With the AFC’s top seed on the line, and with quarterback Patrick Mahomes poised to make a final push to lock up the MVP award, the Kansas City Chiefs are a popular side with the betting public in Week 18. And why not?
The Chiefs (13-3) have plenty to play for Saturday afternoon in Las Vegas, and the opposite seems true of the Raiders.
It’s not always that simple. Kansas City is 9-1 in its past 10 games, but it’s not a dominant team that is crushing the opposition. It’s not all blowouts and highlights when it comes to Mahomes and the Chiefs, who are 1-6 ATS in their past seven games while failing to cover twice against the last-place Broncos.
The end of the Derek Carr era is the beginning of something dramatically different in Las Vegas, where first-year coach Josh McDaniels is turning the page and planning to move ahead with Tom Brady, Jimmy Garoppolo or another veteran quarterback. For now, the quarterback is Jarrett Stidham, who appears to be an upgrade from Carr.