The Kansas City Chiefs play the Dallas Cowboys at 3:25 CST in Arrowhead Stadium today and the winner looks to be the odds on favorite to represent their conference in the next Super Bowl, in February as a result. In fact, this could end up being a Super Bowl LVI preview. The stakes are that high for this one.
So much of this game is being touted as a battle between quarterbacks, so let’s begin there. Mike McCarthy, the Head Coach for the Cowboys, has this to say about Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes:
“I’m aware of the numbers as far as the turnovers, takeaways, but I think just like anything in our game, the last game, he’s AFC offensive player of the week. I think that shows you not only what he’s capable of, he’s played at that level for a long time already. He’s established himself in the league as an MVP quarterback so that’s the quarterback we’re preparing for.”
Opposing coaches usually find nice things to say about the players they will face in the week leading up to a game, so McCarthy’s words should be taken in that context. The Chiefs DC, Steve Spagnuolo had some friendly comments to share about Dak Prescott as well:
“He’s not just a good quarterback, He’s a good athletic quarterback. I think he’s a smart quarterback … and he can make you look bad. He can do all of the things that you need to do as a quarterback to be successful. I’m trying to find a weakness.”
Steven A. Smith of ESPN has gone for far as to say he’d take Dak Prescott over Patrick Mahomes. I think that’s the most idiotic thing I’ve ever heard so I’m not even going to justify it with a link. That being said, Dak Prescott has been outstanding this year, with the weapons he has around him — even without WR Amari Cooper who is in the Covid protocol — plus an offensive line that ranks among the league’s best, the Cowboys offense will present a formidable foe for the Chiefs defense today.
Still, Pete Prisco at CBS Sports thinks there’ll be plenty of fireworks at this hoedown:
“This is the game of the week, and it should be an offensive shootout between Patrick Mahomes and Dak Prescott. This past Sunday night, Mahomes got the offense back to what we expected to see before the season. That will carry over here. The Cowboys will score their points as well since the Chiefs defense still isn’t great, so look for a high-scoring game with the Chiefs coming out on top.”
Maurice Jones-Drew at NFL.com has a sterling prediction about these two teams shooting it out:
“I predict the ‘Boys and Chiefs will also combine to score 105 points on Sunday, with Kansas City winning on a last-second field goal by Harrison Butker, causing Arrowhead to hit record-breaking decibels.”
Jones-Drew’s final score prediction is: Chiefs 54, Cowboys 51.
Matt Josephs of Athlon Sports says this about the game today:
“This is going to be a fun one, as both teams are in good form. As mentioned earlier, the defenses will struggle to slow the other team down, so it could be one of those contests where the team with the ball last pulls it out. Kansas City played really well last week, and I think that momentum carries into this one. The Chiefs win a close one at home on Sunday.”
With the Cowboys missing key player along their DL, plus missing WR Amari Cooper, the Chiefs road to victory appear easier. Those Dallas play who are out include:
- WR Amari Cooper (health and safety protocols) out
- DE DeMarcus Lawrence (foot) IR-out
- DE Randy Gregory (calf) IR-out
If for some reason, their start left tackle, Tyron Smith is out with his ankle injury, the Chiefs get another boost. Right now, Tyron Smith is questionable.
Shannon Sharpe says the Chiefs will win this game. Skip Bayless says the Cowboys must keep Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense below 30 points or the Cowboys will lose. Bayless also says rookie LB Micah Parsons must not just be good but great in order for the Cowboys to come out on top. He also admits that the losses of two Pro Bowl defensive ends in DeMarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory loom large. Consequently, the Cowboys may not be able to get a goof four man rush on Mahomes and that seems to be the recipe for beating the Chiefs. Advantage Chiefs.
If the Cowboys use Parsons is asked to cover Travis Kelce, the Chiefs will be in an advantage. If Parsons mirrors Patrick Mahomes and keeps him from breaking out of the pocket and moving the chains, the Chiefs will have a much tougher time winning this game. Also, if Parsons get three more sacks he will break the Cowboys single season record. Motivation?
While the Chiefs are 2.0 point favorites in this one, that’s the lowest odds the oddsmakers have given to K.C. at home in the Patrick Mahomes era and that includes the AFC Championship game against the Patriots at the end of the 2018 season. That may be an indication that the Cowboys have garnered so much respect this year, even the oddsmakers feel like this team deserves it.
Predictions
The Predictions for this game say this is going to be a close one.
Davenport: Chiefs
Gagnon: Chiefs
Kenyon: Chiefs
O’Donnell: Cowboys
Rogers: Cowboys
Sobleski: Cowboys
Michael David Smith: Cowboys
Mike Florio: Cowboys
ESPN’s Todd Archer (Cowboys beat writer: Cowboys
ESPN’s Adam Teicher (Chiefs beat writer): Chiefs
NFL.com -Gregg Rosenthal: Cowboys
Game Time Weather Report
This should be a close game to the very end. What do you think?
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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
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