NFL Week 2 Predictions: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Buffalo Bills

Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills
Sunday, 9/16/12, 1:00 PM EST, TV: CBS
Opening Point Spread: Buffalo -3
Current Betting Line: Buffalo -3
Opening Total: 44
Current Total: 44.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

Broncos vs. Chiefs NFL Preview — Kansas City Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles is back on the field after missing most of last year with a major injury

Kansas City has lost its last four regular season games, including last week’s 40-24 season-opening setback to the Atlanta Falcons as one-point home underdogs. “We’re trying to get the bad vibe over after this next game,” commented Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson. The Chiefs will now play the Bills for the fifth consecutive season, as they look to gain revenge from last year’s 41-7 loss as 3.5-point home favorites. The franchise is 18-24-1 all-time in the series, including a 6-13-1 mark in games played in Buffalo. Kansas City is 0-5 ATS versus AFC East opponents the last two-plus seasons.

The Chiefs were able to move the ball last week against the Falcons, with quarterback Matt Cassel completing 21 of 33 passes for 258 yards, while throwing a touchdown and two interceptions. Running back Jamaal Charles returned to the field after suffering a torn ACL last season, rushing for 87 yards on 16 carries. He has averaged 99.5 rushing yards per game in four contests against the Bills, which is his highest career total against any opponent he has faced more than once.

Buffalo found out quickly that you can’t just sign big-name free agents and win in the NFL, as it suffered a 48-28 blowout loss to the New York Jets as three-point road underdogs last week. “We couldn’t get off the field on third downs, and we just got beat,” commented Bills safety Jairus Byrd. The Bills allowed the Jets to convert 10 of 14 third downs, which could be a problem against a Chiefs squad that was successful in 11 of 16 tries in that situation last week. Buffalo is 0-4 ATS as a home favorite the last two-plus seasons.

The Bills have already suffered numerous key injuries, which was similar to what their opponent this weekend was hampered by in 2011. Buffalo will be without starting running back Fred Jackson for at least four weeks, while wide receiver David Nelson is lost for the year. Former Clemson Tigers star C.J. Spiller ran for a career-high 169 yards last week, but many around the league don’t consider him an every-down back that can handle a big amount of carries due to his size.