2018 Kansas City Chiefs Season Win Totals Predictions and Expert Picks
2017 Record: 10-6
2018 Kansas City Las Vegas Season Win Total: 8.5*
2018 Kansas City Season Win Total Picks NCAA Football: 'Over'
As I have watched the Chiefs this preseason, there are some definite red flags suggesting that they could be primed for a down season after three straight years of double-digit win totals and playoff berths.
But then I remember one thing: all Andy Reid does is win.
Yes, Reid has a litany of comical playoff and late-game failures, many of which resulted directly from his poor game management. But let's look at the facts: when all is said and done Reid will eventually retire as one of the best, most consistent, and winningest coaches in NFL history. Reid is 183-120-1 in his career, a 60 percent success rate. In 19 years he's had just three losing seasons, and he's made the playoffs 13 times.
Reid has posted five straight winning seasons in Kansas City, going 53-27 and beating his Las Vegas season win total all five times. The Chiefs have made the playoffs in four of his five seasons in Arrowhead.
This offseason Reid made the bold move to replace Alex Smith for raw, but talented, quarterback Pat Mahomes. Mahomes has a canon. But has just 35 pass attempts in his brief two-year career, and there is no telling how the 22-year-old will respond to the pressure of being The Guy.
Mahomes has a host of weapons to work with. Tyreek Hill and Kareem Hunt are explosive playmakers and threats to score from anywhere on the field. Travis Kelce is one of the best tight ends in football. And Kansas City's offensive line is solid. The Chiefs are breaking in a new offensive coordinator. But on the whole this should be a Top 10 group once again.
All of the focus has been on Mahomes. But there is a much more glaring potential weakness for this team. Kansas City's defense could be awful. The first team defense has allowed 45 points in five quarters of action this preseason, and they have not looked good at all.
The Chiefs finished No. 24 in total defense in 2016 but were No. 7 in points allowed. Last year they were No. 28 in total defense but a respectable No. 15 in points allowed. Part of last year's "success" was due to a plus-15 turnover differential. But those defensive yards per point numbers are tenuous, and if the Chiefs can't stop opponents that will heap even more pressure on Mahomes.
Mahomes and Co. will be thrown into the fire this season. Kansas City opens with back-to-back road games and four of their first six games are away from home. That includes two divisional road games (at L.A. and at Denver) and road games against AFC favorites Pittsburgh and New England. One of the home games comes against AFC runner-up Jacksonville. Late in the season the Chiefs also have to go on the road to take on the Rams and Seahawks, giving them one of the most difficult road schedules in the NFL.
I'm not thrilled with this team, and there are a lot of red flags. I really think they are vulnerable, and I do not think the Chiefs will go back to the playoffs. But, again, Reid has had only three losing seasons in 19 years. I'm not betting against that. I wouldn't touch this season win total. But if you have to put something on it, I would go 'over'.
Robert Ferringo has been the top football handicapper in the country the past seven years, earning nearly $28,000 in total football profit. He has also posted seven of nine winning seasons (including back-to-back winning years) and produced 26 of 41 winning football months and an amazing 45 of 70 winning football months over the past decade. Robert has eight of 10 winning NFL preseasons and he is at nearly 60 percent winners over his last 900 totals picks. Also, Robert's proprietary KING College Football Betting System has posted three of five winning seasons. Robert is looking for a third straight winning football year and wants more profit this fall. SIGN UP HERE TODAY AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR 3-FOR-1 FOOTBALL SPECIALS!
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