Arizona @ Kansas City preview
GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 15, 2015 ) Kansas City 34, Arizona 19
Although one has enjoyed far more success thus far, a pair of promising young quarterbacks go head-to-head when the Kansas City Chiefs host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Second-year signal-caller Patrick Mahomes guides the league’s highest-scoring offense for Kansas City, while rookie Josh Rosen is trying to navigate the learning curve for the struggling Cardinals.
Kansas City’s only setback was a 43-40 loss at New England in Week 6, and the team has won three straight since to preserve its lead in the AFC West. Mahomes threw three more touchdown passes in last week’s 37-21 win over Cleveland, bringing his total to 29 - one shy of Len Dawson’s franchise record set in 1964. The Cardinals had a bye week following an 18-15 win over San Francisco in Week 8 in which Rosen set career highs for completions (23), passing yards (252) and touchdown passes (two). Even in the win, the Cardinals’ offense sputtered to 321 total yards, a mediocre total but the first time they cracked 300 this season.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Chiefs -16.5. O/U: 49.5
ABOUT THE CARDINALS (2-6): The offense has been virtually non-existent, but Arizona has some dangerous players - including running back David Johnson. Veteran receiver Larry Fitzgerald also has begun to develop a better rapport with Rosen and had season highs for catches (eight) and receiving yards (102) to go along with a touchdown against the 49ers. Arizona’s secondary has been stout, allowing 300 or more yards through the air only twice, but it will be tested Sunday.
ABOUT THE CHIEFS (8-1): Kansas City’s offense continues to steal the spotlight, with good reason, but the defense has played well during the three-game winning streak. It typically doesn’t take much defense to prevail with Mahomes and company putting up at least 30 points in eight of nine games and at least 27 in all nine. While the passing game has been the most prolific element of the offense, running back Kareem Hunt might be in line for a big day rushing against Arizona’s 31st-ranked run defense.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Mahomes has topped 300 passing yards in eight straight games, tying Andrew Luck (2014) for the longest streak in a single season.
2. Kansas City DE Chris Jones has recorded a sack in five consecutive contests, the longest active streak in the NFL and third-longest in franchise history.
3. Fitzgerald needs 33 receiving yards to surpass Terrell Owens for the second-most in NFL history.
PREDICTION: Chiefs 34, Cardinals 20