The Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs square off in Thursday NFL Week 1 action at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.

Detroit Lions Betting Preview

The Detroit Lions were a surprise team that went from 3 wins in 2021 to 9 wins last season, and they enter a third year under coach Dan Campbell. The Lions haven’t made the playoffs since 2016, but they have top-5 odds currently to win the NFC. The Lions return 8 starters from a top-5 offense and add a playmaker in rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Quarterback Jared Goff is coming off a third Pro Bowl berth after throwing for 4,438 yards and 29 touchdowns. The Lions were a mess defensively last year, but improvements were made this offseason by adding Cameron Sutton, Emmanuel Moseley and C.J. Gardner-Johnson. First round pick Jack Campbell also appears to have earned a starting linebacker role. The Lions haven’t won a playoff game since 1991 when Barry Sanders was just 23 years old. Exceptions are high in Detroit for the first time in a long time, and a win here would prove that the Lions are certainly worth the hype. 

Detroit Lions Team Facts

• The Lions have won each of their last four games as road underdogs.
• The underdogs have covered the spread in each of the Lions’ last seven Week 1 games.
• The Lions have scored the first touchdown in each of their last four games against AFC opponents.
• The Lions have won the first quarter in six of their last seven road openers as underdogs.
• The road team has won the first half in seven of the Lions’ last eight Week 1 games.

Detroit Lions Player Prop Facts

• Marvin Jones Jr. has scored a touchdown in each of his last three appearances with the Lions as road underdogs.
• Jared Goff has recorded 267+ passing yards in four of his last five September road appearances.
• Marvin Jones Jr. has recorded 33+ receiving yards in each of his 11 previous appearances with the Lions as underdogs against AFC opponents.
• David Montgomery has recorded 58+ rushing yards in five of his last six appearances with his team as an underdog against AFC opponents.
• Jared Goff has thrown two or more touchdowns in four of his last five road appearances in September.
• Chauncey Gardner-Johnson ranked T1st in the NFL in Interceptions (6) last season

Kansas City Chiefs Betting Preview

The Kansas City Chiefs are fresh off their second Super Bowl title in the last 4 years, and have at least made the Super Bowl in 3 of those seasons. Coach Andy Reid enters his 11th season with the Chiefs, and they’re current betting favorites to win the championship yet again. The Chiefs lost 5 starters from last year’s roster, including two offensive linemen and their best wide receiver in JuJu Smith-Schuster. The Chiefs also have a difficult schedule that’s loaded with either playoff contenders or teams that made the playoffs last year. With that said, the Chiefs have quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and he cures all. Despite losing Tyreek Hill, Mahomes led the league with 5,250 passing yards and 41 touchdowns, earning a second MVP. Turning 28 years old in a couple of weeks, Mahomes has over 24,000 passing yards and 192 touchdowns for his career, putting him in the fast lane to be considered one of the best quarterbacks to ever play this game. The Chiefs do have guys to replace, and the schedule doesn’t do any favors, but they remain the team to beat as long as Patrick Lavon Mahomes II remains upright. 

Kansas City Chiefs Team Facts

• The Chiefs have won each of their last 11 games against NFC opponents.
• The road team has covered the spread in 11 of the Chiefs’ last 12 Week 1 games.
• The Chiefs have won the first half in each of their last six games at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
• The Chiefs have lost the first quarter in each of their last four home openers as favorites.
• The Chiefs have scored the first touchdown in each of their last eight home games.

Kansas City Chiefs Player Prop Facts

• Travis Kelce has scored the first touchdown in four of the Chiefs’ last five games as favorites against NFC opponents.
• Jerick McKinnon has scored at least one touchdown in each of the Chiefs’ last six regular season games.
• Patrick Mahomes II has thrown three or more touchdowns in each of the Chiefs’ last five Week 1 games.
• Patrick Mahomes II has recorded 320+ passing yards in five of the Chiefs’ last six regular season home games.
• Isiah Pacheco has recorded 58+ rushing yards in eight of the Chiefs’ last nine regular season games.
• Jerick McKinnon has recorded 26+ receiving yards in each of the Chiefs’ last six regular season home games.
• Patrick Mahomes II ranked 1st in the NFL in Passing Yards (5250) last season

Matchup/League Facts

• The Chiefs ranked 1st in the NFL in points per game (29.2) last season
• The Chiefs ranked 1st in the NFL in yards per game (413.6) last season
• The Lions ranked 32nd in the NFL in yards allowed per game (392.4) last season
• The Lions ranked 1st in the NFC North for points scored per game last season (26.6)

Randy’s Pick

The Lions and the free points are worth consideration when you consider this is a good team, and you’re not going to get a free touchdown with them often. However, the Lions still have some showing and proving to do offensively, and KC is never an easy place to play. Despite losing 5 starters, the Chiefs come off more trustworthy, simply given the quarterback and head coach situation and the fact we know they can put up points quickly and bury opponents. I guess I just need a little more convincing from the Lions before backing them in a spot like this. Give me the Chiefs by a touchdown.