Chiefs open as two-score favorites to beat Texans

The Kansas City Chiefs’ first regular-season game is four months away — Thursday, September 10, at 7:20 p.m. Arrowhead Time at Arrowhead Stadium, to be exact — but we already have an opening betting line.

According to the DraftKings Sports book, the Chiefs are 10-point favorites to beat the Houston Texans in the 2019 Divisional round rematch (they are listed as high as 10.5-point favorites at other books). Everybody remembers what happened in that game — the Texans took a 24-0 lead early in the second quarter yet managed to lose in a blowout, 51-31.

The Texans will look a bit different this time around, as they said goodbye to wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, trading him to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for running back David Johnson. To fill Hopkins’ void, the Texans traded for Brandin Cooks and signed Randall Cobb. A familiar face in safety Eric Murray is now a member of the Texans.

This will mark Deshaun Watson’s third matchup against the Chiefs. Watson and the Texans managed to beat Patrick Mahomes 31-24 during the 2019 regular season, but the Chiefs were playing at a much higher level when it came time for the playoffs.

A returning J.J. Watt will have a new problem to deal with when it comes time to open the season — rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who has been billed as someone who could make Mahomes and the Chiefs offense even scarier. Perhaps that is why we’re seeing the way-too-early significant spread.