Browns (12-5) at Chiefs (15-1)
Sunday, 3:05 ET, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Mo.
TV: CBS
Danny Sheridan’s line: Chiefs by 10
Browns’ keys to victory: They need to find an equal amount of success on offense as they did in the wild-card win. Scoring 28 in the first quarter would help when you’re facing the league’s most explosive offense. But Cleveland need not get in a shootout The Browns need to stick to a heavy dose of RB Nick Chubb and force Kansas City to stop the run. That’ll set up opportunities over the top with the play-action passing game. Cleveland’s best bet on defense is to not allow any receivers a free release off the line of scrimmage and to leave two safeties over the top.
Chiefs’ keys to victory: They need to execute better on offense than they did in Week 17 if they want to avoid an early exit. They also need better blocking up front from guys like LT Eric Fisher, especially in pass protection. On defense, they need to sell out to stop the run and force QB Baker Mayfield to beat them through the air. The defense is going to need to win the line of scrimmage, especially after how dominant the Browns’ O-line looked against the Steelers. If Cleveland can’t win the line of scrimmage, it’ll be a long day when it comes to defending the run.
Matchup to watch: Browns RB Kareem Hunt vs. Chiefs LB Anthony Hitchens. Hunt will likely have something to prove against his former team. The K.C. linebacker group hasn’t been great, but Hitchens has put together his best season.
Who wins? The Chiefs have been to the divisional round in five of the past six seasons. Kansas City will lean on its experience, and that will be the difference. Chiefs 37-20