All Bengals Staff Picks For AFC Championship Rematch Against Kansas City Chiefs

KANSAS CITY — The Bengals and Chiefs meet on Sunday for the fourth time in 13 months. 

Will Cincinnati beat Kansas Metropolis to advance to Tremendous Bowl LVII? Our employees picks are right here:

Elise Jesse, All Bengals Insider

Season Report: 14-4

Wins must be traded backwards and forwards to name what the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas Metropolis Chiefs occurring a rivalry so we’ll name it a rematch as an alternative. Fairly the rematch it’s too. For the second straight 12 months the identical two groups are vying for an AFC Championship win to punch their ticket to the Tremendous Bowl.

If I had been enjoying move or smash main as much as this sport, I would move on all the bizarre issues which have occurred like Willie Homosexual insulting the Bengals’ offense, Chris Jones echoing Mike Hilton with the “Burrowhead Stadium” line, and Cincinnati’s Mayor Aftab Pureval calling for Joe Burrow’s paternity check to ensure he isn’t “Patrick Mahomes father”. I would smash on predictions and also you’re about to get 9 of them.

The strain falls again onto Cincinnati’s protection as they appear to stifle probably the most environment friendly offense within the NFL which ranks first with 6.4 yards per play. I believe Patrick Mahomes will rely extra on the fly sweeps and pitch choices to Isiah Pacheco or Kadarius Toney to maneuver the ball.

He will certainly lean on Travis Kelce, among the finest tight ends within the sport who is superb after the catch. Germaine Pratt was requested on Thursday what his response could be if Kelce had 14 catches in opposition to the Bengals on Sunday and he replied, “if that occurs we aren’t doing our jobs.” 

I’ve a sense Cincinnati’s protection will likely be overly ready as they at all times are for what they’re up in opposition to. The Bengals patched up offensive line did effectively in Buffalo, however I believe Steve Spagnuolo will attempt to expose any weak spot he probably can with Frank Clark, Chris Jones, and George Karlaftis, who’ve a mixed 26.5 sacks among the many three of them. Jones is the principle man I am apprehensive about as a result of he is such a harmful inside move rusher and his stats (15.5 sacks) converse to expertise and talent at making a quarterback’s day completely depressing.

Fortunately for Burrow, he will get the ball out in 2.5 seconds and has all of his weapons obtainable. This would be the greatest check of the season for the offensive line and if they can maintain a pocket collectively in addition to they did within the first half in opposition to the Payments they need to be okay however I consider it should take extraordinary effort by each single man within the trenches. 

I believe this sport will come right down to a turnover, and I believe the Bengals will pressure that, it is turn out to be their calling card by means of this 10-game win streak (17). Evan McPherson kicks Cincinnati previous Kansas Metropolis in time beyond regulation.

Prediction: Bengals 27, Chiefs 24

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Russ Heltman, All Bengals Contributor

Season Report: 13-5

The previous half-decade of AFC playoff runs have concluded in a single spot: Kansas Metropolis.

Cincinnati will get its second-straight playoff likelihood to bludgeon the Chiefs and turn out to be the primary group in Bengals historical past to make back-to-back Tremendous Bowls. They get it completed because of nice red-zone execution from Burrow, and a defensive gameplan simply robust sufficient to decelerate Mahomes and Kelce.

Burrow and the fellas shredded Buffalo’s top-five pink zone protection final week. Kansas Metropolis is thirty first in red-zone protection, permitting a landing on 67.24% of drives. The bottom line is getting there. The Chiefs completed second in quarterback pressures and first in quarterback hits this season. Jones will determine the weak hyperlink early and spam rush that participant all sport if he has to. Cincinnati wants offensive line consistency throughout the board.

Bottle that up, and they need to win the sport. I am not satisfied Mahomes will likely be working round like regular, and which means much less busted play potential for Kelce. Tre Flowers (hamstring) will play and has helped stifle Kelce in all three matchups over the previous two seasons.

He and Mike Hilton just do sufficient in opposition to the Chiefs legend to gas a win.

Prediction: Bengals 28, Chiefs 25

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Nicole Zembrodt, All Bengals Contributor

Season Report: 14-4

Sunday’s matchup would be the fourth time in 392 days that the Bengals and the Chiefs have performed one another. Cincinnati is 3-0 in these contests largely to holding Mahomes to a mean of 252.3 passing yards per contest, six touchdowns, and two interceptions. Burrow has torched Kansas Metropolis’s secondary with 327.3 yards per sport, eight touchdowns, and one interception in these wins.

Pacheco and Jerrick McKinnon mixed for 117 yards on 22 carries (5.3 yards per carry) in Week 13. They noticed success on the bottom, however could not keep it up because of the Bengals’ offensive assault. If they’ll keep affected person and discover success with their working backs it should take lots of strain off of Mahomes.

Kansas Metropolis is a a lot better group within the trenches on either side of the ball than the Payments. Alex Cappa and Jonah Williams are out, however the Bengals are hoping offense may have one other balanced assault between Burrow and Joe Mixon.

