With Jayden Daniels on the shelf, oddsmakers aren’t giving the Washington Commanders much of a chance in their Week 8 Monday Night Football contest against the red hot Kansas City Chiefs. The team formerly known as the Redskins was an underdog anyway, but the line rose to +11.5 when the announcement was made. Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. ET on October 27 from Arrowhead Stadium with television coverage provided by ABC and ESPN.
Commanders at Chiefs Preview
Taking Daniels out of the lineup impacts the offense, though backup Marcus Mariota is more than competent. A former first-round draft pick with 76 career starts, Mariota will make his third start this season. The Commanders went 1-1 in Mariota’s two starts with the offense totaling 61 points in those games and cashing the OVER both times.
The offense, especially the passing game, will be impacted if receivers Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel are unavailable. As a result we saw the total on the NFL betting odds tumble a few points. Washington had a hard time defending the strong offense of the Cowboys last week giving up 409 yards of offense and they face another top unit this week.
- Washington has lost two straight and three of four going 1-3 ATS in that span.
- The NFL’s second ranked rushing attack will feel the absence of Daniels, who is second on the team with 211 rushing yards.
- The Commanders have scored 14 TDs in 18 red zone trips and boast the second-best success rate in the NFL.
- In his two starts Mariota threw for 363 yards with 3 TDs and an INT and also rushed for 60 yards and a TD.
The Chiefs have snapped back nicely from the first 0-2 start in the Patrick Mahomes era winning four of their last five games. Mahomes has led a resurgent offense that scored at least 30 points in three of the last four games and notched 28 in the lone setback in that stretch. In that 5-game stretch Mahomes has thrown for 1,355 yards and 12 TDs with just one pick. The Chiefs are also 4-1 ATS in that stretch.
A dominating win over the Raiders last week moved KC above .500 for the first time this season. The offense did its job amassing 434 yards with Mahomes throwing 3 TD passes. That was overshadowed by a defense that held the Raiders to 95 yards, three first downs and stopped all seven third-down plays. KC possessed the football for more than 42 minutes.
- The defense has again been strong, ranked among the top 5 in average points (3rd-17.7) and yards (5th-280.3) allowed.
- Making his season debut last week Rashee Rice had 7 receptions and 2 TDs giving Mahomes another weapon.
- The Chiefs rank 6th in third-down conversion rate and second on fourth-down plays.
Commanders at Chiefs Predictions
The Chiefs covered just last week as a 13.5-point NFL betting line favorite and they’re laying 13-points this week. Historically the Chiefs have had problems covering a double-digit line going 0-3-1 ATS in the last four games and 5-7-1 ATS in their last 13. Despite their injuries the Commanders have talent and Mariota will keep them in this one staying within the spread.
Commanders at Chiefs Betting Tips
- For the second straight week and fourth time in two seasons the Chiefs are a double-digit favorite laying 13-points on the early line.
- KC lost just once outright in its last 20 games as a 10+ point favorite and are -713 on the moneyline. Washington is +566
- Since the start of the 2021 season Washington is 2-5 SU and 2-4-1 ATS as a double-digit dog.
- The total hit the board at 51 but has since dropped to 47.
- Washington played OVER the total in all three games Mariota has played.
Commanders at Chiefs Head to Head and Key Stats
- There isn’t a lot of history between the clubs with this being the 12th meeting, but what there is belongs to the Chiefs, who won 10 of the previous 11 encounters.
- The teams last met during the 2021 season with Mahomes throwing for 397 yards and 2 TDs in KC’s 31-13 road triumph.
- Washington’s only series win came in the 1983 campaign. The Chiefs are 8-0 SU and ATS since.
- The OVER is 4-2 in the last six matchups.
