Lions vs. Chiefs Preview: Best NFL Week 1 Betting Site Odds, Promos
The Detroit Lions visit the Kansas City Chiefs at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Sept. 7. Chiefs odds show Kansas City is a spread favorite and on the moneyline, with Lions odds at as the best price for Detroit to win across sports betting sites . The point total is set at . In this article, we break down everything you need to know before placing a bet on Lions vs. Chiefs odds.
Lions vs. Chiefs Betting Odds
NFL Week 1 odds for Thursday Night Football are explained below. Know what you’re betting before you bet it. You may click any of the odds in this post to navigate to the sportsbook to place a bet.
Lions vs. Chiefs Props
Jahmyr Gibbs: Over 30.5 Receiving Yards
Dan Campbell simply couldn’t state enough that the rookie back – who Detroit nabbed 12th overall in the NFL Draft – will line up all over the place. The Lions project to use him in “unexpected” ways and may see lots of snaps out wide. At Alabama and Georgia Tech, Gibbs was a multiple threat who hauled in 104 passes in three collegiate seasons.
Last year, D’Andre Swift received 70 targets in just 14 games played (many of which were while hurt) and the Lions targeted their running backs on 21% of passing attempts. With a younger, healthier, and more capable pass catcher in the backfield, Campbell will want to get him involved any way possible.
Best available number: Gibbs Over 30.5 receiving yards (-110)
David Montgomery: Anytime Touchdown Scorer
The Lions brought in Montgomery as the complement to Gibbs. While Gibbs serves as the multiple Swiss Army Knife, Montgomery services as the hammer. In Chicago, he forced the 11th-most missed tackles (46) and averaged 2.9 yards after contact. Last year, Jamaal Williams led the NFL in red zone carries (57) for the Lions, and he’s departed to New Orleans. Montgomery was brought in to fill that role, and Detroit loves running at the goal line behind their stellar offensive line.
While Gibbs receives targets and attacks the edge, I expect Montgomery to come in for goal line and red zone packages to fill that Williams role.
Best available number: Montgomery anytime TD scorer (+115)
Lions vs. Chiefs Player Props
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Lions vs. Chiefs weather
Weather on Thursday at Arrowhead Stadium is expected to be prime for football. Highs are forecast in the mid-to-upper 80s with plentiful sunshine and winds around 6 mph. No rain is expected.
Lions vs. Chiefs Injury Report
NFL teams finalize their injury reports two days before a game and denote whether a player is questionable, doubtful or out. Practice participation is also logged throughout the week. Here are the Lions injury report and Chiefs injury report for this week.
Starters On The Injury Report
Multiple starters are listed on Monday’s injury reports. Frank Ragnow and Isaiah Buggs returned to practice Monday while corner Emmanuel Moseley was limited. On the Kansas City side, L’Jarius Sneed and Tershawn Wharton were both limited Monday.
Lions Offense vs. Chiefs Defense
Perhaps the most improved offensive unit a season ago, the Lions should again be one of the higher-scoring teams in the NFL. They drafted versatile rookie Jahmyr Gibbs – a running back they plan to use in a myriad of ways, including at receiver – and landed Montgomery to replace Swift. The strength of the Lions’ entire team is their offensive line, ranked fifth in the league by PFF.
The Chiefs are still uncertain whether star defensive lineman Chris Jones will play or not. Coming off a season where he racked up 15.5 sacks, Jones has been holding out for a bigger contract. Frank Clark and Khalen Saunders also left in free agency, leaving their Chiefs’ defensive front nearly vacant. With Sneed also not certain to play in the game, the Lions could find success passing the ball and keeping Jared Goff clean.
As underdogs, the Lions also fix to pass more frequently as they try to keep up with the Chiefs’ offense. However, on the road and in an environment as difficult as Arrowhead Stadium, it’s a tough proposition to bet over many offensive stats for the Lions.
Chiefs Offense vs. Lions Defense
The best way to describe the Chiefs’ offense under Andy Reid is multiple. In 2022, KC racked up an impressive 0.35 EPA while in 13 personnel (one back, three tight ends) and passed 59% of the time out of that grouping. In a contradictory manner, tightening up the formation with multiple tight ends actually opened up opportunities for Travis Kelce. Mahomes went 17/19 passing with four TDs on the season when targeting Kelce in 13 personnel.
Detroit’s defense finished 30th in pass EPA in 2022. However, measures were taken to improve the secondary, bringing in Moseley and Cam Sutton at corner and CJ Gardner-Johnson at safety while shipping off former top-five pick Jeff Okudah, who never really panned out. However, against multi-tight end sets, safeties and linebackers are put in conflict more often. Rookie linebacker Jack Campbell fixes to get his first NFL start Thursday. At Iowa, Campbell was a strong coverage linebacker who saw plenty of multi-TE sets in the Big Ten West.
Of course, no amount of games against Illinois prepares a rookie for the force that is Mahomes and the Super Bowl favorites. That comes down to the Lions’ pass rush, who takes on a new-look Kansas City offensive line. Both starting tackles – Orlando Brown and Andrew Wylie – left in free agency and are replaced this season by Donovan Smith and Jawaan Taylor. Both new additions ranked in the mid-60s in PFF grades, below replacement level by all accounts.
Reasons To Bet The OVer/Under
By Mo Nuwwarah
Heading into this game, I had a lean to the under. While the market busied itself hammering the over, moving the number near 55, I remained high on this Chiefs’ defense. The secondary improved greatly over the course of last season, and between the youth and stellar coaching by Steve Spagnuolo, I saw a likely top-10 defense here.
Unfortunately, the Chris Jones situation has put a damper on that.
Further adding to the intrigue here, though, was late news that Travis Kelce hyperextended his knee in practice. His status remains in question for the opening game, as of Tuesday afternoon.
I do think both teams should put together efficient drives, but I also see both teams having success pounding the rock at times. Neither run defense impresses me, with the Lions ranking among last year’s worst groups there and the Chiefs having a Jones-sized hole in the middle. Both offensive lines rank among the league’s best as well, albeit more so in the passing game in Kansas City’s case.
The Kelce news has ticked the total down as low as 52.5 in some spots, but if you can still find under 53.5, I think that’s a decent play here. I’m expecting some long drives but not a ton of explosive plays. The way teams tend to defend the Chiefs these days forces them to move the sticks slowly, and I don’t expect the Lions pass catchers to beat this secondary deep.
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Best of luck betting on Lions – Chiefs odds.
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