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Detroit Lions vs Kansas City Chiefs Preview
The Detroit Lions will visit the Kansas City Chiefs as the NFL preseason enters the second round. They’ll play at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday, August 17th at 1 pm local time. It’s an enormous opportunity for younger players and back-ups to stake their claim for a roster spot.
Both franchises lost their opening preseason games. However, this doesn’t matter because they didn’t play many starters. Head coaches Dan Campbell and Andy Reid want their stars to regain fitness ahead of the new campaign.
The Chiefs hope to impress in front of their home fans after a challenging summer. The Lions will also want to bring some positivity home to Motor City. Both teams will rest key players, but this should still be an interesting match-up.
Detroit Lions vs Kansas City Chiefs Key Stats and Head-to-Head
The Lions and Chiefs are two of the favourites to win their conferences this season. Detroit came within touching distance of a rare Super Bowl appearance. Meanwhile, the Chiefs won their second straight Vince Lombardi Trophy in a row.
These teams last played each other on opening night in 2023. The Lions pulled off a shock 21-20 victory over Kansas City. Jared Goff threw for 253 yards with one touchdown. David Montgomery got the decisive score that sealed victory for his side. Notably, key stars Travis Kelce and Chris Jones didn’t play for the Chiefs.
A win wouldn’t mean as much this time because it’s just the preseason. But it would still be a nice scalp for Dan Campbell’s side. They suffered an uninspiring defeat last week to the Giants in their preseason opener. Big Blue won 14-3 at the MetLife Stadium. However, Campbell opted to rest most of his starters to avoid injuries.
Several Lions’ players looked sharp in this game. Ennis Rakestraw Jr. was excellent at cornerback. Wideout Isaiah Williams also had a powerful performance as he staked his claim for regular-season reps. It’s going to be tough with the likes of Amon-Ra St. Brown as competition, but the undrafted free agent did well.
Carson Steele looking like the man of steel on this run 💪 @chiefs
📺: #KCvsJAX on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/epitOuT7vP— NFL (@NFL) August 11, 2024
The Lions have serious issues with quarterback depth. Hendon Hooker suffered a concussion against the Giants. This forced Detroit to sign the former Giants’ backup, Jake Fromm. They don’t want to take risks with only Jared Goff and Nate Sudfeld available.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs suffered a close defeat to the Jaguars in their first NFL preseason game. However, there were some highlights to take from the 26-13 loss. Safety Jaden Hicks looks like a fourth-round steal. Running back Carson Steel was excellent, with four 29-yard carries and one touchdown.
Anyone looking to bet on the NFL will know it’s been a rough offseason for Kansas City with players enduring legal problems and injuries. Andy Reid would enjoy a win to inject some positivity into his side. Both teams could do with a morale-boosting win this weekend.
Detroit Lions vs Kansas City Chiefs Predictions
Predicted Score: Detroit Lions 10 – 20 Kansas City Chiefs
Our NFL prediction for this preseason game is for the Chiefs to defeat the Lions. This will be a tight game, with both head coaches testing younger players and new strategies. However, Kansas City’s home advantage could be the difference.
It’s always tough to call preseason games because head coaches keep their cards close to their chest. Often it depends on how long a team’s top starters stay on the field. Patrick Mahomes may get more reps in this game as he looks to build sharpness.
He completed 3 of 4 passes for 85 yards in Kansas City’s opening drive against Jacksonville. One of his passes went to the injured ‘Hollywood’ Brown. However, we still expect Carson Wentz to get more reps in this game. The former Eagles star had a quiet debut as Mahomes’ backup. He completed his four passes for 26 yards.
Some Wentz doubters are already worrying after he almost fumbled the ball on two drives. However, fellow back-ups Ian Book and Chris Oladokun aren’t box-office options either. We expect Wentz to enjoy more game time as he adapts to Matt Nagy’s offensive scheme.
The Lions’ QB situation will also be interesting. Campbell wants to give starter Jared Goff some reps but is wary of injuries. Hendon Hooker is out, so Nate Sudfeld will get a second chance to prove himself. He had a nightmare against the Giants as he completed just 13 of 24 passes for 96 yards with one interception. However, Hooker’s injury forces Campbell’s hand.