On the finish of the day, Lou Anarumo is the largest issue on this sport. He is been certainly one of only a few who’ve been in a position to decelerate this Kansas Metropolis explosive offense, significantly along with his second-half changes. The final three conferences have been determined by three factors every, however the Bengals have outscored Kansas Metropolis 47-24 within the second half of these video games.

Burrow makes it 4-0 in opposition to the Chiefs as Cincinnati punches their tickets to a second-consecutive Tremendous Bowl.

Prediction: Bengals 27, Chiefs 26

Blake Jewell, All Bengals Contributor

Season Report: 15-3

The Bengals are in search of their fourth-straight win over the Chiefs, and I’m pretty assured they’ll get it. Defensively, they should do what they normally do in opposition to Kelce, doubling him to restrict his yardage. One other key’s going to be not letting Pacheco run wild. If they’ll include the run and Kelce, I believe it places them in an ideal place to win.

Offensively, they should forestall Jones from wreaking havoc. They’ll have to run the ball effectively and keep away from turnovers. I believe they begin out buying and selling pictures with the Chiefs, however draw back within the late third quarter. From there, I believe the Chiefs fall brief on a comeback try, sending the Bengals to their second consecutive Tremendous Bowl look.

Prediction: Bengals 31, Chiefs 27

Mike Santagata, All Bengals Movie Analyst

Season Report: 13-5

For the fourth time in simply over a 12 months, the Bengals and Chiefs are destined for one more battle. The Bengals are winners of 10-straight video games and are arguably the most well liked group in soccer. The Chiefs then again are favored on this sport and nonetheless some of the feared opponents within the NFL.

The Bengals offense has by no means really struggled in opposition to this Chiefs protection. They at all times have a plan for Jones and the expertise to maneuver the ball at will. With a banged up offensive line the efficiency on offense will probably come right down to safety. If Burrow has time, then he ought to be nice.

The Bengals protection then again has had halves of poor play. The Chiefs have moved the ball very effectively at occasions, but in addition have been utterly neutered at different occasions. Can the Bengals pressure one other turnover and get to a hobbled Mahomes?

General, the Bengals match up effectively with the Chiefs. It’s totally arduous to beat an elite opponent 4 occasions in a row, however it was very arduous to beat them 3 times in a row as effectively.

Prediction: Bengals 31, Chiefs 27

Lindsay Patterson, All Bengals Contributor

Season Report: 14-4

A 12 months later and it is the Bengals at Chiefs once more with a visit to the Tremendous Bowl on the road. Kansas Metropolis desires revenge from being 0-3 in opposition to Cincinnati within the final 12 months. 

I believe this sport will likely be extra in regards to the protection than something. Burrow is enjoying nice. If they’ll run the ball with Mixon like they did in opposition to the Payments, they are going to management this sport. I believe the main target will keep on Ja’Marr Chase and that is extra of Tee Higgins sport too. Additionally, 

Jones can smash a sport plan in opposition to the Bengals’ offensive line. Burrow might want to get the ball out fast. On the flip facet, Anarumo must dial it up and have a great sport plan in opposition to a productive Chiefs’ offense. I believe he’ll be capable of put the strain on and cease the run sport. Kelce will get his, however the Bengals will include him and get out of Arrowhead with one other win.

Prediction: Bengals 27, Chiefs 24

Andrew Miller, All Bengals Video Editor

Season Report: 13-5

The Bengals have confirmed that they’ll win in Arrowhead when the stakes are excessive. Mahomes and Kelce will create their justifiable share of massive performs, however they might wrestle with consistency all through the sport since they’re coping with ankle and again accidents, respectively. Even when the Chiefs’ protection is ready to persistently strain Burrow, he has improved this season at shortly releasing the ball and discovering his playmakers. Not like final 12 months’s AFC Championship, Sunday’s winner received’t want a last-minute discipline objective to safe the win. 

Prediction: Bengals 27, Chiefs 21

James Yarcho, All Bengals Contributor

Season Report: 13-5

Between the sport being at “Burrowhead” Stadium and the stigma hanging over the pinnacle of Patrick Mahomes that he hasn’t overwhelmed Burrow when the 2 have confronted off, there’s all the explanation to consider that the Chiefs are going to do the whole lot they probably can to win this sport. And though Mahomes suffered the excessive ankle sprain in opposition to the Jags final week, he is been strolling round with no brace and is not going to make use of that as an excuse. In the long run, none of it should matter—the Bengals are probably the most full group, prime to backside, remaining within the playoffs. Mahomes will beat Burrow at some point, however it is not going to be this time. Bengals punch their ticket to their consecutive Tremendous Bowl within the quest for his or her first Lombardi.

Prediction: Bengals 31, Chiefs 27

James Rapien, All Bengals Writer

Season Report: 13-5

The Bengals and Chiefs each have nice quarterbacks and stars on offense. Each models will ship, however Anarumo’s protection makes yet one more play and McPherson delivers within the chilly to ship Cincinnati to their second-straight Tremendous Bowl.  

Prediction: Bengals 30, Chiefs 27

Cincinnati fights Kansas Metropolis for a spot within the Tremendous Bowl this Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET on CBS. The sport is out there through fuboTV—begin your free trial right here.

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