Get ready for Monday Night Football with our comprehensive analysis of the Washington Commanders vs. Cincinnati Bengals. Explore odds and expert picks now.
Three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes has reached the halfway point in his quest to chase down Tom Brady as the GOAT. Mahomes has been the best quarterback in the NFL since he burst onto the scene back in 2018, throwing for almost 30,000 yards and well over 200 touchdowns, and he only just turned 29 earlier this week. He is currently 76-22 in the regular season as a starter, so the Atlanta Falcons will certainly have their hands full on Sunday Night Football.
Week 3 Kansas City Chiefs at Atlanta Falcons
Kansas City Chiefs -3
Atlanta Falcons +3
Total 46.5
Sharp money has been pouring in on Atlanta over the course of the week. Although the Falcons are on short rest after playing Philadelphia on Monday Night Football, the football betting odds have fell from Falcons +4.5 to +3 over the last few days. We have seen a little movement on the total, but it is back to where it opened at 46.5 points.
Kansas City Chiefs Overview
Patrick Mahomes has just as many interceptions as touchdowns through two games, but no observer is calling his play into question. The Chiefs are still looking for a true playmaker opposite Rashee Rice as rookie Xavier Worthy only caught two passes for 17 yards last week against Cincinnati. Left tackle Wanya Morris has really struggled at the start of his second season too, and he is supposed to be protecting Mahomes’ blindside.
There is currently a massive hole at running back after Isiah Pacheco fractured his fibula last Sunday. Clyde Edwards-Helaire is still on the NFI List, so he won’t be active again until Week 5, leaving undrafted rookie Carson Steele as the nominal No. 1 running back. Steele averaged just 3.0 YPC last week after Pacheco was injured, so don’t be surprised if Samaje Perine sees some action. Additionally, Kansas City signed former starter Kareem Hunt earlier this week, as the Chiefs are clearly searching for what to do at the position.
Kansas City’s defense currently ranks 29th in the NFL in total defense. The Chiefs are allowing 386 YPG, and they have largely been unable to get to the quarterback. The good news is that they are largely healthy on this side of the ball. Chris Jones is still a force to be reckoned with up front, but this team needs more out of Derrick Nnadi and George Karlaftis.
Atlanta Falcons Overview
It looked like the Atlanta Falcons would start the season 0-2 through most of last week’s game against Philadelphia. They trailed late in the game, but Kirk Cousins led them down the field and found Drake London in the end zone to give them a one-point lead and an eventual 22-21 victory. That has this fanbase fired up heading into a tough showdown with Kansas City.
Cousins needed a bounce-back game after a rough outing against Pittsburgh in his first game with his new team. He really struggled against the Steelers in Week 1, throwing two interceptions while failing to complete a pass longer than 20 yards.
The star of this offense through two games has been Bijan Robinson though. Robinson finished with more than 1,450 total yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie, and he already has 233 total yards off 41 touches in his first two games. The Texas product has yet to find the end zone, but that will likely change on Sunday night.
Sunday Night Football Prediction
Kansas City is going to be a very popular public play now that the Chiefs are laying just a field goal per the current NFL betting odds. Mahomes and company failed to cover (and almost lost outright as a touchdown favorite) against the Bengals last week, so many will be assuming a better performance.
I usually move against the public, but I just can’t bring myself to take the Falcons and the points. Atlanta has been fool’s gold for each of the last few seasons, as players like Kyle Pitts and Drake London have largely underwhelmed despite a ton of hype. This defense still has major questions too, so lay the points with the Chiefs.
Final Score: Kansas City 27, Atlanta 20
