- Jacksonville is a 2.5-point home underdog to Kansas City in Week 2 of the NFL season
- The Chiefs defeated the Jaguars 27-20 in the 2022 AFC Divisional Round
- Sunday’s game kicks off from TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, FL at 1 pm ET
With the expected return of Travis Kelce from injury, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs will look to rebound from their season-opening loss to the Lions. To avoid what would be a shocking 0-2 start to the campaign, the reigning Super Bowl Champions will have to outduel the Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Before we check the odds on Sunday’s matchup, here’s where you can find the best Super Bowl betting tips and the top betting sites for NFL football in 2023.
Jaguars vs Chiefs
 |
Spread | Money Line | Total Points |
| Kansas City Chiefs | -2.5 (-115) | -155 | Ov 50.5 (-110) |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | +2.5 (-105) | -105 | Un 50.5 (-110) |
KC needs Kelce
Kansas City is a 3.5-point road favorite in TIAA Bank Field on Sunday. While their 21-20 loss to Detroit can somewhat be excused by the fact they were missing two of their top three players, the Chiefs still won’t have Chris Jones in the lineup as the standout defensive tackle continues his holdout. Luckily, Travis Kelce should return from a knee injury to add life to an ugly pass-catching corps that dropped numerous passes in the season opener.
Patrick Mahomes injured his right ankle in last year’s AFC divisional round matchup with the Jaguars before triumphantly returning to lead his team to a 27-20 victory in Arrowhead. With a shortage of offensive weaponry, this Sunday’s rematch in Jacksonville could prove just as difficult.
The Chiefs’ 4 drops are tied for second-most in a game with Patrick Mahomes as the starting QB.
In the second half, Mahomes was 2-12 with 1 INT when targeting WRs 😳 pic.twitter.com/ckBegaYwuu
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 8, 2023
Ridley’s big return
Jacksonville fell behind the Colts in Week 1 before pulling away in the fourth quarter for a 31-21 victory over their divisional rivals. Calvin Ridley caught eight balls for 101 yards and a touchdown in his return from a year-long gambling suspension. The veteran gives Trevor Lawrence a dangerous new toy to play with in his third season.
Lawrence had a mediocre showing in last year’s playoff loss to KC, passing for only 217 yards with a TD and a pick. The 23-year-old was also a bit up and down in Sunday’s win over the Jags, throwing for 241 yards, 2 TDs and an interception. This was largely due to Jacksonville’s shoddy offensive line.
Old friends collide
Andy Reid will be facing his protégé Doug Pederson on Sunday. “Big Red” might have to dial down the trick plays in short yardage after they were consistently sniffed out in Thursday’s loss to the Lions. Then again, everything may be made better by Kelce’s return. The All-Pro tight end made 14 receptions for 98 yards and two scores in the Chiefs victory over the Jags last January.
With Ridley added to the fold, Pederson’s team is better equipped for a shootout. Dynamic third-year back Travis Etienne looked good in his first action on Sunday, going for 105 total yards and a TD.
Update: After beating the #Colts, #Jaguars Trevor Lawrence gave advice to Rookie QB Anthony Richardson after the game, per @zkeefer
“Great game, you made some unbelievable plays … but try and protect yourself.”
“The hits add up in this league, and they’re a little different… pic.twitter.com/RuGMM33m1g
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 10, 2023
Best Bet
Kansas City opened the season last Thursday so they’re coming into this Sunday’s battle with nine full days of rest. Assuming Kelce is ready to rock and roll, we like the Chiefs to cover the 2.5 points in Jacksonville. And with both teams’ offenses nowhere near peak levels early in the year, we’ll take the UNDER 50.5 points.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
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