Chiefs vs. Patriots 2018 Prediction: Tom Brady, New England Easily Beat Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City

The Kansas City Chiefs continue to overcome every challenge thrown at them, and they will face their most difficult task yet in Week 6. Patrick Mahomes and Co. will visit the New England Patriots on “Sunday Night Football” in what very well might be the team’s first loss of the 2018 NFL season.

It’s a matchup between the AFC’s only undefeated team and the defending AFC champions. Kansas City is leading New England by two games in the overall standings, but the Patriots are favored, according to the latest betting odds.

The Chiefs and their 5-0 record are 3.5-point underdogs at Gillette Stadium, per OddsShark. It’s the third time Kansas City is getting points this season. The total of 59.5 is a season-high, and it could reach 60 by kickoff.

There should be plenty of points scored in New England. Kansas City is second in the league with 35 points per game. The Chiefs have scored at least 27 points in each game, and Mahomes leads all quarterbacks with 14 touchdown passes. New England has put up 38 points in each of their last two games after struggling somewhat in the first three weeks, and there’s reason to believe their offensive outburst will continue.

Tom Brady quickly went from having an unimpressive receiving corps to having more weapons than most quarterbacks. Josh Gordon and Julian Edelman have both been added to the lineup in the last couple of weeks, and Rob Gronkowski remains one of the league’s best playmakers when he’s on the field.

Brady set season highs in New England’s 38-24 Week 5 win over the Indianapolis Colts with 341 yards, 34 completions and a 77.3 completion percentage. He threw two interceptions that weren’t his fault, and the reigning NFL MVP could improve upon those numbers Sunday night. He’ll be facing a defense that’s allowed more passing yards than anyone else, and the unit won’t come away with four interceptions like it did against Blake Bortles a week ago.

Kansas City ranks fourth in yards per play, and Mahomes is the early-season favorite to win the MVP award. He’s got some of the NFL’s most dynamic playmakers in Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce and Kareem Hunt. Andy Reid’s offense managed to dominate New England a season ago with Alex Smith under center, scoring 42 points in the season opener at Gillette Stadium.

Mahomes could have a difficult time keeping pace with Brady after such a hot start. The second-year player has slowed down, posting an 89.5 passer rating in Denver two weeks ago and throwing for a 62.7 passer rating against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 5. Mahomes has thrown for one touchdown and two interceptions in the last two games. He started the season with 13 touchdown passes and no picks in three games.

New England’s early-season struggles came when they weren’t at full strength and played on the road. The Patriots have outscored opponents by 52 points in three home games. They are 9-2 against the spread in their last 11 home games, according to OddsShark.

The Los Angeles Rams are also 5-0 to start the year, but only Kansas City has a perfect record against the spread when looking at each week’s final betting lines. That trend can’t continue for much longer, and it’ll likely end against the team that still has the best chance of representing the AFC in the Super Bowl.

Prediction: New England over Kansas City, 38-24