NFL experts are picking the Chiefs to roll over the Falcons in Week 16.
It’s not exactly a complicated slate of NFL games this week for the most part, and the Kansas City Chiefs aren’t making the picture any more complex with their scheduled contest against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16. Perhaps that’s why every NFL expert is picking the Chiefs to beat the Falcons and move to 14-1 on the year.
The Chiefs host the visiting Falcons at Arrowhead on Sunday afternoon in a game between franchises moving in opposite directions. The Chiefs are the odds-on favorites to repeat as Super Bowl champions and have a Hall of Fame coach at the helm for eight consecutive seasons. The Falcons, on the other hand, have to think about aging yet still important assets on a roster that will be captained by a brand new head coach in 2021.
Looking at 538’s NFL predictions, the algorithms at work behind their weekly picks have the Chiefs given an 88 percent chance to win the game with a point spread currently set at 14—yes, two full touchdowns.
Over at ESPN, both Chiefs reporter Adam Teicher and Falcons reporter Michael Rothstein are going with the Chiefs to win. In fact, Rothstein throws some shade at Atlanta with the ole made-you-look prediction. He writes:
"The Falcons don’t lose a lead Sunday! But mostly because Atlanta never has one as Kansas City scores on its first four possessions to put this game out of reach before the Falcons even have a chance to mess it up at the end."
In the end, Rothstein has the Chiefs winning by 15 and Teicher by 13.
Over at CBS Sports, they run things with a panel of experts and not a single writer is willing to bet on the Falcons to play spoiler this week. However, given the 10.5-point spread, there are four of seven experts willing to bet on Atlanta keeping it closer than expected.
NFL writer Vinnie Iyer runs the NFL predictions ship over at The Sporting News, and he has the Chiefs not only beating the Falcons this week but covering the spread, too. He writes, “Matt Ryan outdoors without Julio Jones (likely) will go back to taking it on the chin often.” The same can be said of Gregg Rosenthal at the NFL’s official site in his belief about the Chiefs and the spread. He writes:
"The Chiefs haven’t posted a two-score win since they stomped the Jets in Week 8. The Falcons have been competitive in every Raheem Morris-coached game this season. These streaks are long overdue to end."
The Falcons and Chiefs are scheduled to kick things off in Week 16 on Sunday afternoon at 12:00 p.m. C.T. at Arrowhead Stadium.