Earlier than the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ Week 12 recreation towards the Carolina Panthers, the predictions from our panel of Arrowhead Pleasure contributors averaged to a 29-15 Kansas Metropolis victory. That had 24 factors of error from the 30-27 closing: it missed the purpose unfold by 11 factors, the Chiefs’ rating by one level and the Panthers’ rating by 12 factors. Half of our panel incorrectly believed the sport can be a Kansas Metropolis blowout. Our readers had been a bit much less assured. Half of our readers anticipated the Chiefs to win simply.
In Week 13, the Chiefs face the Las Vegas Raiders on GEHA Discipline at Arrowhead Stadium. In line with FanDuel Sportsbook, Kansas Metropolis is favored by 12.5 factors.
Let’s see what the employees — and our readers — take into consideration the matchup.
Nate Christensen (@natech32)
I believe there shall be individuals who predict this recreation to be shut, however I don’t see it. It’s a brief week for each groups, it’s going to be chilly and the Raiders are bringing in a brand new quarterback Aidan O’Connell to begin. As a lot as these latest Chiefs video games have been bizarre, I believe it will bounce-back for either side of the ball. I anticipate the Kansas Metropolis go rush to look higher — and I believe the offense will be capable to transfer the ball towards the Las Vegas protection. It’s been some time for the reason that Chiefs performed at dwelling. I believe that can serve them nicely.
Chiefs 30, Raiders 9
That is one other recreation the place some people will anticipate a giant Kansas Metropolis victory. It’s actually potential, as a result of the Raiders have plenty of issues proper now. However I believe we’ll see the identical factor we noticed towards the Panthers: a matchup the place the Chiefs get an early lead and maintain it all through the sport — after which Las Vegas will get a garbage-time rating that makes the sport appear nearer than it actually was.
Chiefs 27, Raiders 20
Division video games are usually hard-fought and tightly contested. Simply the identical, this feels just like the week the place the Chiefs will lastly put all of it collectively. Coming off a win towards the Panthers that was a lot nearer than it ought to have been, the gamers made it clear they weren’t glad with their efficiency. Anticipate a powerful response because the crew tries to make an announcement towards a Raiders crew that has struggled all season. This time, Kansas Metropolis ought to dominate in all phases, strolling away with a convincing victory.
Chiefs 27, Raiders 13
This can be a harmful feeling — just like the one earlier than final 12 months’s Christmas matchup towards Las Vegas. The vacation recreation towards a lowly division rival felt just like the get-right spot. The disappointing results of final 12 months’s recreation needs to be sticking with this Chiefs crew. Your complete group should be smelling blood within the water for this matchup. In the meantime, the Raiders’ beginning quarterback Gardner Minshew is out for the season. A quarterback change on a brief vacation week must be a possibility for the Kansas Metropolis protection to dominate. I believe that unit will get again to suffocating the opposition, main the best way to a tricky win.
Chiefs 23, Raiders 10
That is the time of the 12 months when the Chiefs often determine to play right down to their competitors and win each recreation by six factors or much less. However not at present, Devil! Bleep the Raiders, bleep Tom Brady and bleep Aiden O’Connell’s horrible excuse for a trash-stache! After only one recreation, I refuse to consider Patrick Mahomes has forgotten in regards to the Raiders’ Kermit the Frog puppet — or his crew’s embarrassing loss to Las Vegas final Christmas. This isn’t a recreation the Chiefs are wanting previous. It’s a recreation they’ve been salivating over. It’s Thanksgiving — and his 12 months I’m grateful that when the mud settles, the Chiefs shall be feasting on a W like they’re stolen crab legs from Jameis Winston’s home.
Chiefs 45, Raiders 3
Division video games are bizarre. Quick-week video games are bizarre. I’m going to foretell one other closer-than-expected Chiefs win that feels extra like a loss due to lofty expectations. I see Kansas Metropolis making an attempt to attenuate Maxx Crosby’s influence with a run-heavy strategy behind a returning Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt. I believe the protection will play higher than per week in the past in Carolina, however the Raiders will benefit from a scarcity of latest movie on quarterback Aidan O’Connell to improvise a few huge performs. Just like the final time these groups met, don’t be stunned if a late rating makes the sport seem nearer than it actually was.
Chiefs 24, Raiders 17
Regardless that it’s not undefeated, this Kansas Metropolis crew remains to be the NFL’s greatest. Patrick Mahomes has confirmed to be the distinction between profitable and shedding shut video games. His offense feels prefer it’s getting again on observe — and can quickly get yet one more injection of expertise when Isiah Pacheco, Charles Omenihu, Hollywood Brown and D.J. Humphries enter the chat. However alas, that’s not prone to occur earlier than this recreation — one by which the Chiefs should be laser-focused on getting a win. They’re going through a lesser division opponent with a backup quarterback on a vacation — with an opportunity to lock up a playoff invite. These conditions can depart a crew like Kansas Metropolis ripe for an upset. I don’t assume the Raiders get it finished this time. Watch the additional evolution of Xavier Worthy — and the return of profitable stress from Steve Spagnuolo’s protection.
Chiefs 33, Raiders 17
I can’t think about a situation the place returning quarterback Aidan O’Connell retains this recreation shut. Then once more, the Raiders wanted solely 62 yards from O’Connell to win final 12 months’s Christmas Day slopfest at Arrowhead Stadium. So I’m going to proceed to do it, although it has gotten maddening: I believe the Chiefs beat the lowly Raiders convincingly. In opposition to one of many worst go defenses within the league, Patrick Mahomes makes an announcement to the tune of 300 yards and two touchdowns. Operating again Isiah Pacheco scores in his return.
Chiefs 30, Raiders 9
With their predictions aggregated, our panelists anticipate the Chiefs to win 30-12.
What do you assume?
Ballot
Which crew wins Raiders (2-9) at Chiefs (10-1)?
19%
(133 votes)
39%
(268 votes)
34%
(235 votes)
3%
(21 votes)
0%
(6 votes)
1%
(9 votes)
672 votes whole
Vote Now
2024 Standings
TW LW Staffer W L Pct Err
1 1 Jared Sapp 11 0 1.0000 14.0
2 2 Nate Christensen 11 0 1.0000 17.3
3 3 John Dixon 10 1 0.9091 14.4
4 4 Maurice Elston 10 1 0.9091 16.4
5 5 Ron Kopp Jr. 10 1 0.9091 18.5
6 6 Rocky Magaña 10 1 0.9091 22.5
7 7 Pete Sweeney 10 1 0.9091 24.7
8 8 Matt Stagner 9 2 0.8182 18.2
In Week 13, AP staffer Matt Stagner turned in the most effective Chiefs-Panthers decide. His prediction for a 28-20 Kansas Metropolis win had 14 factors of error. John Dixon’s name for a 31-20 victory missed by 16 whole factors. Two different contributors turned in predictions with 20 factors of error.
To calculate a prediction’s factors of error, the variations between the prediction and the precise rating in level unfold, dwelling crew rating and away crew rating are added collectively. For instance, a prediction requires a 17-10 Chiefs win. They find yourself profitable 16-10, so there have been two factors of error: the purpose unfold was off by one level, the Kansas Metropolis rating missed by one level and the opponent’s rating was predicted accurately. But when the Chiefs lose the sport 17-10, there have been 28 factors of error within the prediction: the purpose unfold was off by 14 (the distinction between +7 and -7) and each scores missed by 7.