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NFL playoff odds: Chiefs open as 'dogs vs. Patriots in Divisional round

The Kansas City Chiefs are 4.5-point underdogs in next Saturday's game in New England. I was guessing this line against the Patriots would be more like 6 or 7 points so I think this line is some respect to the Chiefs.

There's also this: this the smallest line the Patriots have seen at home this season.

To me, this line shows some serious respect to the Chiefs. The Ravens and Colts came to Gillette Stadium last year and they were bigger 'dogs than the Chiefs are here. The Chiefs crushed the Patriots last year on Monday Night Football, 41-14. That was the game that led to people actually asking if the Patriots should make a quarterback change.

It's not pretty and it's not easy to explain but somehow the Chiefs score a lot of points an don't give up many points. They blew the socks off the Texans in a 30-0 victory last Sunday. They've won 11 straight. They're giving up fewer than two touchdowns a game in this winning streak. And say what you want about the offense, but over the course of an entire season this is a top 10 scoring offense.

This defense wouldn't be as good without this offense and this offense wouldn't be as good without this defense. Complementary football at its finest. The analysts this week probably won't give them much of a chance but you can't count them out.

In the other AFC Divisional round game, the Broncos are 6-point home favorites over the Steelers. If the Chiefs win and the Broncos win, the Chiefs would visit Denver for the AFC Championship game. If the Chiefs win and the Steelers win, the Chiefs would HOST the AFC Championship game at Arrowhead. Could you imagine that?

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