NFL Playoff Picks 2021: Browns vs Chiefs Predictions

The Kansas City Chiefs are the best team in the National Football League. They have a home-field advantage in the AFC and they are defending champions. Instead of facing the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Chiefs will face the upstart Cleveland Browns. For those of you, that plan on making Browns vs Chiefs predictions may seem easy, but the oddsmakers are making it difficult.

Blowout or Close game?

If you are going to bet on Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs to cover the spread, you are looking for a blowout. That is because sportsbooks made Kansas City double-digit favorites in the divisional round. That number attracted more bets on the Browns as over 55 percent of the betting action believes that Cleveland can keep this game close. There are a few sucker bets this weekend, but this is not one of them.

Chiefs Pour it On in the Playoffs

This year, the Chiefs have scaled back the intensity in the regular season. This is a sign of a well-coached, veteran team. However, when the playoffs start, this team will be a scoring juggernaut. The Chiefs are 4-1 ATS in the last five playoff games. When Mahomes starts, the Chiefs have averaged 35.6 points per game in the playoffs. So if you are betting on the Browns you believe they will score 25 points or more. The Browns have scored over 25 points several times this season. They accomplished this feat in games against the Bengals, Jaguars, and Cowboys and in the recent win against the Steelers in the Wildcard round. All of those teams have horrific defenses with the exception of the Steelers who were in a big hole to start the game.

Run Browns Run

It is no secret that the Browns win when they run the ball. Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt both finished in the top 20 in rushing the ball. The offensive line is loaded with All-Pro players, but they have some injury concerns.

Browns RT Jack Conklin (hamstring) questionable to play vs. Chiefshttps://t.co/u19e80kWSe pic.twitter.com/ZqM9ygp0sY

— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) January 15, 2021

If they cannot keep this game close, the game will be in the hands of Baker Mayfield. This is a lot to ask from Mayfield and an offense that is not great at playing catch up. How can you trust the Browns who are just 9-26-2 ATS when they play against a team with a winning record?

Browns vs Chiefs Predictions

The Chiefs are focusing on starting strong in this game after falling behind 24-0 against the Texans last year in the divisional round. That’s bad news for the Browns. Five of the six highest-scoring Chiefs playoff games have been with Mahomes starting and he has something to prove. Aaron Rodgers is getting the love for MVP, but Mahomes has something to say about that. The Browns are a trendy dog, but I am not biting, give me the champs.

NFL Playoff Picks 2021: Browns vs Chiefs Predictions