Chiefs vs Lions: The Bottom Line
We should expect an explosive matchup between two elite offenses and two defenses with their fair share of questions.
As of press time, the over/under for this game is set at about 53 points (depending on the source). I'm pretty confident that we'll witness at least 53 points tonight, even if Travis Kelce is out. It wouldn't be surprising if we hit at least 53 points even before the fourth quarter begins.
The last time Patrick Mahomes and Jared Goff faced off, it resulted in a 105-point thriller. I have a strong feeling that tonight's game won't be too different.
For the Chiefs to win, they can't afford a sluggish start on offense. Detroit's formidable offensive line can help them control the clock late in the game, especially with no Chris Jones. The Chiefs might not be able to stop it.
The possibility of being without their second and third-best players presents a challenge, even for a team as great as the Chiefs. Both the offense and defense are weakened, a situation that is less than ideal when up against a formidable opponent like Detroit.
On the flip side, one team has Patrick Mahomes, while the other has one playoff victory in the Super Bowl era. One team has a future Hall of Fame head coach, while the other has a coach known for baking and biting kneecaps. While it won't be a walk in the park for the Chiefs, they should win this game and open the season with a 1-0 record. They'll continue their strong tradition of success in Week 1, winning for the 10th time in 11 seasons.
Prediction: Chiefs win 37-30.