A pair of teams struggling down the NFL's home stretch meet in Kansas City late on Sunday when the Cincinnati Bengals (8-7) face the hosting Chiefs (9-6) in Week 17 action.
Both teams are coming off Christmas weekend defeats as favorites. Cincinnati fell at Pittsburgh on Saturday, and AFC West leader Kansas City was stunned at home by Las Vegas on Christmas Day while on the brink of clinching its eighth consecutive division crown.
The early Bengals vs. Chiefs odds had KC as a 7.5-point favorite on Sunday evening. Kansas City is favored by , the total is , and Cincinnati can be had for on the moneyline.
Neither team is doing any favors for their betting backers this season, with Cincinnati having a 6-7-2 mark against the spread, including 2-3 with backup QB Jake Browning as the starter. Kansas City is 7-7-1.
On the O/U chart, Bengals games have gone OVER nine times in 15 outings. The Chiefs have had only five OVERS. The UNDER has paid off each time in KC's past five home games.
Bengals vs. Chiefs odds: Point spread, moneyline, total for NFL Week 17 matchup
Here's the latest NFL betting odds for Bengals vs. Chiefs:
These teams have met four times the previous two seasons, with the Bengals (when Joe Burrow was in charge) winning three times -- all as an underdog. The AFC title game was included two seasons ago at Arrowhead, in which Cincinnati overcame a 21-3 deficit to win 27-24 in overtime.
KC's victory came in last year's divisional round, 27-24.
Although the Bengals had won three in a row entering last week's play, their 34-11 defeat in Pittsburgh as a 3-point choice was their second most lopsided of the season.
Read: Best NFL Week 17 odds
Bengals vs. Chiefs injury news
Here is the current injury report for the Bengals vs. Chiefs:
Both teams have key offensive players hobbled.
Cincinnati WR Ja'Marr Chase, the team's leader in catches, receiving yards, and TDs, missed last week's game with a shoulder injury suffered in Week 15. It has been reported he most likely would return to the lineup for the season finale at home with Cleveland.
For KC, dynamic RB Isiah Pacheco, who played last week against the Raiders after missing two games with a shoulder injury, suffered a concussion on Christmas Day. His status for Sunday is iffy.
More: 2024 Super Bowl odds
Bengals betting news
Cincinnati opened the season as the betting favorite to win the AFC North (+155 BetMGM) but now is situated at the bottom of the division standings and with a 27 percent chance of merely reaching the playoffs, according to PlayoffStatus.com.
Without Chase, Tee Higgins is being asked to fill the role of No. 1 receiver. Last week, he came through with 140 yards. He was the first 100-yard receiver against the Steelers in the past nine weeks.
The Bengals don't use the running game effectively, with a league-low 21.4 rushes a game with a norm of 3.9 yards a carry.
Chiefs betting news
This marks the sixth straight week the Chiefs will have had to endure a scheduling disadvantage regarding rest/prep time. This week, the Bengals have a two-day edge since they are coming off a Saturday outing and playing a Chiefs team that took the field Monday.
In the previous five weeks, KC has traveled on short rest to play in Las Vegas, faced three teams off pseudo-byes after Thursday games (that includes the Chiefs' loss last weekend to Vegas), and also a team off a bye (Buffalo).
Yet, in a preseason TV interview the day the schedule was released, coach Andy Reid said he was OK with the schedule. Hmmm.
In those five recent games, the Chiefs went 2-3 straight up, 1-3-1 ATS. In last week's loss to the Raiders as an 11-point favorite, twice Vegas got TDs from the defense -- and on consecutive plays.
One of Kansas City's sore points this year has been their turnover margin, which is minus-10, tied for the worst in the league. By contrast, Cincinnati is at plus-8.
Information: Learn about NFL prop bets
Bengals vs. Chiefs Props
Let's look at some prop bets for the Bengals vs. Chiefs at top-rated sportsbook apps nationwide.
First-Half Leader/End of Game Leader (FanDuel)
- Bengals/Bengals: +410
- Bengals/Chiefs: +650
- Bengals/Tie: +3800
- Chiefs/Chiefs: -150
- Chiefs/Bengals: +1200
- Chiefs/Tie: +3800
- Tie/Bengals: +3100
- Tie/Chiefs: +1700
- Tie/Tie: +12000
Alternate Point Totals (DraftKings)
- Over 32.5: -690
- Under 32.5: +425
- Over 38.5: -243
- Under 38.5: +181
- Over 44.5: -108
- Under 44.5: -120
- Over 50.5: +191
- Under 50.5: -257
Bengals vs. Chiefs Predictions
The Chiefs' defense, which vaulted to No. 2 in the league after holding the Raiders to two field goals and 205 yards last week, should be able to carry the team past a Bengals offense that generated only one TD in that loss against a depleted Steelers secondary.
Considering that in Browning's five starts, he faced defenses ranked 21st or worse in four (Minnesota was the best at No. 13), things could get rough for a guy in his sixth career start.
For example, KC held Raiders star WR Davante Adams to one catch for 4 yards on six targets.
That, no doubt, is bad news for Higgins.
Prediction: Chiefs and UNDER
How to Watch Bengals vs. Chiefs
- Date: Sunday, Dec. 31
- Kickoff: 4:25 p.m. ET
- Location: Arrowhead Stadium -- Kansas City, MO
- Where to Watch: CBS
If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Learn more >