Fresh off their first loss, the 9-1 Kansas City Chiefs travel to Carolina to play the 3-7 Panthers, winners of two in a row. Our Chiefs vs Panthers prediction is for the teams to combine to score more than 43 points.
Despite their 9-0 start, Kansas City has been dancing through the raindrops all season. Just the week before their loss in Buffalo, they barely squeaked by Denver only winning because they blocked a game-winning field goal attempt.
Carolina was 1-7 but has won back-to-back games over New Orleans and the New York Giants. Quarterback Bryce Young has shown flashes of the promise that made him the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Head-to-head, Kansas City has won five of the seven matchups.
Offshore Odds: Kansas City Favored by 11 on the Road
| Team | Spread | Money Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | -11 (-105) | -610 | O 43 (-105) |
| Panthers | +11 (-115) | +470 | U 43 (-115) |
Chiefs Have Fortunate Scheduling After First Loss
Kansas City’s 30-21 defeat in Week 11 was undoubtedly disappointing, but it removed the excess pressure and undeniable distraction of chasing an undefeated season.
Now Kansas City travels to Carolina to play one of the league’s worst teams. On Black Friday, they host the Las Vegas Raiders.
Running back Isiah Pacheco is nearing his return from a fractured fibula but is not expected to play in Carolina. Defensive tackle Charles Omenihu is also getting close after missing the entire season with a knee injury.
Team wins aside, quarterback Patrick Mahomes leads the NFL in interceptions with 11. His passer rating of 90.3 is the lowest of his career. Part of that is due to missing Pacheco and star receiver Rashee Rice. Still, he has struggled at times. It probably won’t have an impact against Carolina, but it could be a challenge when the playoffs come around.
Bryce Young Shows Promise for Carolina
Perhaps Carolina would eventually have reinserted Young, its oft-criticized second-year quarterback, even if his replacement, veteran Andy Dalton, had not been injured in an auto accident before Week 8. Regardless, Young is now under center and has played well enough to give the Panthers hope.
Kansas City is vulnerable to the pass, ranked 17th in yards allowed per game. Carolina has kept Young under tight constraints in the wins over New Orleans and the Giants, but he avoided major mistakes and kept the team in position to win — which they did.
If Carolina can run the ball with Chuba Hubbard, perhaps they can keep it close enough to put a scare into Kansas City.
Chiefs vs Panthers Prediction: Both Teams Should Score in the 20s
The 11-point spread is a bit high for Kansas City even though they’re playing Carolina.
Scoring should not be an issue for either team. They will combine to go over 43.
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