CLEVELAND, Ohio — The 12-1 Kansas City Chiefs visit Cleveland on Sunday to face the Browns. The Chiefs hold a two-game lead over Buffalo for the AFC’s top seed — Buffalo has the head-to-head tiebreaker, so it’s still a close race — while the Browns are trying to play spoiler now that they are officially eliminated from the playoffs.
Ten of Kansas City’s wins have been by one score, including back-to-back wins by a score of 19-17, so a close game wouldn’t be a surprise. Who will win?
Here are cleveland.com‘s staff picks for Sunday’s matchup. The Chiefs were 4.5-point favorites when picks were requested.
Dan Labbe (6-7 overall; 5-8 against the spread): Chiefs 24*, Browns 13
The Browns still aren’t scoring many points and the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes will find ways to exploit a defense that gives up big plays for what qualifies as an easy win by these Chiefs’ standards.
Mary Kay Cabot (5-8; 4-9): Browns 24*, Chiefs 20
The Chiefs’ incredible luck this season has to run out one of these days, no? If Jameis Winston can stay pick-free, the Browns can win.
Jimmy Watkins (4-8; 4-8): Chiefs 23*, Browns 17
The records say this should be a blowout. The Chiefs’ 2024 season tells me it will be decided by a last-second Mahomes touchdown.
Ashley Bastock (4-9; 4-9 ): Chiefs 27*, Browns 20
The Chiefs should win this game, and if the Browns don’t have David Njoku, it will hurt the passing game.