TNF Week 1

Question

I usually wouldnt make a big play for a TNF game or a week 1 game, but I like this one a lot:

KC +9 for 2 units

If you asked me what team has the best chance to beat the Pats on any day, I'd say the Chiefs. Who else has a defense that can handle them. The Raiders, the Steelers? Nope. The Texans, maybe, but NE trounced them twice last year and one of those was without Brady. Pittsburgh couldn't beat them last year, either.

Now, Pitt had beaten KC, but it is worth noting that the Chiefs only lost by 2, 18-16, holding them to 0-4 in the red zone, and lost because Leveon Bell ran all over them.

The Pats don't have a Leveon Bell. Sure they have Brady, but there has been a LOT of roster changes for New England, and this is game numero uno. Edelman hurt, Martellus Bennett gone, who knows who the starting RB is, Blount is gone. Jaime Collins gone. Brandin Cooks comes in and is a talented guy but he hasn't played in NE or caught passes from Brady yet. And the Chiefs defense is full of playmakers and has an excellent secondary.

2 years ago the Pats beat the Chiefs in the playoffs and the Chiefs were right in the game until Knile Davis fumbled on the 50 and the game totally turned. And when Reid was coaching the Eagles, they lost to the Pats in the Super Bowl, and later the Spygate scandal broke.

MAJOR revenge for coach Reid, who we all know can prepare well with extra time.

In that game Edelman led all WRs with 100 yards. Don't have to worry about him this time. Gronk had a good game, too, but he is coming off back surgery which is why NE signed Dwayne Allen after Bennett left for GB.

KC didn't have Justin Houston, who had been the best pass rusher in the league the year before. He came back and had a good year last year, can only assume he will be even better now and be chomping at the bit to get to Brady after missing that playoff game.

Unfortunately for KC Spencer Ware got hurt the same night Edelman did, but the Chiefs sstill have West and I like Hunt who they drafted. The line is all the same. NE is typically tough to run on but that brings me to my next point:

In that playoff game the Chiefs didn't have any weapons. They have one now - Tyreek Hill. Now they have someone who can actually expose the Pats biggest weakness - their slow LBs who can't cover intermediate routes. The Falcons exploited this and should have won the SB as a result. Chris Conley should also step up this year, he actually played in that 2015 playoff game as a rookie. Basically the entire Chiefs team that lost that game is back, but you now have their best player on defense back, as well as the addition of a weapon you never had.

KC also gets some other guys back on D that missed time last year and even though they lost Dontari Poe, Bennie Logan is serviceable.

The Pats punt returner was CB Cyrus Jones, he is hurt so now Amendola will be back there, but the Chiefs have Hill, who was the best in the league at that position last year. They also have a great punter and kicker. This is again, one of the few times NE will NOT have the better special teams unit.

So you have a roster that is fully capable of competing with the champs talent, and you get to play them in their first game with a bunch of new guys. That's pretty good.

2nd half of writeup coming soon.

PhillyBrown · Answer