Chiefs vs. Patriots 2016 picks and predictions: Not many experts predict another Kansas City playoff win

The Kansas City Chiefs have won 11 straight and are coming off a 30-0 win over the Houston Texans in the AFC Wild Card round. Still, they aren’t expected to beat the Tom Brady-led New England Patriots when the two teams meet on Saturday.

One of the big factors contributing to the picks could be Julian Edelman’s return for the Patriots and Jeremy Maclin’s potential absence for the Chiefs.

With Edelman healthy, the Patriots have averaged almost 100 more yards per game than when he was sidelined. He sat for seven games this season with a broken foot, during which the team lost in surprising fashion to the Eagles, Jets and Dolphins. The beginning of the season was the saving grace for the team, with enough wins to earn a first-week bye in the postseason and another week for Edelman to prepare for his return.

Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith was very effective against the Texans, completing 77.3 percent of passes for 190 yards and a touchdown. If he’s without wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, who suffered a high ankle sprain -- in what looked like a scary replay of his former knee injury -- the running backs will have to carry more of the offensive load.

It’s not unanimous, but a majority of the experts at ESPN think the the home team will come out on top. The same is true at CBS Sports, where seven of eight writers are taking the expect the Patriots. Here at SB Nation, the experts are willing to give Kansas City a slightly better shot, with three of eight picking the Alex Smith-led team.