The Arizona Cardinals square off in Week 1 against the mighty Kansas City Chiefs. Here is this week’s prediction and odds.
The Arizona Cardinals may have faced a plethora of injuries and unfortunate events since training camp began, but they still hold enough offensively to make things interesting against the Chiefs. The sheer depth in many positions on both sides of the ball has saved the Cardinals, but that doesn’t make their task of facing Patrick Mahomes and Co. any easier.
Although the Chiefs stagnated on defense last season, they still have a championship-caliber team. And one bad half to the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship Game sunk their season. That said, the Cardinals must keep pace with the Chiefs if they want any hope at taking this one.
So can the Cardinals shock the NFL universe and top one of the most talented teams in football? Hey, they did it during the season opener in 2020 and again in 2021. So let’s see if they can do it again in 2022. Here are the odds.
Arizona Cardinals vs. Kansas City Chiefs Odds Week 1
Per FanDuel, the Arizona Cardinals are +6.5-point underdogs at home to the Chiefs. The over/under sits at 53.5 points, while the Cardinals are looking at a +230 moneyline. The moneyline for the Chiefs is -280.
Arizona Cardinals vs. Kansas City Chiefs Prediction Week 1
Luckily for the Cardinals, they have depth at receiver and tight end. And this will ease the DeAndre Hopkins suspension. Further, the Chiefs defense struggled during the first half of 2021 while the Cardinals enjoyed one of the best offensive outings in football.
Also since 2020, the Cardinals gained notoriety of playing to their competition. They swept the San Francisco 49ers and split the season series with the Los Angeles Rams in 2021. The Cardinals crushed the Titans 38-13 just one year ago, they beat the Dallas Cowboys, and nearly upset the Green Bay Packers.
Since the Chiefs defense took time to figure things out last season, it further indicates it is better to play them earlier in the year. Taking that into consideration, the Cardinals have a fantastic chance to keep this one close and pull off an upset.
Unfortunately, they do not have a true #1 edge rusher, and the best way to beat Mahomes is to pressure him. They also have a pair of unproven linebackers tasked with containing Travis Kelce, and just one established corner on the roster.
Look for a high-scoring affair, but it is farfetched to believe the Cardinals will cover the spread in this one unless it increases between now and Sunday. Expect the Chiefs to take it, 38-31. Despite the projected loss, this game may come down to the final minutes.