After an unusual early Sunday kickoff, the Kansas City Chiefs return to primetime, facing the Washington Commanders in ‘Monday Night Football’ to wrap up the NFL Week 8. Last week saw Kansas City (4-3) triumph over the Raiders with a score of 31-0, marking four wins in their last five games. In contrast, Washington (2-4) suffered a defeat against the Cowboys, concluding in a 44-22 loss, losing quarterback Jayden Daniels (hamstring) to injury. Marcus Mariota will take the helm in his absence, with receivers Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel making their return this week. Josh Simmons (personal) is out for Kansas City, while Trey Smith (back) is doubtful.
Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Historically, the Chiefs have dominated their matchups with the Commanders, winning eight consecutively, the last encounter occurring in 2021. The Chiefs were initially favored by as much as 12.5 points, but this number has settled at 10.5 in the latest betting lines, with an over/under of 47.5 points. Before placing any bets, check the insights from the SportsLine projection model.
Why the Commanders Can Cover
Washington holds several advantages, particularly in recent ‘Monday Night Football’ games. They have triumphed in their last three road MNF games and are 5-1-1 against the spread (ATS) in non-conference games since the previous season, ranking third best in that span. However, Patrick Mahomes struggled in recent MNF contests, posting a 1-6 ATS record in his last seven.
The Commanders’ rushing offense ranks second in the NFL and leads with an impressive 5.4 yards per carry. Their read-option strategy has proven effective, particularly in the red zone, where they rank second in red zone scoring. Moreover, their defensive line has applied consistent pressure, tallying 19 sacks, trailing only behind a handful of other teams.
Why the Chiefs Can Cover
Kansas City has managed to cover in four of their previous five games, evidenced by a significant 31-0 victory over Vegas recently. This marks Andy Reid’s 427th regular season game and the first shutout of his coaching career. Mahomes established an exciting precedent, becoming the first quarterback to exceed 200 passing yards and achieve three touchdowns in his first three drives since 2000, demonstrating a well-oiled offensive unit especially with the return of Rashee Rice who made an impact in his first game after a year.
The Chiefs have a remarkable history against the Commanders, winning 10 of their last 11 matchups with an average victorial margin of 18.6 points. Washington’s pass defense has struggled statistically, ranking last in both yards per attempt and yards per completion allowed, handling a -5 turnover differential so far this year.
For specific predictions and betting strategies regarding this matchup, you can also check SportsLine for detailed insights.
