The Cleveland Browns are actually playing football in January. Up next for Baker Mayfield and company is a date with the reigning Super Bowl champions, Kansas City Chiefs. Will the Browns shock the world with an upset win on Sunday? Or will the Chiefs make their debut in this postseason with a bang?
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Betting Preview for the Cleveland Browns vs Kansas City Chiefs AFC Divisional Round Round January 17, 2021
Where: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
When: Sunday, January 17, 2021, 3:05 PM ET
Line: Cleveland Browns (+10) vs Kansas City Chiefs (-10) – view all 2021 NFL lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
Betting on the Cleveland Browns (+10)
Regular Season Record: 11-5
How about the Cleveland Browns? Despite all they went through in the days leading into the wild-card round, the Browns pulled off a shocker last Sunday by defeating the favored Pittsburgh Steelers on the road, 48-37. Mayfield balled out, as he threw for 263 yards and three touchdowns with zero interceptions on 21-of-34 completions. The Browns also got a great performance from their rushing attack, with running back Kareem Hunt scoring two rushing touchdowns. Hunt will have some “revenge-game” factor in him for the upcoming date with his former team, but the Chiefs may actually have to be more worried about Nick Chubb. In any case, the Browns’ 1-2 punch of Chubb and Hunt is set to create problems for Kansas City’s defense that was only 18th in opponents rushing yards per carry and 19 in rushing defense back in the regular season. The Browns’ offense could get an additional boost if guard Joel Bitonio gets cleared to play after sitting out the wild-card game due to COVID-19.
The over is 2-0 in the Browns’ last two games overall.
Betting on the Kansas City Chiefs (-10)
Regular Season Record: 12-4
The Chiefs did not end the regular season on a positive note, as they lost to the Los Angeles Chargers at home, 38-21, at home in Week 17. But there’s little weight to that loss for the Chiefs, considering they sat out most of their key pieces in that game for rest purposes. This time, the Chiefs will come out in full force, with, of course, Patrick Mahomes leading the charge. Mahomes has been fantastic all season long. He finished the regular season with 4,740 passing yards and 38 touchdowns against only six interceptions. The Chiefs ranked sixth in the regular season with 29.6 points per game and No. 1 with 415.8 total yards per contest. Cleveland’s offense may have the weapons to keep up with Kansas City in a potential shootout, but the Browns’ defense will be a huge question mark. The Browns have been allowing a ton of points to their opponents, which was also why they had some tense moments in the wild-card game with the Steelers staging a comeback.
The under is 2-1 in the Chiefs’ last three home games.
Writer’s Prediction
The Chiefs win, 33-29.
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