Here is who national experts are predicting will win KC Chiefs-Green Bay Packers game
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will be scratching an item off his bucket list this weekend.
Mahomes will play his first regular-season game at Lambeau Field when the Chiefs take on the Packers on “Sunday Night Football.”
“I’m extremely excited, honestly. It’s my first time to actually get to play a game in Lambeau,” Mahomes said Tuesday on KCSP (610 AM). “I’ve went a couple times in the old preseason game fours but I didn’t get the play and I’m excited to be able to go into the environment.
“Obviously, they’re gonna be rooting against me but just being a guy who loves football and loves sports and being in an environment like Lambeau Field, it’s gonna be really cool and to play on Sunday night, I mean, it can’t get better than that.”
Will Mahomes send the Packers fans home sad? Here are who 65 national experts are predicting will win the game, which kicks off at 7:20 p.m. and airs on KSHB (Ch. 41) in Kansas City.
A 27-16 Chiefs victory is the prediction from the Associated Press’ Rob Maaddi. Here is part of what he wrote: “Patrick Mahomes plays his first game at Lambeau Field and the Chiefs (8-3) could take over the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a win.”
The Chiefs will win 27-24, says the Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer. This is an excerpt from his story: “The Chiefs got their passing game zipping along again with Patrick Mahomes in Las Vegas but the Green Bay defense, another weak unit vs. the run, is better against the pass. Lambeau is also a tricky road environment at night vs. a suddenly hot NFC foe.”
All eight writers at CBS Sports think the Chiefs will prevail: Pete Prisco, Jared Dubin, Ryan Wilson, Jamey Eisenberg, Will Brinson, Tyler Sullivan, John Breech and Dave Richard. Prisco forecasts a 24-23 final. He wrote: “The Chiefs are playing consecutive road games, while the Packers have added rest after playing on Thanksgiving. That’s an edge for the Packers. Green Bay has improved on offense with Jordan Love, which will keep them in this game. The Chiefs will find a way late to win it — but it’s close.”
The Chiefs are the pick for three of four writers at Packers Wire: Brennan Rupp (30-20 final score), Paul Bretl (24-20) and Zach Kruse (23-20). Going with Green Bay is Brandon Carwile (24-21). This is part of what Bretl wrote: “I really am torn on this one but ultimately will pick the Chiefs, in large part because of their experience in comparison to the Packers. The way to get after the Kansas City defense in recent weeks is on the ground but that isn’t a strength of the Packers, especially without Aaron Jones.”
Picking the Chiefs are the eight USA Today writers: Jarrett Bell (27-20 final score), Chris Bumbaca (28-20), Nate Davis (27-23), Safid Deen (27-23), Tyler Dragon (28-20), Victoria Hernandez (27-20), Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz (27-19) and Lorenzo Reyes (23-21). Here is what Reyes wrote: “The Packers have been far better in recent weeks, though with Jordan Love, a dud game may be lurking. Kansas City’s offense has been very average, though it woke up against the Raiders. Green Bay’s defense is better than Las Vegas’.”
Each of the five writers at NFL.com picked the Chiefs to win: Ali Bhanpuri (24-20 final score), Brooke Cersosimo (24-20), Dan Parr (23-18), Gennaro Filice (25-20) and Tom Blair (22-17). Here is part of what Parr wrote: “I’m not sure if the Chiefs’ long-awaited offensive breakthrough in the second half last week will carry over to this Super Bowl I rematch. I do trust their defense, though, even against an improving Jordan Love. December trips to Lambeau Field generally aren’t pleasant for the visiting team, and I expect that to be the case for Kansas City on Sunday night.”
The 10 experts at ESPN predict the Chiefs will win: Stephania Bell, Mike Clay, Jeremy Fowler, Dan Graziano, Kimberly Martin, Moses Moody, Matt Bowen, Lindsey Thiry, Jason Reid and Seth Wickersham.
All seven experts at Sports Illustrated see the Chiefs winning: Mitch Goldich, Gilberto Manzano, Matt Verderame, Albert Breer, John Pluym, Claire Kuwana and Conor Orr.
Ten of 11 writers at the Athletic picked the Chiefs: Mark Kaboly, Austin Mock, Larry Holder, Zac Jackson, Tashan Reed, Chad Graff, Josh Kendall, Zak Keefer, Ben Standig and Michael-Shawn Dugar. The pick for the Packers: Zack Rosenblatt.
A Chiefs victory is the prediction from the eight SB Nation writers: JP Acosta, James Dator, Jeanna Kelly, Brandon Lee Gowton, RJ Ochoa, Mark Schofield, Matt Warren and Jared Mueller.
The Chiefs will win, say Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio (31-24 final score) and Chris Simms (23-20).