Here is who national experts are predicting will win Chiefs-Patriots game
The winner of the Chiefs’ game against the Patriots could end up clinching a playoff berth by game’s end.
New England will be in the postseason field with a victory, while the Chiefs could punch their ticket with a win and a Raiders’ loss to the Titans. That game kicks off at the same time as the Chiefs-Patriots contest at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
The game is a rematch of the AFC Championship Game and a battle of division leaders, so it’s one of the biggest contests of Week 13.
Fifty experts from around the nation revealed their predictions, and 22 believe the Chiefs will win. Here are the picks and what the pundits are saying about the game, which kicks off at 3:25 p.m. and will be shown on CBS (Ch. 5):
A 23-22 Patriots victory is the prediction from Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com. Here is an excerpt of what he wrote: “It’s disarming how much this matchup has changed since the AFC Championship Game in January. The Chiefs now have a pass defense for the Patriots to worry about, while K.C.’s passing attack has looked vulnerable and disjointed since Patrick Mahomes returned from injury, more reliant on individual magic than ever.”
Four of the eight CBS Sports experts predicted a Chiefs victory: Ryan Wilson, Jason La Canfora, John Breech and Dave Richard. The Patriots were the pick for Pete Prisco, Jared Dubin, Jamey Eisenberg and Will Brinson. Prisco predicted a 31-27 Patriots win. Here is part of what wrote: “The Patriots are struggling on offense, but I don’t think that will be the case here. Look for Tom Brady to change that in this one. I think he will outplay Patrick Mahomes as the Patriots win an important game.”
The Patriots will win 27-23 writes Tadd Haislop of the Sporting News. This is part of what he wrote: “Even at home, New England will need it against Kansas City, because Patrick Mahomes is getting hot again. The rushing attack the Pats have been trying to establish all season should get going against the Chiefs, which should lead to a game flow that minimizes the damage Mahomes can create.”
Six of the eight SB Nation writers are picking the Chiefs: Christian D’Andrea, Sarah Hardy, Morgan Moriarty, Geoff Schwartz, Adam Stites and Stephen White. James Brady and Jimmy Morris went with New England. Stites wrote: “The majority of our experts are siding with momentum and taking the Chiefs to hand New England back-to-back losses (please don’t tell the Patriots).”
The Patriots were the pick for both Mike Florio and Michael David Smith both picked the Chiefs. Smith predicted a 20-17 final score. This is what he wrote: “The AFC Championship Game rematch will be a lower-scoring game than it was when these teams met in January, but the result will be the same, the Patriots winning a close one.” Florio sees a 24-20 final and simply wrote: “Go ahead and write off the Patriots.”
Four of the nine experts at ESPN have the Chiefs winning: Matt Bowen, Mike Golic, Louis Riddick and Trey Wingo. The five picking New England: Mina Kimes, Seth Wickersham, Mike Clay, Dan Graziano and Kevin Seifert.
Three of the eight Pro Football Focus writers picked the Chiefs: Neil Hornsby, Bruce Gradkowski and Jeff Ratcliffe. Picking a Patriots victory: Solomon Wilcots, Sam Monson, Nathan Jahnke, Austin Gayle and Steve Palazzolo.
Two of the six Sports Illustrated Monday Morning Quarterback writers picked the Chiefs: Kayln Kahler and Mitch Goldich. Picking the Patriots: Andrew Brandt, Bette Marston, Connor Orr and Jenny Vrentas.
Three of the seven experts from USA Today picked the Chiefs: Jori Epstein (31-28 final score), Mike Jones (30-28), and Lorenzo Reyes (28-24). Going with New England: Jarrett Bell (31-27), Nate Davis (23-20), Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz (27-21) and Tom Schad (31-24).
