Kansas City Chiefs vs. Washington Redskins: Prediction, preview, pick to win

WASHINGTON REDSKINS (2-1) AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (3-0)

GAME SNAPSHOT

KICKOFF: Monday, 8:30 p.m. ET, Arrowhead Stadium, TV: ESPN, Sean McDonough, Jon Gruden, Lisa Salters (Field reporter).

SERIES HISTORY: 10th regular-season meeting. Chiefs lead series, 8-1. The Redskins haven't played at Arrowhead Stadium since 2005 due a quirk in the NFL schedule. Washington has lost its past six games to Kansas City, including a 45-10 defeat on Dec. 8, 2013. The lone victory in the series for the Redskins was Sept. 18, 1983, a 27-12 win.

KEYS TO THE GAME: Kansas City rookie running back Kareem Hunt's gaudy numbers - 401 rushing yards, 8.5 yards per carry - have been foremost on Redskins coach Jay Gruden's mind this week. "He's the guy you have circled going into the game," Gruden said. Hunt scored on runs of 53 and 69 yards and has a 78-yard reception for a touchdown for a Chiefs team that has scoring plays of 50 or more yards in nine straight games dating back to last season. Hunt has outgained 26 NFL teams, while touching the ball almost 19 times per game. But head coach Andy Reid has no plans to give the rookie a breather. "No, I think we're OK with how we're using him," Reid told the Kansas City Star. "We're still getting Charcandrick (West) in there for reps, and if the other Hunt (Akeem) comes along here we'll have a third back we're comfortable with."

In order slow Hunt and speedy Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill, the Redskins might not a repeat of Sunday night's defensive performance. Washington allowed just 128 total yards - a 25-year low - in a 27-10 win over Oakland. With quarterback Kirk Cousins coming off a 365-yard, three-touchdown effort that earned him NFC Player of the Week honors, the Redskins will look to get wideout Terrelle Pryor Sr. more involved. Pryor has just 10 catches - and only four in the past two games - for 118 yards this season. Pryor, who had a 1,000-yard season with Cleveland a year ago, said he believes he is building a relationship with Cousins in practice. "The connection we're building on up is great, and it's hard for people to see, but on the inside you're like, 'Man, this is exciting.'"

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

-- Washington wide receiver Terrelle Pryor Sr. vs. Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters. Pryor, a former quarterback, is still developing as a wide receiver, but he has failed to show any chemistry with quarterback Kirk Cousins. Peters, who had an interception last week, his league-leading 15th since he entered the league two years ago, will likely be charged with checking the 6-foot-4 Pryor.

-- Kansas City linebacker Justin Houston vs. Washington pass protection. Houston has four sacks in three games for the Chiefs and has terrorized NFC opponents with 23 sacks in 22 career games. He's going for his fourth straight game with a sack.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Washington running back Chris Thompson. While the Redskins struggle to find a lead tailback - Rob Kelley has been injured and rookie Samaje Perine has yet to find running room - Thompson has become a weapon in the passing game. He had 150 receiving yards in the Redskins 27-10 win over Oakland on Sunday night. Through three games, Thompson has four touchdowns - two on the ground, including a 61-yard run, and two through the air. The Chiefs will be forced to account for Thompson's speed getting to the edge on screen passes.

FAST FACTS: Washington QB Kirk Cousins was named NFC player of the week after he completed 25 of 30 pass attempts for 365 yards and three touchdowns in the Redksins win over the Raiders. Since 2015, Cousins ranks third in the NFC in completions (851) and passing yards (9,867). RB CHRIS THOMPSON had career-high 188 yards from scrimmage (150 rec., 38 rush) Week 3. His 150 receiving yards are the most by a running back in a game so far this year. The Redskins defense allowed just 128 total yards last week. LB Ryan Kerrigan is looking for his third straight game with a sack. His running mate Zach Brown leads the NFC with 32 tackles. Two Washington rookies had career firsts in the win over the Raiders: DL Jonathan Allen had his first sack and S Montae Nicholson had his first interception.

Kansas City QB Alex Smith has completed 77.4 percent of his passes - best in the league after three games -- and has thrown seven touchdowns with no interceptions. He also leads the NFL with a 132.7 passer rating. Rookie RB Kareem Hunt, who added another 183 yards from scrimmage to his hot start, now has 538 in his first three games, which is second all-time only to Bill Sims' 562. Hunt is the only player in NFL history with touchdowns of at least 50 yards in each of his first three games. WR Tyreek Hill, who scored last week, is fourth in the AFC in receiving with 253 yards.

PREDICTION: Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins will be hard-pressed to duplicate his 365-yard, three-touchdown performance against the stout Kansas City defense. And with ever-efficient Alex Smith surrounded by explosive young weapons in Kareem Hunt and Tyreek Hill the Chiefs this far look like the class of the AFC.

OUR PICK: Chiefs, 27-16.

--Ched Whitney