Things went horribly bad for the Chiefs last week. Their fourth straight loss, a numbing last second defeat at home to Chicago, was punctuated by the loss of star running back Jamaal Charles for the season with a knee injury. The Chiefs must now dig themselves out of the hole they’re in without one of the best in the business. They can take comfort knowing that the Vikings haven’t won a game following their bye week in five years.
ODDS
The Vikings opened as a 3-point favorite with the total at 44.5. Minnesota has covered in each of its last three games and is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games overall. The spread was wagered to -3.5 while the total fell to 44.
KEY INJURIES
Jamaal Charles – Was lost for the season with a torn ACL suffered in last week’s loss to Chicago. Charcandrick West ran seven times for 31 yards against the Bears and Chiefs also have Knile Davis on the roster at running back. De’Anthony Thomas is an option out of the backfield and the team also had workouts with Ben Tate and Pierre Thomas.
Mike Wallace – Is listed as day-to-day with a sore knee that limited him in practice this week. Charles Johnson did some rehab work as he tries to return from a rib injury. The Vikings are hopeful to have their top two receivers in action for Sunday’s game.
KEY MISMATCH
It wasn’t long ago that linebacker was a position that the Vikings lacked quality and depth. The trade of starting middle linebacker Gerald Hodges was a sign of how much that has changed. GM Rick Spielman trusts his depth and believes rookie second-round pick Eric Kendricks is ready to be promoted from nickel linebacker to the team’s first three-down playmaking middle linebacker since E.J. Henderson was in his prime. Kendricks now becomes a full-time player, though he did play nearly 48 percent of the defensive snaps this season, alongside Anthony Barr, his former roommate at UCLA who moved into a starting role on the outside last year as a rookie. The two can play every down and give the Vikings a pair of vicious defenders on the second level.
KEY STAT
+4 – Minnesota’s turnover margin. The Vikings are tied for seventh in the NFL with eight takeaways and have scored 23 points off them. Kansas City has turned the ball over seven times and is minus-3 in turnover margin.
BETTING ANGLE
The Vikings are in the middle of a cramped NFC in which only five teams are better than 2-3. Even as they trail the undefeated Packers in the NFC North, the Vikings are in solid position to make a playoff push. Staying in that position might hinge on their ability to take advantage of what should, at least in theory, be the softest part of their schedule. It begins this week when the Chiefs visit, reeling from the loss of Pro Bowl running back Jamaal Charles. Then comes a pair of divisional road games against Detroit and Chicago, followed by a home game with the Rams and a trip to Oakland. The Vikings play five teams with a current combined record of 7-18 in the next five weeks, before hosting the Packers. The Vikes have done a solid job against teams they should beat, going 7-2 against teams with losing records last year and didn’t lose to a sub-.500 team at home. To stay on the postseason track, the Vikings would do well to stockpile some wins now.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Such is life in the NFL. The Chiefs not only lost a game last week, their fourth straight, they also lost their most dynamic offensive player for the season with a knee injury. The Chiefs must now embrace the motto that has made the rounds in the league this season: Next man up. Coach Andy Reid has dealt with plenty in his career, and though the loss of Charles is huge for an offense that’s struggled, it’s time for others to pick up their fallen teammate. Minnesota quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has been flustered when facing fast, athletic defensive fronts and the Chiefs have a good one. Bridgewater was indecisive and made poor throws when the Vikings lost to San Francisco and Denver, and the Chiefs’ front seven is equally talented. Slow down Adrian Peterson, pressure Bridgewater, and limit turnovers will get the Chiefs a much-needed win. They will use the loss of Charles as motivation and the offense will do its job.
Kansas City 27, Minnesota 24
The NFL betting lines for this Sunday game were first available at BookMaker Sportsbook. The Vikings were pegged as 3-point chalk while the total opened at 44.5. Live wagering during commercials offers adjusted moneylines, totals and spreads. Log in and start gambling during the game now!
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