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There are games in which you just can’t find a reason to back a team and tonight there is no reason at all Kansas City should be backed by any gambler. I don’t have a crystal ball and in gambling anything can happen, but the Kansas City Defense is missing 4 key opening day starters and on offense are without 2 opening day starters and have two rookies starting. Simply the put only the center has ever taken a snap in a Kansas City Chiefs Uniform outside of this season. The Patriots pretty much remain intact from last year on both sides of the ball with Revis being a major upgrade at corner. On offense every last starter has been in this system for over a full football season. The special team’s edge also goes to the Patriots when it comes to kicking field goals as the Chiefs are starting a rookie. Kansas City is usually a good team at home, but with all of these guys on IR and key players nursing injuries I just don’t see them stopping Tom Brady. This Kansas City Defense has yet to generate a turnover this year. I am not saying this is the same New England team as last year. The Patriots are going to struggle against very good football teams, but in this spot they are just going to take advantage of a football team that has been decimated with injuries. There is only one logical play for me to tonight and that is New England. I always say MNF is not a game and more so an event which means anything can happen, but with the information I just gave you if the Chiefs can win with all of those key players out then so be it. Take the Patriots.
Mon Sep-29-2014 at 05:30 PM Pacific Rotation: 274 Over/Under 45.0 After an opening week loss at home to Tennessee, the Chiefs have played well the past two weeks, losing to the Broncos in a competitive game and then destroying the Dolphins last week in Miami 34-15. Despite multiple key injuries the past few weeks, Kansas City put on a strong defensive performance against the Dolphins, holding quarterback Ryan Tannehill to just 191 passing yards at 4.1 yps while sacking him four times. In addition, luck was not on their side as they were -2 in turnovers, both being fumbles. In fact, the Chiefs have yet to get a takeaway this season after leading the AFC in that category last year. This game features the leagues’ best team in turnover differential at +6 in the Patriots taking on the leagues’ worst team in this category in the Chiefs (-5). As you probably know, turnovers play a huge role in determining a teams’ fate and this game features two quarterbacks that project some of the lowest turnover percentages in the league. Fumbles are almost entirely random and the Chiefs have been unlucky in this department so far this season, while the Patriots have been about average.
The Patriots so far this season have been well below average offensively, generating only 304 total yards at 4.4 yppl against teams that allow 335 yards at 5.1 yppl, but they have been good defensively, allowing just 274 yards at 4.4 yppl. The problem the Patriots have had offensively is in the offensive line where they have not been good, as well as the lack of skilled players on the outside. They don’t match up well this week against a good Chiefs front that should be able to apply pressure with LB’s Justin Houston and Tamba Hali. In addition, Kansas City’s defense has struggled against the run so far but should have a better time containing a Patriots ground attack that has underperformed so far this season and could only generate 83 yards at 2.9 ypr last week against the Raiders. With some struggles on their own offensive line, the Chiefs will likely utilize a quick passing game, a strategy that best suits QB Alex Smith’s abilities and negates the Patriots ability to rush the passer. It also looks like Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles will be back for this game and he will help not only rushing the ball but in the passing game.
Kansas City qualifies in 61-28-2 and 40-12-2 situations and benefit from a negative 17-44 statistical match-up indicator that plays against the Patriots. My ratings only favor New England in this game by about a point so we have some line value as well. The Patriots play much better at home where they are 10-0 SU since the beginning of last season, and tend to not play as well on the road where they are 5-6 SU and 3-8 ATS. Take the Chiefs +3.5 -120 for 2-Stars up to +3.5 -130.
New England @ KANSAS CITY
New England/KANSAS CITY under 46½ +100
This isn’t your big brother’s New England Patriots anymore. Tom Brady has been in the league for 14 years. His 37-year-old body has taken a beating over the years and he doesn’t get up off the ground as quickly as he used to. Statistically speaking, Brady is the very definition of average with approximately 200 passing yards per game. Racking up 300 yards every game and throwing for 3 TD’s is a thing of the past. The Patriots are no longer a team that can play from behind and win games 35-30. Bill Belichick knows it and because he’s the smartest coach in the league, he works with what he has to make it work. When the Patriots aren’t running the ball, Brady will use the short passing game to complete four or five yard passes. The Patriots are an extremely efficient third down team that uses the clock in all of their offensive possessions to wear down the defense. At home against the Raiders last week, New England was happy to win 16-9 and those are the type of wins the Patriots will record more often than not. The Patriots defense ranks #1 in the league against the pass and that does not bode well for the Chiefs.
Alex Smith ended up with three passing TD’s against Miami last week but he only threw for 186 yards. However, Smith was also sacked five times despite only attempting 30 passes. Against the Broncos, in Denver no less, K.C lost 24-17 and against Tennessee in their opener, the Chiefs won 26-10. In between those two games was the aforementioned game against the Fish. The 34 points the Chiefs put up on Miami was nothing more than an aberration. Kansas City possesses a pedestrian offense that is not going to outwit a coaching staff that is as intelligent as the Patriots are. Totals on Patriots games are still around the same number as they were when Brady was in his prime. Intellectually, Brady is in his prime but physically he’s far past it. Slowly and methodically Brady uses that intellect to grind out victories. This one has a much better chance of being 17-13 than it does of 27-24 and that is how we’re playing it.
Our Pick
New England/KANSAS CITY under 46½ +100 (Risking 2 units - To Win: 2.00)
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