NFL Week 2 Picks: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos
Sunday, 9/14/14, 4:25 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Denver -12.5
Current Betting Line: Denver -11.5
Opening Total: 52
Current Total: 50.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Denver Broncos weren't sharp offensively in the second half in Week 1 — The Denver Broncos weren’t sharp offensively in the second half in Week 1

Kansas City was handed a 26-10 setback by the Tennessee Titans as three-point home favorites last Sunday, as it lost the statistical battle by 160 yards, while going UNDER the betting total of 45.5. The Chiefs will be playing without the services of leading linebacker Derrick Johnson for the rest of the season, which is important to consider when making your NFL Week 2 picks, as James-Michael Johnson and Josh Mauga prepare to fill that void. Defensively, the squad allowed Denver quarterback Peyton Manning to throw for 726 combined yards in two meetings last year. Kansas City is 0-4 SU and 3-1 ATS as underdogs of 10 or more points over the last two-plus seasons.

The Chiefs are certainly happy to have leading receiver Dwayne Bowe back on the field, as he served a one-game suspension last week. Kansas City head coach Andy Reid isn’t expecting much from his No. 1 wide receiver, as he had a quad injury that he was nursing before the suspension. Running back Jamaal Charles will be the main player to watch in this matchup, as he averaged 4.9 yards per carry during the 2013 season series between these AFC West rivals.

Denver picked up a 31-24 victory over the Indianapolis Colts as eight-point home favorites to open the season—despite getting out-gained by 47 yards in that affair. The Broncos pace the league with an 11-1 division record during the last three seasons, which can’t be ignored when looking over the NFL betting odds. Since 1996, the franchise also owns the best record in football in the first month of the season with a 47-20 mark. Denver is 7-2 SU and 5-3-1 ATS in September the last two-plus seasons.

The Broncos have one of the best pass rushes in the league, especially since acquiring defensive end DeMarcus Ware during the offseason, as he owns 118.5 career sacks to rank tied for 17th all-time in league history in that important statistical category. Denver will look to improve its play in the second half in this affair, as it gained only 87 of its 361 yards in the final 30 minutes versus Indianapolis.