Browns vs Chiefs Odds, Lines, and Spread
- The Kansas City Chiefs are 10-point home favorites over the Cleveland Browns in Sunday’s NFL Divisional Round playoff game
- Saturday/Sunday betting record: 11-7; +2.95 units
- See below for a preview of the game, along with updated odds and our best bet
Last year, the Kansas City Chiefs won their first Super Bowl in 50 years. Sunday, the Cleveland Browns will seek to win two playoff games in the same season for the first time in 71 years.
The odds are not in Cleveland’s favor. The Chiefs are sitting as the 10-point betting favorite in their NFL Divisional Round playoff game, and with good reason.
Not only are the Chiefs an NFL-best 14-2 this season, they’re also 3-0 both straight up and against the spread over the past two playoff years when coming off a bye week.
Kansas City was the lone AFC team to earn a bye in the second round of the NFL postseason.
Browns vs Chiefs NFL Divisional Round Playoffs Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns | +400 | +10 (-109) | O 57 (-113) |
| Kansas City Chiefs | -500 | -10 (-112) | U 57 (-108) |
Odds taken Jan. 16th at DraftKings.
Game time Sunday, Jan. 17th at Arrowhead Stadium is 3:05pm EST. The weather forecast is calling for clouds, 15 mph wind and a temperature of 36 degrees.
Browns’ Two-Headed Monster
Chiefs safety Tyronn Mathieu described Cleveland running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt as a “double-headed monster.” The Browns were third in the NFL running the ball this season, averging 148.4 yards per game.
They gashed Pittsburgh for 127 yards on the ground during their 48-37 Wild Card Weekend win. Kansas City was 21st in the NFL at stopping the run (122.1 ypg), so there is cause for concern.
Kareem Hunt + Nick Chubb tonight:
· 206 combined total yards
· 3 total TDs pic.twitter.com/ao2imN8ry3— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) January 11, 2021
Chubb went over 1,000 rushing yards despite missing part of the season due to a knee injury. Hunt, who led the NFL in rushing with the Chiefs in 2017 (1,327 yards), finished 2020 with 841 yards.
They’re also double threats. Hunt caught 38 passes for 304 yards and five touchdowns. Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield hooked up with Chubb on a 40-yard screen pass TD against the Steelers.
Chiefs Will Come To Pass
Kansas City’s passing game will be equally problematic for the Browns defense. The Chiefs finished the NFL regular season as the league’s most potent offense. KC averaged an NFL-high 415.8 yards per game.
The Chiefs were also the NFL’s No. 1 passing offense, clicking for 303.4 yards per game. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes topped the NFL in passing yardage per game (316).
May be too early but the Browns have no chance next week in Arrowhead. If Ben threw for 500+ with 4 picks, Mahomes may go for 750 and 7 TD’s. #NFLPlayoffs
— 𝗟𝗮𝘄𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗧𝘆𝗻𝗲𝘀 (@lt4kicks) January 11, 2021
With 1,416 yards, Travis Kelce established an NFL single-season mark for reception yardage by a tight end. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill snared an AFC-best 15 TD passes. He also posted an NFL-leading 14 yards per touch.
Mahomes was second in the NFL in 20+ yard pass completions (67). KC was third in the NFL at converting third downs (49%). According to Football Outsiders, Cleveland’s defense is 29th in DVOA on deep passes and on third-down passes. The Browns are 28th in DVOA against tight ends.
Injury Report
Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (ankle) and wide receiver Sammy Watkins (calf) are both listed as questionable. Weakside linebacker Willie Gay (ankle) is out.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Willie Gay and Sammy Watkins didn't practice for the Chiefs today.
— Matt McMullen (@KCChiefs_Matt) January 14, 2021
For the Browns, right tackle Jack Conklin (hamstring/knee) is questionable.
Trendspotting
The last time the Browns won two playoff games in the same season was in 1950, their first year in the NFL. They captured the league title.
With Mahomes at QB, the Chiefs are 10-2 SU when favored by 10 or more points. However, they’re just 5-7 ATS. Coming off a bye with Mahomes under center, KC is averaging 39.4 points per game.
What does the bye mean? For Andy Reid coached teams.. a ton. Reid’s teams are 25-5 coming off the bye… including 6-2 in the post season. pic.twitter.com/IyjBLRKTwQ
— trey wingo (@wingoz) January 15, 2021
Chiefs coach Andy Reid is 25-5 SU off the bye, including 6-2 in the playoffs. That’s best record of any NFL coach since the bye week was introduced in 1990.
Pick: Kansas City Chiefs -10 (-112).
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
