2021 NFL Playoffs Divisional Round: Sunday
Cleveland Browns at Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday, January 17
4:05, CBS
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO
Knee-Jerk Instant Analysis: Kansas City isn’t going to start the game by snapping the ball over Patrick Mahomes’ head.
Give Cleveland all the credit in the world for coming out sharp, roaring, and focused after a rough run, no head coach, and with an offensive line that got banged up throughout the win over Pittsburgh. However, it’s not going to be +5 in turnover margin again and a rested Kansas City will come up with a much, much better first quarter.
It won’t be 28-0 Cleveland.
That’s not to say the Browns can’t pull this off as long as Baker Mayfield plays as well as he did in Pittsburgh. He didn’t take any chances, he spread the ball around well, and the offensive design that negated the Steeler pass rush can absolutely work against this Chief D.
As good as the Cleveland pass rush is, and as strong as the offense will be to keep making this a ball game, Mahomes will be too fantastic. Expect a shootout, expect this to be all Chiefs early and in control throughout.
Knee-Jerk No Research Prediction: Kansas City 34, Cleveland 23
Early Line No Look Guess: Kansas City -10.5
Actual BetMGM Line: Kansas City -10, o/u: 56
NFL Playoff Divisional Round First Thought Predictions
– Los Angeles at Green Bay
– Baltimore at Buffalo
– Tampa Bay at New Orleans