NFL 'SNF' Week 13: Green Bay Packers vs. Kansas City Chiefs preview and picks
The resurgent Green Bay Packers will continue their push toward the playoffs this week on "Sunday Night Football" against the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs. Let's break down the crucial matchup and find some winning bets for "SNF."
Green Bay Packers vs. Kansas City Chiefs betting odds, preview
Spread: Chiefs -6, Over/under: 42.5, Moneyline: Chiefs -260 | Packers +215
The Packers looked dead and buried eight weeks into the season, but this is a much different team than the one we saw in the first half of the year. Green Bay has won three of its last four games to jump to the eighth spot in the NFC standings.
Over that stretch, Jordan Love has thrown for 1,107 yards, eight touchdowns and only two interceptions. The defense has also stepped up, holding opponents to 17 points per game over the last four.
This will be the true test for Love, though, as he's benefitted from playing against four straight teams that rank in the bottom half of the NFL in terms of passing defense. The Chiefs rank third in the league in passing yards allowed per attempt. Kansas City recently held Tua Tagovailoa to 193 passing yards and Jalen Hurts to 150 passing yards in back-to-back weeks. This is a big step up in class for Love.
The Chiefs offense hasn't been as explosive as expected, but it showed some positive signs last week in a 31-17 win against the Las Vegas Raiders. Rookie Rashee Rice broke out with 107 yards and a touchdown on eight catches to pace the passing offense. If Rice can keep this momentum rolling and become Patrick Mahomes' trusted No. 2, the Chiefs will be the team to beat in the AFC.
'Sunday Night Football' betting picks
Chiefs -6 (-110 DraftKings)
Mahomes has been begging one of his young wide receivers to step up all year, and he finally found that guy last week in Rice. This offense is going to take off if Rice can replicate that performance for the rest of the season.
The Chiefs should also have a balanced offensive attack against a Packers defense that ranks 27th in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game. This game will come down to Love with Aaron Jones out and A.J. Dillon battling a groin injury, and we expect him to struggle against the best pass defense he's faced in the NFL.
Jordan Love under 227.5 passing yards (-114 FanDuel)
We touched on this above, but this is a brutal matchup for Love. The Packers have faced only one top-nine passing defense — the New Orleans Saints. Love hasn't seen a defense that can generate pressure and shut down opposing wide receivers like the Chiefs. He's going to struggle to clear 200 passing yards.
More must-reads: