Kansas City Chiefs vs Detroit Lions | Predictions, Pick, Preview & Odds - September 18, 2011 | Sportsbookbuzz.com

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Kansas City Chiefs vs Detroit Lions

While the Kansas City Chiefs have gone from first to worst, the Detroit Lions have proven that they could finally be legitimate contenders in a tough NFC North conference by engineering a 27-20 victory at Tampa Bay last week.

Now Kansas City will head into the Lions’ den on Sunday for Detroit’s home opener with the Lions being an unusual favorite.

Venue/Stadium: Ford Field, Detroit, MI
Time/Date: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2011 on CBS

NFL Odds From: BetOnline.com
Moneyline: Kansas City Chiefs +300, Detroit Lions -370
Spread (ATS): Detroit -8
Over/Under: 44

Just when it looked like it couldn’t get any worse for the Chiefs, who endured a brutal 41-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills in their season opener, it did, with the loss of Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry for the season.

That’s a huge blow for a KC defense that couldn’t stop Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, and the Lions’ Matthew Stafford might be too much to handle.

Kansas City looked flat against the Bills, leaving skeptics to question the team’s ability to repeat its breakout out season of 2010, led by the offensive explosiveness of Dwayne Bowe and Jamaal Charles.

But that offensive prowess was corked by the Buffalo defense as they held Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel to 22-for-36 for 119 yards including a touchdown and interception.

Buffalo also clamped down on the Kansas City running game, holding them to 108 yards on the ground including a meager 56 from Charles, who rushed for 1,467 yards at an insane clip of 6.4 yards per carry in 2010.

Those types of numbers are not going to translate into wins, especially considering the Chiefs offense is its running game.

Meanwhile, a young hungry Detroit Lions squad lived up to its expectations, defeating the Buccaneers, and will have a chance to go 2-0 for the first time since 2007.

The Lions will look to carry their momentum into their home opener against the Chiefs who were 3-5 on the road last season.

Led by a healthy Matt Stafford, the Lions offense was consistent as Stafford racked up 305 yards through the air that accounted for a trio of the Lions touchdowns, with Calvin Johnson being on the receiving end of two of those to go along with 88 yards.

Johnson, who has eight touchdown receptions in his last eight home games, is nursing an ankle injury but is expected to play on Sunday.

The odds makers have the Detroit Lions as a -8 point favorite with an over/under of 44.

Matt’s Prediction: Detroit 27, Chiefs 10- The Lions have won five straight, their longest streak winning seven in a row in 1995. Coupled with a solid running game featuring Jahvid Best and a much-improved defense, I expect them to add to the Chiefs misery with a big win on Sunday.

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