Chiefs vs Saints Odds, Lines and Spreads
- The Kansas City Chiefs are three-point favorites on the road against the New Orleans Saints in Sunday’s game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome
- The Chiefs are on an eight-game winning streak but have been the losing side against the spread in five straight games
- Read below for updated odds and a preview of the game
It is easy to wonder if this will be the first of two meetings between these teams this season.
The Kansas City Chiefs visit the New Orleans Saints at 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. It would not be surprising if they faced each other again in the Super Bowl on Feb. 7 in Tampa.
The Chiefs (12-1) have the best record in the NFL and already clinched their fifth straight AFC West title. The Saints (10-3) are tied with the Green Bay Packers for the top mark in the NFC and can wrap up their fourth NFC South title with a win.
The Chiefs are favored by a field goal.
Chiefs vs Saints Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Chiefs | -164 | -3 (-110) | Over 52.5 (-104) |
| New Orleans Saints | +138 | +3 (-110) | Under 52.5 (-116) |
Odds taken Dec. 19 from FanDuel
The Chiefs have won eight games in a row while the Saints had their nine-game winning streak snapped last week when they were upset by the Eagles 24-21 in Philadelphia as a 7.5-point favorite.
Old QB Vs. New QB
The New Orleans Saints were primed to draft Patrick Mahomes with the 11th overall pick in the 2017 draft. However, the Chiefs traded up to No. 10 and took the quarterback from Texas Tech and they have never complained.
Patrick Mahomes needs to average 264 yards passing in the final 3 games to finish the season with 5,000
#ChiefsKingdompic.twitter.com/pUDd5VLEhU— 𝕃𝕠𝕣𝕕ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕖𝕗ℝ𝕠𝕔𝕜𝕒 (@JordanTribe) December 15, 2020
If he had fallen to the Saints, Mahomes might be on the bench.
Drew Brees is still the Saints’ quarterback and in his 20th NFL season. He returns to the lineup after missing four games with multiple rib fractures and a punctured lung.
Mahones is the favorite to win NFL MVP after leading the Chiefs to Super Bowl victory last season. He tops the NFL with 4,208 yards passing and his six consecutive games with at least 315 yards is the longest streak in league history.
It will be interesting to see how Brees bounces back from his injuries. The Saints went 3-1 with Taysom Hill at quarterback while Brees was out.
Saints coach Sean Payton said he may use Hill frequently against the Chiefs. That would give the defense a different look with run-pass options and also ease Brees back into action.
Solid Consolation Prize
With Mahomes off the board, the Saints selected Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore.
While Lattimore has not played to quite the level of Mahomes – really, though, who has? – he was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2017 and has been selected to two Pro Bowls.
One of the wildest interceptions ever…
Happy birthday to @Saints star CB Marshon Lattimore! @shonrp2 pic.twitter.com/NA9ayFBevC
— NFL (@NFL) May 20, 2020
Lattimore helps spearhead a defense that is second in the NFL it total yards allowed. The Saints are also fourth in pass defense, though they will be tested by Mahomes.
The 2017 draft also yielded two other defensive starters for the Sains in safety Marcus Williams and end Trey Hendrickson.
A third-round pick from Florida Atlantic, Hendrickson is having a breakout season with 9.5 sacks. He had two sacks as a rookie but none last season when he was limited to five games because of injury.
Thomas Ruled Out
Brees will be without wide receiver Michael Thomas (ankle) in his return. Thomas was ruled out Friday.
Following a slow start because of injury and a suspension, Thomas has been at least heating up over the last month if not playing up to his NFL Offensive Player of the Year standard of 2019.
Daily reminder that Michael Thomas is still a top 2 receiver and that the slant boy narrative needs to end pic.twitter.com/jN1g8eF9pG
— josh ⚜️🖤 (@joshbreesus) December 17, 2020
Thomas has at least eight receptions and 84 yards in three of the last four games.
The Saints will also be without defensive tackle Malcolm Brown (shoulder, calf) and guard Nick Easton (concussion).
Out for the Chiefs are running back Darwin Thompson (illness) and linebacker Damien Wilson (knee). Wilson is Kansas City’s third-leading tackler with 68.
Four Years Later
The teams are playing for the first time since 2016 when the Chiefs won 27-21 in Kansas City. Mahomes and Lattimore were wrapping up their stellar college career that year.
Brees threw for 367 yards and three touchdowns in a losing cause.
The Chiefs have not covered the spread in any of their last five games. Lattimore and Saints’ defense are good enough to facilitate a continuation of that skid.
The Pick: Saints +3 (-110)
John Perrotto has been covering and writing about sports for various outlets for over 40 years. His work has appeared in the likes of USA TODAY, ESPN.com, SI.com, Forbes.com, The Associated Press, Baseball Digest, and more. John is based out of Beaver Falls, PA.
