The Kansas City Chiefs are 11-point favorites over the Cleveland Browns. Will they win their ninth in a row? According to the predictions from the Arrowhead Pride staff, yes they will.
I checked out picks from various spots, including SB Nation, ESPN and CBS Sports. Not many are picking the Browns to beat the Chiefs but I did find it interesting that Kansas City-hater Jason La Canfora is picking Cleveland to win. La Canfora feuded with Kansas City sports fans during the MLB playoffs the last two years. I think it started when the Royals embarrassed his Orioles and he tried to tweet his way out of it. It just didn't work out for him as you can tell by him picking 11-point underdog Cleveland to win.
Anyway, the Arrowhead Pride picks...
Joel Thorman: Browns 13 Chiefs 23
There are a couple of slipups with these types of games in the Andy Reid era but for the most part the Chiefs are a good team and they beat bad teams. Let's not overthink it.
Stagdsp: Browns 14 Chiefs 35
I'm sitting here trying to think of a reason anyone would pick Cleveland. The only thing that comes to mind is don't overlook any NFL opponent. That's it. The Chiefs are on a mission and they can't lose focus just because they are playing another seemingly inferior team. Andy Reid and the veteran leaders have this team focused and fired up. Even with some injuries to key players, they've been able to win with the next man up. No reason to think they stop this week.
MNChiefsfan: Browns 17 Chiefs 34
The Chiefs will continue to grind away on overmatched teams. The simple fact is the Chiefs are a good football team and are going to beat teams that AREN'T good football teams. The pressure of needing each and every win to ensure a playoff berth will continue to come in handy as the Chiefs know as well as anyone that a loss could put them on the outside looking in. The Browns don't have the defensive horses to stop the Chiefs offense, which is quietly ranked third in weighted DVOA by Football Outsiders (yeah, that's not a typo), and Johnny Manziel isn't good enough at this point to drag the Browns offense to competence against a Chiefs defense that has been ravenous for turnovers.
Matt Conner: Browns 3 Chiefs 21
Hard to imagine the Chiefs not trying to air it out with Joe Haden gone for the year. Hard to imagine the Chiefs pass rush not exploiting the weak spots along the Browns offensive front. Hard to imagine this Chiefs defense as the canvas upon which Manziel can show off for next season's potentail. Hard to imagine the Chiefs not winning this game fairly easily.
Super_G: Browns 13 Chiefs 41
Last week I was eerily close with my prediction, especially if it weren't for the hail Mary TD. The Chiefs are going to dominate this game even without Tamba Hali and Justin Houston. The Browns will shoot themselves in the foot repeatedly and the Chiefs will continue to play mistake free. I predict two Manziel interceptions and two Manziel fumbles. I also predict a special teams touchdown by the Chiefs.