Detroit Lions Vs. Kansas City Chiefs Week 6 NFL Preview Betting Picks and Predictions

High-Flying Detroit Lions Visit Reeling Kansas City Chiefs in Primetime

Sunday Night Football features a fascinating interconference clash as the red-hot Detroit Lions (4-1) travel to Arrowhead Stadium to take on a surprisingly vulnerable Kansas City Chiefs (2-3) team. This game is a tale of two teams heading in opposite directions. The Lions' offense is firing on all cylinders, having scored over 30 points in four straight victories. Meanwhile, the Chiefs are coming off a sloppy Monday night loss to the Jaguars, where penalties and a crucial pick-six doomed them.

The Lions roll in with confidence, but they are not without their own concerns. Their injury report is lengthy, particularly in the secondary and on the offensive line. Star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (wrist) and left tackle Taylor Decker (shoulder) both missed practice time this week, and their statuses are crucial. 

If they are limited or can't go, it will put more pressure on quarterback Jared Goff and the rest of the offensive weapons to solve the Chiefs' talented, albeit inconsistent, defense. Tactically, the Lions’ plan is familiar: keep Goff clean and let Ben Johnson’s motion/play-action stuff isolate Amon-Ra (if he plays) on choice routes. 

Detroit media circled run-game efficiency and Aidan Hutchinson’s pressure as keys, especially against KC’s blitz looks and 12-personnel wrinkles. If Decker can’t go, that’s a different conversation versus Chris Jones & friends. 

For the Chiefs, this is a get-right game in a primetime spot at home. Patrick Mahomes and company are looking to clean up the mistakes that have plagued them this season. They'll be without receiver Xavier Worthy, who is still out with a shoulder dislocation, but will look to get Travis Kelce heavily involved against a banged-up Lions secondary. 

After a wild Thursday night to kick off Week 6, which saw the New York Giants stun the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles in a 34-17 blowout, the Chiefs are hoping to avoid a similar upset on their home turf. "Favorite on paper” means nothing right now, although the Chiefs are favored by a mere 2 points. 

Pundits are split, with some leaning towards the Lions' potent offense to pull off the road upset, while others expect a classic Mahomes primetime performance. This should end up being the game to watch, but the Chiefs will bounce back and win on a very thin line as -135 favorites.