Fighting to the finish @BrianBB_1 pic.twitter.com/MVzJlAT1nV
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 13, 2024
Kadarius Toney may also receive an unexpected opportunity in this game. Marquise Brown’s injury is likely to keep him out for the opening weeks of the new season. This gives the inconsistent Toney a chance to stake his claim. Reid should give him minutes in this clash. He’s also unlikely to risk first-rounder Xavier Worthy for too long.
Detroit fans hope to see more of Aidan Hutchinson in the preseason. He’s one favourite for winning the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. Dan Campbell says he will play more of his starters in this match but he will take care to avoid injuries. But he has some headaches to manage before this one.
Ultimately, the quarterback department is the biggest difference between these teams. Detroit has a concerning lack of depth in the sport’s most important position. Whereas, the Chiefs have one of the best quarterbacks ever on their roster. There’s an opportunity for Wentz to run this game and show why he was once one of the most highly-rated players in the NFL.
Detroit Lions vs Kansas City Chiefs Betting Tips
Both teams had several major injuries that disrupted their preseason preparations. However, our preseason prediction is that the Chiefs will win this game. A $10 wager on the Chiefs on the moneyline at -312 would win $3.21.
This isn’t the best option because it’s not very profitable. Betting on Detroit at +230 is a better moneyline pick. This time, a $10 would make a $23 profit if successful. However, it’s risky because our online bookmaker firmly believes the Chiefs will win.
Spread betting is a more lucrative option for players who want to back Kansas City. The Lions have serious issues at quarterback and could struggle to score against the Chiefs. A spread of 7.5 against the Lions is a great option at -147. This time a $10 stake could win $6.80.
The over-under total points is set at under 34.5 for this game with odds of +145. This offers a profit of $14.50 from a $10 stake. There is another option closer to our predicted score of 30 total points. Under 33.5 points is available at +165. However, one field goal could change the outcome, so we advise playing it safe unless betting on the outright score.
Another great over-under bet is the number of home team points. Kansas City only scored 13 against the Giants. We think they’ll improve in this game, but the Lions have some tough defensive players, including Aidan Hutchinson. This time we recommend under 22.5 points at -109, with a potential payout of $19.17.
🏴🏈 Former rugby player Louis Rees-Zammit in his first NFL preseason game for the Kansas City Chiefs:
1st NFL run ✔️
1st NFL special teams tackle ✔️
1st NFL reception ✔️
1st NFL kickoff (as the kicker) ✔️Here are all of his plays from yesterday's game against Jacksonville 👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/dQK6iGWFTb
— René Bugner (@RNBWCV) August 11, 2024
Meanwhile, we don’t expect Detroit to set the world on fire. They’ll likely score fewer than 15.5 points with odds of -109. This may change if Jared Goff unexpectedly sees more game time, so keep an eye on the in-play betting options.
You can also bet on individual players. Nate Sudfeld had a nightmare against the Giants last week. However, a lack of options will see him play again. Why not bet on him to throw two interceptions? Carson Wentz is also likely to see increased game time as Andy Reid prepares him for life as Pat Mahomes’ backup. We favour him to throw two touchdown passes. The Chiefs could total over 300 passing yards as well.
The halftime/full-time result is also a great market. We expect the Chiefs to have full control of this match. It’s -156 for them to win both halves. A $10 wager would win $6.41. Maybe you think the Lions could take an unexpected lead into the third quarter. It’s +500 to bet on Detroit winning the first half but losing the game.
Detroit Lions Team News
The Lions have serious injury problems. Hendon Hooker remains in concussion protocol since the Giants game. Jahmyr Gibbs has an injured hamstring while impressive cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. has a minor ankle problem.
Other stricken players include Sam LaPorta, James Houston, and Malcolm Rodriguez. They waived Antoine Green after his concussion and added backup QB Jake Fromm for depth.
Kansas City Chiefs Team News
Marquise “Hollywood” Brown is Andy Reid’s biggest concern ahead of this game. He suffered a sternoclavicular posterior dislocation and could be a long-term absentee. Rookie offensive lineman McKade Mettauer suffered a knee injury.
Justin Reid and Nick Bolton returned to practice, but this game may be too early. Chris Jones and Clyde Edwards-Helaire will both miss this preseason clash.
