly improving, the run game looks better and the explosive passes continue to work.
That said, I don’t see how the defense gets stops. I don’t trust the Chiefs’ pass rush at all — and if you allow Jared Goff to sit cleanly in the pocket, he’ll tear you apart with his weapons. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo might design an awesome game plan to generate pressure, but I think the Lions’ offense is too strong — and their defense gets the one extra stop to win.
Lions 33, Chiefs 30
I can’t blame anybody who looks at this matchup and sees the Lions going back to Detroit with a win. But the Chiefs have their backs against the wall. The last time that happened, Kansas City won six straight games — and its second straight Super Bowl.
I wouldn’t swear the Chiefs are going to win the rest of this season’s games — or reach their fourth straight Super Bowl, either. But this is not a game where I would bet against Andy Reid, Steve Spagnuolo, Patrick Mahomes, and Chris Jones. So I won’t.
Chiefs 31, Lions 24
Kansas City should have won in Jacksonville. In fact, this team could just as easily be 5-0. So far, only the Chiefs have consistently been able to beat… themselves.
That setback should serve as a wake-up call. Expect Kansas City to look sharper and more focused when it faces the Lions on Sunday night — in what feels like an early-season statement game. Mahomes and the offense appear to be finding their rhythm, and Spagnuolo should have a plan to keep Goff uncomfortable. If the Chiefs can contain the Lions’ backfield duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, they’ll be in a good position to get back on track.
It may not be a blowout, but Kansas City’s balance and urgency should carry them through.
Chiefs 27, Lions 20
