Surging Chiefs have won 16 of past 18 regular-season games

KANSAS CITY (6-2) at CAROLINA (3-5)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

OPENING LINE - Panthers by 3

RECORD VS. SPREAD - Chiefs 3-5, Panthers 3-5

SERIES RECORD - Chiefs lead Panthers 3-2

LAST MEETING -Chiefs beat Panthers 27-21, Dec. 12, 2012

LAST WEEK - Chiefs beat Jaguars 19-14, Panthers beat Rams 13-10

AP PRO32 RANKING - Chiefs No. 4, Panthers No. 24

CHIEFS OFFENSE - OVERALL (19), RUSH (21), PASS (21).

CHIEFS DEFENSE - OVERALL (21), RUSH (27), PASS (14).

PANTHERS OFFENSE - OVERALL (11), RUSH (9), PASS (15).

PANTHERS DEFENSE - OVERALL (18), RUSH (3), PASS (29).

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - Chiefs have won four straight regular-season games and 16 of last 18… Chiefs an NFL-best plus-13 in turnover battle and lead league in takeaways (20). … Alex Smith has six TD passes and no interceptions in past four games vs. NFC teams. Smith is expected to start vs. Carolina after missing last week. … Backup QB Nick Foles has 410 yards passing and three TDs in last two games. … RB Spencer Ware is averaging 117.7 yards from scrimmage per game, third best in NFL. …TE Travis Kelce leads Chiefs with 435 yards and 39 catches. … Rookie WR Tyreek Hill has four TDs receiving, second most among NFL rookies, and is second in league in punt return average (16.7). … CB Marcus Peters has 13 interceptions since 2015 season began, second most in NFL. … LB Dee Ford had two sacks last week vs. Jaguars and eight in his last five games. … Panthers have won two straight after 1-5 start. … Panthers coach Ron Rivera and defensive coordinator Sean McDermott worked on Andy Reid’s staff in Philadelphia. … Panthers QB Cam Newton passed for 232 yards and three TDs and ran for 78 yards in last meeting. … RB Jonathan Stewart has four TDs in last three games. … Greg Olsen leads NFL TEs with 45 receptions and 673 yards receiving. … Panthers have 12 sacks in last two games and are second in NFL with 24. … DT Star Lotulelei has four sacks in past four home games. … Since 2012, LB Luke Kuechly leads NFL LBs with 12 INTs and LB Thomas Davis is tied for second with nine. … Davis led team with 11 tackles, one sack, forced fumble and interception last week vs. Rams. … K Graham Gano has missed four field goals out of 18 attempts this season. … Fantasy Tip: Newton is averaging 275.4 yards passing in last seven home games, with 21 touchdowns (17 passing and four rushing).

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

___

AP NFL website: https://pro32.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL