Colts vs. Chiefs predictions: Kansas City expected to win in primetime

Despite the scare the Kansas City Chiefs faced against the Detroit Lions last week, our writers predict a win against the Indianapolis Colts.

Last week, our writers were extremely optimistic on the Kansas City Chiefs‘ chances at beating the Detroit Lions. After the Chiefs narrowly escaped a scare, our optimism has not diminished, as every writer predicts the Chiefs to win their upcoming game against the Indianapolis Colts.

Already through a quarter of the NFL season, the Chiefs are undefeated at 4-0. This week, they’ll be under the lights on Sunday Night Football to face the 2-2 Colts. One notable storyline coming into the game is the return of linebacker Justin Houston.

This past offseason, the Chiefs decided that Houston’s cap hit was too high to pay and released the veteran linebacker. After his release, Houston signed a two-year deal to play with the Colts. After spending eight years with the Chiefs, Houston will be making his return to Arrowhead for the first time in a different jersey.

Coming into the game, both teams are facing key injuries. For the Chiefs, offensive tackle Eric Fisher and linebacker Dorian O’Daniel have not practiced all week. Fisher has missed time since Week 2 when the Chiefs played the Oakland Raiders after he injured his groin in practice. Meanwhile, wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who has been out since Week 1 with a shoulder injury, has been a limited participant in practice this week.

Notable injuries for the Colts include starting running back Marlon Mack and safeties Clayton Geathers and Malik Hooker, who haven’t practiced all week. Wide receiver T.Y. Hilton missed time on Wednesday, but returned to practice in limited form on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Colts’ best linebacker, Darius Leonard, has been limited all week after being out with a concussion. If Leonard is cleared for the game, he will certainly be a presence that will disrupt the Chiefs.

With everything taken into account, our writers believe the Chiefs will emerge victorious. Here are the full predictions:

Drew Brooks: Chiefs 38, Colts 21

After being held without a passing touchdown last week, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense will come out firing on all cylinders. They’ll jump to an early lead and stay on top the whole match. I think that Justin Houston, in his return to Arrowhead, will find his way and sack Patrick Mahomes because if there’s anyone who knows how to get around Chiefs offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz, it’s Houston.

Matt Conner: Chiefs 28, Colts 20

The Colts are certainly an impressive team on this side of the Andrew Luck drama, but unfortunately for them Patrick Mahomes has to get back on track after throwing zero touchdowns last week. Look for the Colts to be on the receiving end of 3-4 touchdown passes and for the team’s defense to build on their aggressive success from last week.

Jalon Dodson: Chiefs 35, Colts 17

Last week, we witnessed Mahomes struggle for the first game this season. This week, we’ll witness just how elite the gunslinger is in what’ll be a bounce back game. It’ll be one that sees the Chiefs scoring high, and the defense holding fast.

Lyle Graversen: Chiefs 34, Colts 23

The Chiefs dominated the Andrew Luck led Colts in the playoffs last year. With the now Luck-less Colts coming into a charged up Arrowhead in primetime, this looks like a game the Chiefs should win comfortably. Then again, I thought the Chiefs would blow out the Lions last week and we all saw how that turned out. The Colts will stick around and make this one competitive but in the end I think the Chiefs win by double digits.

Jacob Harris: Chiefs 42, Colts 28

The AFC South is an absolute disaster, and the Chiefs make it look easy. They jump out big early and coast to 5-0.

Scott Loring: Chiefs 36, Colts 33

The Colts will enter Arrowhead with January’s playoff loss as their motivator. The Colts offense is 6th in the league in first downs, and as a team they have the fewest penalties and fewest penalty yards in the entire league. They’re prolific on 3rd down (5th-best in the NFL), and of any team that has attempted to go for it on 4th down three times or more, they’re the only one with a 100% success rate, at 5-for-5. It’s hard to predict things without knowing if T.Y. Hilton, Marlon Mack, or Darius Leonard will play. Regardless, the Chiefs are going to have their hands full with Indianapolis. But it’s a night game, where Patrick Mahomes is at his best. I predict another nail-biter on Sunday night. Harrison Butker saves the Chiefs in the waning seconds.

Jordan Mannix: Chiefs 35, Colts 24

The Chiefs are averaging an impressive 34 points on offense and 24 points on defense, but with a chunk of those points against the defense coming in garbage time. On the other hand, Colts have an unseasoned quarterback and numerous injuries at key offensive and defensive positions. The lights in prime time at Arrowhead will be too much for this Colts team to handle. Vegas has the Chiefs by 11 but even that seems like it could be conservative. The Chiefs run away with this one early.

Ellen Mathis: Chiefs 34, Colts 28

The Chiefs get their first taste of primetime for the season. The Jacoby Brissett led Colts are looking to avenge last year’s divisional game. While their team has played well under his leadership, I don’t think they have the firepower to keep up with the Chiefs. I anticipate the Chiefs roll to 5-0 on the season but Justin Houston will have two sacks in his return to Kansas City.

Byron Smith: Chiefs 42, Colts 21

This is gonna be the Mahomes show: six touchdowns, 500 yards and no interceptions. (If Tyreek plays it might even be more.) The lights do something special to Mahomes, and we are gonna see that Sunday at Arrowhead. This game gives off the vibes of last year’s thrashing against the Bengals, so expect some solid defensive play as well, with Breeland carrying his momentum from the last three games and getting himself an interception or two.

Kelly Thompson: Chiefs 41, Colts 31

Patrick Mahomes failed to throw a touchdown last week, and that is not a trend that will continue. The Chiefs offense gets back on track this weekend after a week of the receivers getting an ear-full from their quarterback about running the correct routes. In addition, after one of his least prolific games, Mahomes comes out with something to prove. Jacoby Brissett has taken over admirably following the sudden retirement of Andrew Luck. Marlon Mack will likely feast on the Chiefs run defense, and T.Y. Hilton will return and should have a field day against the Chiefs secondary. All of that won’t be enough, however. The defense comes up with a big turnover in the third quarter that breaks the game open and seals a 5-0 start for the Chiefs.

Grant Tuttle: Chiefs 38, Colts 20

After a nail-biter in Detroit, the Chiefs willed themselves to 4-0. The Colts squandered their opportunities against the Raiders and didn’t have a chance. After a shaky performance, I expect Patrick Mahomes to come out on fire in the first primetime game of the season for the Chiefs. The Colts are a scrappy football team but are surrounded by uncertainty and injury. If wideout Tyreek Hill is able to return and fellow wide receiver T.Y. Hilton is held out, the Chiefs may roll in this one. With a boisterous Arrowhead crowd behind them, I expect the Chiefs to come out of this game undefeated.

Farzin Vousoughian: Chiefs 45, Colts 10

The Colts are banged up coming into this game. Expect them to find ways to move the football against the Chiefs, yet not find the end zone much. Most importantly, the two players who have interceptions for the Colts might not play while Patrick Mahomes has yet to throw one this year. This game will bode well for the Chiefs in all three facets.

Thomas Welte: Chiefs 38, Colts 17

The Chiefs gutted a game out against the Lions to remain unbeaten. There are a lot of small stories around this game, but without Andrew Luck, the Colts simply aren’t the same threat. Justin Houston will likely play motivated, but Mahomes and the passing game should click. I expect 3-plus touchdowns and maybe Mahomes will run one in as well.