Chiefs prediction: Entering the season from a position of strength against the Texans
For the first time, the Chiefs are playing in the NFL’s Thursday night curtain-raiser on opening weekend.
This is the 19th such game, which traditionally — but not always — matches the defending Super Bowl champion at home against a quality opponent.
The biggest on-field storyline for this one: a contest between the top two players by average salary in the NFL, quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and DeShaun Watson. The 2017 draft picks each signed contract extensions over the summer and set the stage for a great rivalry for many years to come.
Kickoff: 7:20 p.m. Thursday, Arrowhead Stadium
TV//radio: NBC (Ch. 41), WDAF (106.5 FM)
Line: Chiefs by 9 1/2. Super Bowl champions are 17-3 straight up and 13-5-2 against the spread in opening games since 2000.
Blair Kerkhoff’s prediction: Chiefs 37-30
The Chiefs have a few new pieces, most notably running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire. But this is largely the same team that trailed by double digits in every one of its 2019 playoff games — and then won them all by double digits — to capture the franchise’s first Super Bowl title in 50 years.
Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, Tyrann Mathieu, Chris Jones, and nearly every other major contributor is back with the Chiefs this season. That makes the Chiefs this preseason’s Super Bowl favorites, and the quest starts Thursday night.
Andy Reid’s Chiefs teams are 6-1 in openers. The loss came in 2014, the only season in which the team hasn’t made the playoffs under Reid. Mahomes’ and Watson’s newfound wealth shines an even brighter spotlight on this game. Watson threw five touchdown passes against the Chiefs as a rookie and beat Kansas City in Arrowhead Stadium during the 2019 regular season.
Houston has won the AFC South four of the past five years. But there’s no DeAndre Hopkins wearing Texans colors this time — he’s been traded to the Arizona Cardinals. It’s taken at least 31 points to win this game the last three times these teams have played, and that should prove to be the case again, with the Chiefs prevailing.
This story was originally published September 7, 2020 at 4:07 PM.