NFL

Williams: Kansas City Chiefs are best bet to win 2021 Super Bowl LV

Joe Williams

Sportsbook Wire

The Kansas City Chiefs went 14-2 in the 2020 NFL regular season and finished 10-2 in the AFC. Below, I make the case for the Chiefs as my prediction to win the 2021 Super Bowl, along with other NFL playoff picks and best bets.

Kansas City Chiefs year in review

The defending champion Chiefs were the top offense in the NFL, tossing up 415.8 total yards per game while managing 303.4 yards per game through the air, also No. 1 in the league. They checked in sixth in the NFL with 29.6 PPG, too.

Defense wins championships, though, right? Well, Kansas City's numbers were rather middling in that department, allowing 358.3 total yards per game to rank just 16th, although they yielded just 22.6 PPG to check-in 10th in the NFL. Still, they are 4-0 straight up and 3-1 against the spread against playoff teams this season while scoring 29.7 PPG in those contests, and they will be able to outscore anyone who comes to town.

All of those stats, numbers and trends are fine, but I like experience. QB Patrick Mahomes, who won the Super Bowl MVP last season, completed 66.3% of his passes for 4,740 yards, 38 touchdowns and just 6 interceptions this season. The kid just never makes mistakes, and when he does, rarely are they costly and game-changing miscues. He had a pair of 1,000-yard pass-catchers in WR Tyreek Hill (87 receptions, 1,276 yards, 15 touchdowns) and TE Travis Kelce (105-1,416-11), and that double-dip makes it difficult for opposing defenses.

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Why the Kansas City Chiefs will win the 2021 Super Bowl

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports' betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 8:40 a.m. ET.

I know, I know. Betting the favorite, the CHIEFS (+240), is not exactly going out on a limb or the sexy pick. Don't overthink it. It's not so much that I am in love with the Chiefs, but they will have somewhat of a home-field advantage, allowing fans on a limited capacity. Don't underestimate that. Even a smattering of boisterous fans will give the home side the extra juice when they need it most.

In addition, I love what I have seen from the Buffalo Bills (+700) this season, but while I am all-in on QB Josh Allen being a bona fide star, I am not sold on their running game, and their defense wasn't nearly as dominant as last season. And hey, we've already seen these two AFC titans square off, with the Chiefs winning 26-17 in Buffalo back in Week 6. The results won't be different in a potential AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium.

The Chiefs lost their Week 17 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, but that game can be tossed out since they rested all major players. That will actually help them, as the stars will get two full weeks to rest their bumps and bruises. Kansas City won its previous four home games, and they rattled off 10 consecutive wins overall before their loss to the Bolts.

This team has all the tools to hoist the Lombardi Trophy again, becoming the first team to repeat as Super Bowl champs since the New England Patriots won Super Bowls XXXVIII and XXXIX.

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