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We’re not saying the Detroit Lions have had a dismal six decades or so, but coach Dan Campbell, in just his fifth season at the helm — and not even halfway through — could move into fifth place on the team’s win list among coaches with a victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Oct. 12 (8:20 p.m., NBC.
No team in the NFL is rolling like the Lions, as they enter their Week 6 matchup against the Chiefs averaging an NFL-high 34.8 points per game. (And that’s despite mustering just 13 points in their Week 1 loss to Green Bay.)
The Chiefs, meanwhile, are sputtering, with three losses in their first five games. But don’t count out Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Andy Reid and Meghan Trainor (or is she not a Chiefs employee?) — the last time K.C. started out 2-3, in 2021, they barbecued their way to a 12-2 run over the final 14 games and an oh-so-close loss to the Bengals in the AFC championship game. (The last time before ’21 that the Chiefs lost at least three of their first five? 2015, when they started 1-4 and then won 11 of their final 12 games. Don’t count out Andy Reid teams, is what we’re saying.)
BIG GOALS: Lions want what Chiefs have, as NFL's gold standard: 'What they've done is special'
Will the Chiefs climb back to .500 against a banged-up Lions squad, or will Campbell break his tie with Monte Clark (43 wins in 105 games) and Joe Schmidt (43 wins in 84 games) in his 74th regular season game as Lions coach. Five Free Press sports writers have some thoughts.
The Lions are the best team in the NFL right now, but that doesn't mean they'll win every game. And this is one I think could slip through the cracks – on the road, in prime time, against a desperate Chiefs team that has struggled to score at times this year but has a winning pedigree and the edge against a banged-up Lions secondary. It will be interesting to see how the Lions attack Patrick Mahomes. On the one hand, they need to protect a secondary that's down its top two cornerbacks and with both safeties ailing. On the other, Mahomes is an expert at extending plays with his legs so the rush plan has to be precise. Offensively, the Lions are equipped to win a high-scoring game, and if they jump out to a big lead early it could be deadly to the Chiefs. But I expect K.C. to keep this close and squeak out a tight one in the end. The pick: Chiefs 27, Lions 24.
The Lions have the NFL’s top scoring offense and plenty of momentum while riding a four-game win streak. They also have a top-10 defense that’s opportunistic. On top of that, they’re built for the spotlight, as evidenced by their 12-2 record under Dan Campbell in prime-time games. That’s not a recipe for success for the scuffling Chiefs. The only reason this isn’t being called a Super Bowl preview is because the Chiefs aren’t getting there this season. The pick: Lions 32, Chiefs 26.
After five games, it seems clear that the Lions are better than the 2-3 Chiefs. But the injuries that have befallen Detroit’s secondary change the complexion of this matchup. While Kansas City’s offense is not nearly as potent as it has been in recent seasons, quarterback Patrick Mahomes still has the ability to dismantle a defense – especially one that is not at full strength. Add in the fact that this game is being played at raucous Arrowhead Stadium against a team that realizes its margin for error is growing slimmer by the week, and it becomes harder to envision Detroit overcoming its circumstances to win its fifth game Sunday night. The pick: Chiefs 28, Lions 24.
The Kansas City offense is back and it will put up points against the Lions. The Chiefs will be playing ticked off. But they have a problem: They can't get to the quarterback. Give Jared Goff time in the play-action game? You are in serious trouble. Goff has a huge day and the Lions roll. The pick: Lions 31, Chiefs 28.
Patrick Mahomes owes Dan Campbell for the prime-time loss two years ago to kick off the season. His offense also looked a lot better against the Jaguars. With the Lions still hurting on the back end of their defense, it'll be up to the offense. They'll do a lot, but Kansas City gets the field goal in the end. The pick: Chiefs 30, Lions 27.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions picks vs Kansas City Chiefs in NFL Week 6
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No team in the NFL is rolling like the Lions, as they enter their Week 6 matchup against the Chiefs averaging an NFL-high 34.8 points per game. (And that’s despite mustering just 13 points in their Week 1 loss to Green Bay.)
The Chiefs, meanwhile, are sputtering, with three losses in their first five games. But don’t count out Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Andy Reid and Meghan Trainor (or is she not a Chiefs employee?) — the last time K.C. started out 2-3, in 2021, they barbecued their way to a 12-2 run over the final 14 games and an oh-so-close loss to the Bengals in the AFC championship game. (The last time before ’21 that the Chiefs lost at least three of their first five? 2015, when they started 1-4 and then won 11 of their final 12 games. Don’t count out Andy Reid teams, is what we’re saying.)
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BIG GOALS: Lions want what Chiefs have, as NFL's gold standard: 'What they've done is special'
Will the Chiefs climb back to .500 against a banged-up Lions squad, or will Campbell break his tie with Monte Clark (43 wins in 105 games) and Joe Schmidt (43 wins in 84 games) in his 74th regular season game as Lions coach. Five Free Press sports writers have some thoughts.
Dave Birkett
The Lions are the best team in the NFL right now, but that doesn't mean they'll win every game. And this is one I think could slip through the cracks – on the road, in prime time, against a desperate Chiefs team that has struggled to score at times this year but has a winning pedigree and the edge against a banged-up Lions secondary. It will be interesting to see how the Lions attack Patrick Mahomes. On the one hand, they need to protect a secondary that's down its top two cornerbacks and with both safeties ailing. On the other, Mahomes is an expert at extending plays with his legs so the rush plan has to be precise. Offensively, the Lions are equipped to win a high-scoring game, and if they jump out to a big lead early it could be deadly to the Chiefs. But I expect K.C. to keep this close and squeak out a tight one in the end. The pick: Chiefs 27, Lions 24.
Carlos Monarrez
The Lions have the NFL’s top scoring offense and plenty of momentum while riding a four-game win streak. They also have a top-10 defense that’s opportunistic. On top of that, they’re built for the spotlight, as evidenced by their 12-2 record under Dan Campbell in prime-time games. That’s not a recipe for success for the scuffling Chiefs. The only reason this isn’t being called a Super Bowl preview is because the Chiefs aren’t getting there this season. The pick: Lions 32, Chiefs 26.
Rainer Sabin
After five games, it seems clear that the Lions are better than the 2-3 Chiefs. But the injuries that have befallen Detroit’s secondary change the complexion of this matchup. While Kansas City’s offense is not nearly as potent as it has been in recent seasons, quarterback Patrick Mahomes still has the ability to dismantle a defense – especially one that is not at full strength. Add in the fact that this game is being played at raucous Arrowhead Stadium against a team that realizes its margin for error is growing slimmer by the week, and it becomes harder to envision Detroit overcoming its circumstances to win its fifth game Sunday night. The pick: Chiefs 28, Lions 24.
Jeff Seidel
The Kansas City offense is back and it will put up points against the Lions. The Chiefs will be playing ticked off. But they have a problem: They can't get to the quarterback. Give Jared Goff time in the play-action game? You are in serious trouble. Goff has a huge day and the Lions roll. The pick: Lions 31, Chiefs 28.
Shawn Windsor
Patrick Mahomes owes Dan Campbell for the prime-time loss two years ago to kick off the season. His offense also looked a lot better against the Jaguars. With the Lions still hurting on the back end of their defense, it'll be up to the offense. They'll do a lot, but Kansas City gets the field goal in the end. The pick: Chiefs 30, Lions 27.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions picks vs Kansas City Chiefs in NFL Week 6
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