The Kansas City Chiefs’ Eric Fisher is a game time decision as the Chiefs prepare to host the Washington Redskins for Monday Night Football. The vast majority of the media out there is picking the Chiefs, a 7-point favorite, to beat the Redskins.
Let’s see what the Arrowhead Pride staff has to say....
Redskins 16 Chiefs 20
The way the Redskins played last week against the Raiders combined with the injuries on the Chiefs offensive line has me concerned. The 7-point line seems way too high for this game. The Chiefs win but barely. -Joel Thorman
Redskins 17 Chiefs 30
I'm not a believer in the Redskins based on one game against the Raiders, which seems to be what almost everyone is basing their opinion from. The Redskins have some talent for sure, but they are uniquely suited to whip the Raiders (who I think are a paper tiger anyways). Josh Norman's existence doesn't affect the Chiefs nearly as much, and they've already shown they can put up points against a good pass rush. On the other side of the ball, we're two weeks removed from Kirk Cousins looking horrible against the Eagles. The Raiders have a bad defense, and the Chiefs don't. I'll be there with bells on for this one. -Seth Keysor
Redskins 17 Chiefs 21
Don't sleep on the Redskins. The Redskins are the best team in the NFC and the Chiefs and Redskins are the two of the best defensive teams in football. This game will be a defensive slug fest with both sides getting their fair share of hits in. With the game being a defensive one, I am particularly concerned about the Chiefs lack of experience in the kicking game. Hopefully new kicker Harrison Butker is up to the task if his number is called. I originally wanted to pick the Redskins because of the Chiefs kicker situation, but I reminded myself there are 52 other players on the roster and the Chiefs are the better team. -Gary McKenzie
Redskins 20 Chiefs 31
No one, including Washington, is sure that Kirk Cousins is good. Cousins 4,900-yard passing season didn't align with how he actually performed on the field. He has been the beneficiary of two brilliant offensive coordinators turned head coaches (Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay) and a very talented skill group that said goodbye to DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon this offseason. Washington is making him earn a long term contract without them and through three games, he's one for three in his attempt.
Cousins' dirty little secret in 2017 is that a league leading 62.8 percent of his passing yards have come after the catch. The formula to beat Washington is to force Cousins to beat you. Handle short crossers, cover running backs, put a little pressure on him, and he won't. Teams that finish the season with eight-plus wins have beat a Cousins led team 13/15 times. The Chiefs will be halfway there late Monday night. Chiefs are up big in the fourth, Cousins pads his fantasy stats with a late TD. -Kent Swanson
Redskins 24 Chiefs 45
There are two ways this game could go:
1) The Chiefs could come out flat and the Redskins could take advantage. Washington has the skill players on both sides of the ball to give the Chiefs trouble. This is a 2-1 team, leading their division and they could easily win this game.
2) The Chiefs could build on their strong start, clean up the penalties, make more explosive plays and dominate. My vote is for the latter with Washington running into a buzzsaw in KC. The football world will get to see what Arrowhead is all about, starting with tailgate hour and rocking through a couple of Tyreek Hill touchdowns, Justin Houston sacks and Kareem Hunt tackle-breaking performance. -Matt Stagner
Redskins 21 Chiefs 24
I’m picking the Chiefs in a close one before finding out the final status of starting left tackle Eric Fisher, which could swing the pendulum in the direction of Washington. Just as in the game against Los Angeles, I like the opposing defensive front and Washington’s could be an even bigger problem for the Chiefs without Fisher. Dee Ford will not play. While those are worries, the Washington side could be without a number of key players too, as running back Rob Kelley, tight end Jordan Reed, wide receiver Jamison Crowder and safety DJ Swearinger are all questionable. Redskins running back Chris Thompson is in the midst of a breakout year, and he’s one Bob Sutton’s defense will have to contain to win. In the end, I predict a bounce-back game for Travis Kelce as the Chiefs stay undefeated. -Pete Sweeney