Panthers (3-5) at Chiefs (7-1)
Sunday, 1 ET, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Mo.
TV: Fox
Danny Sheridan’s line: Chiefs by 10 1⁄
2
Chiefs’ keys to victory: The Chiefs need a coaching gem from Andy Reid. Reid is one of the winningest coaches and most creative coaches in league history. He’s easily the toughest coach that the Panthers’ Matt Rhule will have faced in his short tenure in the NFL. Expect Reid to flash creative looks and use motion to get the Carolina defense off balance and force it into mental mistakes against Kansas City’s talented playmakers. On the defensive side of the ball, expect defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to dial up some exotic blitzes on QB Teddy Bridgewater to make him uncomfortable.
Panthers’ keys to victory: Carolina will need to feed the run game, against which the Chiefs’ defense has struggled. The Panthers should return RB Christian McCaffrey from injury this week. He’ll complement Mike Davis, who filled in during his absence. Carolina has run the ball well in his absence. Of course, it will also need to thwart Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, who is playing at an MVP level. Carolina could use various forms of zone and match coverage to try to slow down Mahomes’ second and third reads.
Matchup to watch: Panthers’ McCaffrey vs. Chiefs LB Willie Gay. Gay has recently seen an uptick in snaps, including coverage snaps. He could be the player in charge of matching up with one of the most dynamic offensive players in the NFL.
Who wins? You’ve got a firstyear NFL head coach against an all-time great in Reid and the reigning Super Bowl champions. Chiefs 37-14