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Oddsmakers love Chiefs against Cleveland Browns, but why?

By Elliot Kennel

CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 4: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns throws a pass during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 4, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 4: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns throws a pass during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 4, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /
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Cleveland Browns. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

How healthy are the two teams?

First of all, the Chiefs are in very good shape for the most part. The player they miss the most is ex-Brown Mitchell Schwartz at right tackle, who was threatening to beat his buddy Joe Thomas’ consecutive snap record before finally going on IR this year with a serious back injury. Also on IR is guard Kelechi Osemele.

Hence, they are getting a bit thin up front, just like the Browns. In fact, they almost are the Browns, because they love to recycle former Browns linemen. Even with Schwartz down, they have Austin Reiter as their starting center and Andrew Wylie and right guard. Eric Fisher is their left tackle, Nick Allegretti is their left guard, and Mike Remmers is stepping in for Schwartz. Last season they had Cam Erving subbing for Fisher when he was injured, giving them four ex-Browns on the offensive line.

It appears that Pro Bowl guard Joel Bitonio will make it back on the field for this game, and so will 2018 Pro Bowl corner Denzel Ward and Kevin Johnson. Cleveland is fielding a healthy defensive backfield for the first time in a long time. Good thing, because Travis Kelce is actually believed to be Loki, Thor’s brother, appearing in human form. Tyreek Hill is headed to his fifth Pro Bowl in five tries. Mecole Hardman and DeMarcus Robinson are other favorite targets for quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Of course, the numbers say that Mahomes is much more productive than Baker Mayfield based on over 1,000 more passing yards.

Okay, but the Chiefs are probably starting re-tread tailback Le’Veon Bell and the Browns have Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. There’s your 1,000 extra yards. Rookie speedster Clyde Edwards-Helaire has been outstanding, but it remains to be seen whether he will be fully recovered from a sprained ankle by game time. He is questionable.

Wide receiver Sammy Watkins is totally correct that the Browns are no competition for him. He has been ruled out of the game with an injured calf. That did not damage the -10 spread a bit.

Linebacker Willie Gay is out. He is the Chiefs’ best run-stopping linebacker. Now why in the world would the Chiefs want to stop the run versus the Cleveland Browns? Hold that thought for the next page, please.

Cornerback Rashad Fenton is questionable, but the Chiefs have great depth at corner, and the Browns will probably not run a lot of four wide receiver formations at the Chiefs.

For the Browns, David Njoku and Stephen Carlson are rated questionable. The big problem is Jack Conklin’s hamstring, which has him questionable also. Linebacker B. J. Goodson is questionable with a shoulder injury.

The Browns are healthier than they have been in weeks. It’s difficult to say that this is why they are perceived to be such easy pickings for the Chiefs this week.

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