The Cleveland Browns have a new head coach, but the problems that have plagued the franchise for years remain. They host Patrick Mahomes and the high-flying Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday afternoon.

NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The Browns opened as 8-point home underdogs and bettors have moved the spread up to +9. The Chiefs are 7-1 against the spread and they are coming off their first ATS loss on the campaign. Cleveland is 2-5-1 straight up and 5-3 ATS.

The Browns are still 15-35-1 ATS in their last 51 games, and 7-18 ATS in their last 25 home games. They are, however, 5-1 ATS in their last six games against the Chiefs.

Kansas City is coming off a 30-23 win over the Denver Broncos but it did not cover as 8.5-point home chalk. The result snapped a seven-game ATS winning streak for the Chiefs. The club still owns the best record in the AFC and SIA lists KC as the second favourite (behind New England) to represent the conference in the Super Bowl at +225.

The futures board shows the gulf in class between these two teams is wide. The Browns are +30,000 longshots to win the Super Bowl. Even less shocking – 95 percent of bettors are backing the Chiefs to cover as 9-point faves against Cleveland.

Kansas City Chiefs

There is plenty of credit to be spread around in Kansas City for the Chiefs’ brilliant start.

Mahomes is enjoying one of the best statistical seasons in NFL history for quarterback; Travis Kelce has taken the title of best tight end from Rob Gronkowski; running back Kareem Hunt is proving his rookie season was no fluke; and Tyreek Hill might be fastest football player to ever step on an NFL field.

Finally Sammy Watkins is starting to prove his worth to the team. The former receiving prodigy out of Clemson caught eight of nine balls thrown his way against Denver for 107 yards and two touchdowns.

Opposing defences might have to consider waving the white flag before the opening kickoff if Watkins keeps it up.

Cleveland Browns

Gregg Williams is the new sideline boss for the dawg pound. Williams takes over for Hue Jackson, who went 3-37-1 straight up in two and half seasons running the show in Cleveland. Williams is a longtime defensive coordinator and last held the head coach title in the league back in 2003 with the Buffalo Bills.

His defences haven’t finished in the top 10 for points allowed since 2010. This might explain why Williams has the dreaded “interim” tag at the front of his new job title in Cleveland.

Chiefs vs. Browns Prediction