3 bold predictions in Week 9 for the Carolina Panthers at the Chiefs

Bold predictions for the Carolina Panthers at the Chiefs in Week 9.

In the last three weeks, the Carolina Panthers have gone from playoff hopefuls to high draft pick contenders. The latter may seem much more likely ahead of their game at the Kansas City Chiefs.

After an extra few days of rest, the Panthers will continue their tough stretch of matches on the road against arguably the best team in the NFL. Carolina’s surprising start has come to a screeching halt, mainly due to an offense that has regressed and a defense that’s sustained a lot of injuries.

The Chiefs, on the other hand, have not missed a beat since defeating the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 54. They’re 7-1 and star quarterback Patrick Mahomes is in line for what could be his second MVP campaign in three years. The Panthers are 2-4 all-time against Kansas City and 1-2 at Arrowhead Stadium, with their only win on the road coming in 2004.

This is the third time in four seasons Carolina will face the previous year’s Super Bowl winner on the road. The good news is that this trend has been kind as of late. The Panthers defeated the Patriots in New England in 2017 and the Eagles in Philadelphia in 2018.

Continuing the trend may take some heroics from running back Christian McCaffrey, who is expected to return to the lineup after being activated. The Panthers should hope to match the offensive firepower that is routinely expected of the Chiefs to keep the game competitive.

Upsetting the Chiefs will go a long way in keeping Carolina’s playoff hopes alive, but a loss keeps them on track for an early pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Here are three big and bold predictions for the game.