NFL Divisional Round Best Teaser
Last week’s teaser was a total train wreck after Tom Brady and Buccaneers got smoked by the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night, and now we’ve lost back-to-back teasers for the first time since the middle of the season. But with only eight teams remaining and four games this weekend, we’ve got a teaser you can’t pass on.
The Kansas City Chiefs have struggled to cover the spread this season, but that hasn’t stopped them from winning outright, and with the teaser lowering the spread to a field goal, we just have to include the top seeded team from the AFC in our teaser. Jacksonville might be on a six-game winning streak, but the last time the Jaguars played the Chiefs, they lost by 10. We know that was back in November, but Jacksonville had no answer for Patrick Mahomes — let’s be honest, not many teams have — and we don’t expect that to change come Saturday.
Yeah, we know Jacksonville overcame a 27-point deficit last week against the Chargers, but this is the Chiefs we’re talking about, not the Chargers. Plus, KC is coming off the bye, and that extra week of rest should do them wonders. Andy Reid is a career 27-4 off the bye week, and after Saturday’s game, we expect Reid to be 28-4. KC is more than capable of winning this game by more than two scores, but with the teaser lowering the line to three, there’s no reason not to include the Chiefs in a teaser.
As for the final leg of our teaser, take the Bengals (+11.5) via the teaser. Cincinnati was the best team in the AFC against the spread, and lost just one game by more than a field goal this season. We know the Bengals offensive line is beat up, but are you really willing to bet against Joe Burrow? We’re not.
Burrow and the Bengals looked far from crisp last week against Baltimore, but still, they found a way to win. And remember, you don’t even need the Bengals to win for this leg to hit, you just need them to lose by less than 11.
Joe Mixon and Ja’Marr Chase are healthy, and that just might make the Bengals the most explosive offense in the AFC. And don’t sleep on the Cincinnati defense. Sam Hubbard returned a 98-yard fumble for a touchdown last week, and the Bengals haven’t allowed more than 24 points in a game in seven straight weeks.
Meanwhile Buffalo’s Josh Allen turned the ball over three times last week against Miami — two interceptions and a fumble that was returned for a touchdown — and that’s been a problem for the Pro Bowl QB as of late. Allen has now thrown an interception in three consecutive weeks, and led all quarterbacks this season with 19 turnovers. That won’t work against a team of Cincinnati’s caliber, which is why we expect this game to be close, and for Cincinnati to maybe even win outright.
The Teaser: Kansas City Chiefs (-9) to (-3) AND Cincinnati Bengals (+5.5) to (+11.5) (-117 odds via Barstool)
Bet $117 to win $100
