Kansas City @ Chicago preview
Soldier Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 25, 2018 ) Kansas City 20, Chicago 27
Mentor and student will square off Sunday night when Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs travel to Chicago to face the Bears and former Reid protege Matt Nagy. The Chiefs need a win to strengthen their chances of claiming the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs and a first-round bye.
Facing a former assistant is nothing new for Reid - this will be his 10th such head-to-head clash - but it’s a first for Nagy to face his former boss. “I’d be lying if I said if I said it wasn’t a little bit different versus other games just because of the background we have,” Nagy told reporters in a conference call. The Chiefs have already clinched the AFC West title, but the No. 2 seed is still in play. Kansas City is one game behind New England for the No. 2 spot, and the Chiefs have a head-to-head win over the Patriots if they end up tied.
TV: 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC. LINE: Kansas City -6. O/U: 44.5
ABOUT THE CHIEFS (10-4): Kansas City has won four straight to close out its fourth straight AFC West title, including a win at New England two weeks ago. Patrick Mahomes and the league’s No. 4 scoring offense get the spotlight, but the Chiefs’ defense has played well in December and has held two straight opponents to fewer than 300 total yards. The defense has produced a turnover in five straight games, and the Chiefs are plus-5 in turnover margin over that span.
ABOUT THE BEARS (7-7): Chicago’s resurgence was halted with a 21-13 loss at Green Bay last week, snapping a three-game winning streak and knocking the Bears out of playoff contention. Quarterback Mitch Trubisky had a tough time against the Packers, posting a 64.5 rating and throwing two interceptions to continue his uneven third NFL season. The Bears’ defense has been steady all year and ranks third in fewest points allowed, but the unit’s relative weakness is stopping the pass, which could be an issue against Mahomes and the Chiefs.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Mahomes needs two touchdown passes to become the first player in NFL history with 75 touchdown passes in his first 30 games.
2. Trubisky needs 226 passing yards for his second consecutive 3,000-yard season.
3. Chiefs TE Travis Kelce is the first tight end in NFL history with four consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
PREDICTION: Chiefs 23, Bears 20