Betting Picks

Week 8: Denver at Kansas City MNF NFL Betting Preview and Pick

Do you think of the Chiefs as one of the marquee franchises in the NFL in terms of popularity? Any list of the most popular probably starts with the Cowboys, Patriots and Packers. We ask because Kansas City is scheduled to play a league-high six primetime games in 2017. The Chiefs are 3-1 in the first four and play yet another Monday night in hosting AFC West rival Denver to close Week 8. Kansas City is a 7.5-point NFL betting favorite.

Playing in primetime can have its negatives – for example, the Chiefs will be on a short week in Week 9 with a tough game in Dallas. It also can have advantages — Kansas City has a league-high with a net of 12 more days of rest before their games than their opponents. Here, the Chiefs are on three days more rest than Denver because Kansas City played on Thursday night in Week 7 and the Broncos on Sunday.

Coach Andy Reid’s team dropped its second straight in Week 7, 31-30 in Oakland. It was one of the wildest endings in years as two last-second Raiders touchdowns were wiped out, one ruling Jared Cook down at the Kansas City 1-yard line, and then the next play a TD throw to Michael Crabtree drew a flag for offensive pass interference. The Chiefs then stopped the Raiders on the next two plays and should have won but defensive holding was called on each. Finally, Derek Carr hit Crabtree for the 30-30 tie and Oakland won on the PAT.

The Chiefs are the second-highest scoring team in the NFL (29.6 ppg) behind MVP candidates in QB Alex Smith and rookie running back Kareem Hunt. If some cracks are starting to show, it’s defensively. Oakland had been in an offensive rut but had those 31 points and 505 yards. The week prior, the Steelers racked up 439 yards in a 19-13 victory. And Week 5 in Houston, the Chiefs allowed 34 points and 392 yards.

The Broncos have been inept offensively in losing back-to-back games out of their bye week. They scored just 10 points in a stunning Week 6 home loss to an injury-ravaged New York Giants team that was nearly a two-touchdown underdog. Then last Sunday, Denver was blanked at the Chargers 21-0. It was the franchise’s first shutout defeat since Nov. 22, 1992 (394 games).

Predictably, reporters asked first-year coach Vance Joseph if he was contemplating benching quarterback Trevor Siemian for this game. Joseph said no, that the problems were unit-wide and that Siemian is too often stuck in third-and-long. He also has been sacked 22 times. Considering Denver’s No. 2 right now is Brock Osweiler, well, it’s no surprise Joseph doesn’t want to turn to him.

When Peyton Manning was still around, the Broncos owned the Chiefs. However, Kansas City has won the past three. It was 33-10 at Arrowhead Stadium last Christmas. Siemian was just 17 of 43 for 183 yards and a pick. The Chiefs have won 12 of their past 13 vs. AFC West foes and covered nine of those. Give the points.