The Chiefs are 13-point favourites on the NFL odds with a total of 46.5 points.

NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis

By now, readers surely know that had the Sunday night game in Week 18 between the Chargers and Raiders finished in a tie that both those clubs would have earned AFC playoff spots and Pittsburgh would have been out. However, some frankly very stupid clock management at the end of overtime by Chargers coach Brandon Staley allowed Las Vegas to kick the winning field goal as time expired. The Raiders were in, the Steelers were in and the Chargers out.

If Kansas City wins this game as the No. 2 seed, it will host another game next week in the divisional round and would only go on the road at Tennessee if both reach the AFC title game. A Steelers upset would send them to Nashville.

In Week 16, Pittsburgh was clobbered in Kansas City 36-10 despite the Chiefs being without All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce due to COVID protocols. Patrick Mahomes still threw three TD passes. It was over at the half with KC up 23-0. Ben Roethlisberger was held to 159 yards passing with a TD and pick. The Steelers are 2-5 ATS in their past seven at Arrowhead Stadium.

Pittsburgh Steelers

I expected Sunday’s game in Baltimore to be the last one for Steelers quarterback and future Hall of Famer Ben Roethlisberger because to get in the playoffs Pittsburgh had to win that game, which wasn’t out of the question, but also have Indianapolis lose as more than a two-TD favorite in Jacksonville – that was massively unexpected but happened. The Steelers prevailed 16-13 in overtime, catching a major break that Ravens star QB Lamar Jackson was out injured again. Roethlisberger threw for 244 yards and a TD and hit Ray-Ray McCloud on fourth down in OT to set up the winning field goal. Canadian receiver Chase Claypool had a TD catch and rushed three times for 33 yards.

Stellar rookie running back Najee Harris missed some time in the first half with an elbow injury but was able to return. Pittsburgh is 5-2 ATS in its past seven vs. teams with a winning record.

Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City had a shot at earning the top seed in the AFC in Week 18 with a win in Denver on Saturday and a Tennessee loss in Houston on Sunday, but the Titans didn’t comply. The Chiefs won 28-24 in what would prove to be the final game as Denver head coach for Vic Fangio. Rookie linebacker Nick Bolton’s 86-yard fumble return for a touchdown about midway through the fourth quarter proved to be the winning score. Patrick Mahomes had two TD passes. Pro Bowl wideout Tyreek Hill was limited to just 12 snaps after injuring his heel in pre-game warmups, while No. 1 running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire missed it and 1B Darrel Williams was dinged up during the game. All three should play this week.

Kansas City is 4-1 ATS in its past five playoff home games. The Chiefs will win this game, but that’s an awful lot of points to give.

NFL Playoff Prediction: Who Will Win Steelers vs. Chiefs?