Chiefs Lions Betting – Lions’ Air Show Flies High Against Chiefs
Some online betting players had Kansas City and Detroit as darkhorses in their respective conferences, but only the Lions looked like they deserved that status in Week 1. The Chiefs try to pick themselves up off the ground as they head to the Motor City, but the Lions’ aerial attack will be too much for Kansas City.
What: NFL Betting
When: Sunday, September 18th, 1:00 PM ET
Where: Ford Field, Detroit, MI
Pick: Detroit Lions
Why Bet On Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs got off to their worst possible start as they were routed 41-7 at home against Buffalo, committing three turnovers, and they were only 3-of-13 on third down. Matt Cassell couldn’t get anything going as he went 22-of-36 for 119 yards, a touchdown and a pick, and he had no success going down the field. Overall, it was extremely disappointing for the Chiefs to come out and get dominated at home, where they were 7-1 SU in 2010, and they just didn’t look prepared for the intensity of a regular-season game. Coach Todd Haley and his staff has to take some of the blame for that and remember, Kansas City has a new offensive coordinator as Charlie Weis left for the University of Florida, and Bill Muir got off to a rough start.
A major problem was that the Chiefs were down 20-0 before halftime, and that got them away from their strength, which is the running game with Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones. Charles ended up with 56 yards on 10 carries and caught a six-yard pass from Cassel to put the Chiefs on the board, but Kansas City was turned into a passing team because of the early deficit. Also, another thing to watch out for before you make an NFL betting play for this game: safety Eric Berry hurt his knee and the Chiefs fear it could be serious. That would be a huge loss for a secondary that was lit up against the Bills.
Why Bet On Detroit Lions
When Matt Stafford is healthy, the Lions have an offense that can hold its own with anyone, and he was the start of a 27-20 win in Tampa Bay, going 24-of-33 for 305 yards and three touchdowns, although his lone pick was run back for a score by the Bucs’ Aqib Talib. The combination of Stafford and receiver Calvin Johnson in the passing game is enough to scare any defensive coordinator, particularly because there are maybe one or two corners in the league that can handle Johnson on their own. Detroit ran for 126 yards, just enough to keep the opposition off balance, but the aerial game is what the Lions are going to lean on. Defensively, the Lions forced a couple of turnovers and stopped the Bucs on three of their four red-zone chances.
It wasn’t all good for the Lions, who did commit eight penalties, and some Detroit fans may have been worried to see Stafford in pain on the sidelines. Stafford, along with receiver Nate Burleson and Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman, dealt with cramping during the game, but that shouldn’t be a problem at Ford Field. Detroit was also 2-of-11 on third down, and they’ll have to work on that throughout the season.
How It Will Play Out
Look for the Lions to be the NFL betting favorites at home, even though their head-to-head record against the Chiefs leaves a lot to be desired: Kansas City is 4-1 SU and 5-0 ATS all-time against the Lions, with four games going over the posted total. The last meeting was in 2007 in Detroit, which the Lions won 25-20, and this meeting plays into Detroit’s strengths, which is the vertical game.
Detroit should be able to protect their home field as they’ll be able to pressure Cassel, who looked out of sorts against the Bills, and he really has one option in the passing game, and that is Dwayne Bowe. Unless they can control the clock with the running game, Kansas City won’t be able to survive solely through the air. On the other side of the ball, the Lions will challenge Kansas City’s battered secondary early and often, and with Berry not looking good to participate this week, they could be in big trouble unless they can knock Stafford out of the game. Take Detroit in your sports betting picks.
Chiefs Lions Betting Pick: Detroit Lions
