Chiefs Colts Betting – Chiefs, Colts Continue To Fight Through Injuries Heading To Week Five

As if it wasn’t already hard enough to project which sports betting teams will rise and which will fall in a league that is driven by parity, injuries always seem to have a significant impact on the NFL landscape. The Kansas City Chiefs and Indianapolis Colts were both expected to be in contention to repeat as division champions this season, yet they enter their week five contest with a combined 1-7 record. Injuries have taken their toll on both teams so far, but one of the two is likely to end up in the win column this Sunday.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Indianapolis Colts

It is hard to make an argument for which team this game means more to. The Colts are winless through four games without their franchise quarterback Peyton Manning, but might be treading in the loss column with Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck expected to be the first overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft. The Chiefs on the other hand already have a win, but with a victory this week they could move right back in to contention in the AFC West.

NFL Betting Preview: Kansas City Chiefs

While the Colts’ offense has looked like a shadow of its former self without Manning in the lineup, Kansas City has been burdened by significant losses on both sides of the ball with both running back Jamaal Charles and safety Eric Berry gone for the season. Dexter McCluster has looked good with limited touches in place of Charles, but the Chiefs have no answer to fill the void left by Berry in their defensive secondary. With Jones gone, there will be even more expected of quarterback Matt Cassel and the Chiefs’ 30th ranked pass offense, as they look to carve up a Colts’ defense that ranks 26th against the air attack despite facing just one team (Pittsburgh) that ranks in the top-10 in passing yards.

NFL Betting Preview: Indianapolis Colts

The problems in Indianapolis go well beyond the defense, as the effect of losing Manning has had an impact on nearly every aspect of the Colts’ game. Curtis Painter didn’t look awful in a close loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football, and if he can continue to progress then Indianapolis might actually have a shot at winning. The Colts have shown a lot of heart and determination without their superstar quarterback in the lineup, and this could be the game where all that hard work finally pays off.

NFL Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick

There has been debate in the national sportsbook promo media about whether or not the Colts would actually be better off winning or losing this year with Luck set to go first overall and Manning getting up there in years, but that won’t have any effect on the men in the Indianapolis locker room. These guys are professionals and they have given their all on every snap so far this season regardless of the score. After falling just short in consecutive primetime appearances, look for the Colts to finally get in the win column against a Chiefs’ team that has some significant injuries of their own.