We now have ourselves fairly the showdown within the late window of Week 2 because the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs are set to host the Cincinnati Bengals on CBS. These two AFC golf equipment aren’t any strangers to at least one one other as they’ve duked it out on a few of the NFL’s highest phases all through Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes’ careers.
So far, Burrow has been the hardest adversary for Mahomes, regardless of the Chiefs signal-caller tallying three Tremendous Bowl championships to Burrow’s zero. The Bengals quarterback is 3-1 towards Mahomes (together with playoffs), and all 4 of these matchups have been determined by precisely three factors. Their most up-to-date matchup got here within the 2022 AFC Championship, the place Mahomes notched his first win over Burrow to advance to the Tremendous Bowl.
Whereas that is the historical past, the newer paths have these groups on completely different trajectories. Cincinnati was upset within the opener by the hands of the New England Patriots, whereas the Chiefs took down the Baltimore Ravens to start their quest for a three-peat. As we look forward to kickoff on this head-to-head bout, let’s break down this matchup and inform you learn how to watch the sport on CBS and Paramount+.
All NFL odds are by way of SportsLine Consensus.
The place to look at
Date: Sunday, Sept. 15 | Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
Location: Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas Metropolis)
TV: CBS | Stream: Paramount+ (click on right here)
Odds: Chiefs -6, O/U 48
When the Bengals have the ball
The Bengals are more likely to be with out standout vast receiver Tee Higgins for the second week in a row. He’s formally listed as uncertain after not working towards all week on account of a hamstring damage. His absence will put a dent in Cincinnati’s skill to slice Kansas Metropolis’s secondary by way of the air. In his 5 profession video games towards the Chiefs, Higgins has totaled 302 yards and two touchdowns, so his potential loss cannot be overstated.
Talking of accidents, Joe Burrow’s surgically repaired wrist has been the subject of dialog all through the summer time, and that did not subside because the common season kicked off. Within the Week 1 matchup towards New England, Burrow did not push the ball down the sphere a lot, as his meant air yards per move try was 5.6. Is that on account of his wrist, the absence of Higgins or a bit of little bit of each? Mix that with Burrow’s historic struggles to start the season, and there is some trigger for concern for a way this offense could transfer down the sphere towards this Chiefs protection.
In fact, the offense will lean on wideout Ja’Marr Chase as a lot as potential. He caught six passes within the opener for 62 yards. Whereas his total numbers towards the Chiefs — 533 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns in 5 video games — are spectacular, a bulk of that got here in his first-ever matchup towards them. In his final 4 video games towards Ok.C., Chase has averaged 66.7 receiving yards per recreation and has one complete landing. He’ll want to provide at the next stage than that to assist keep away from Cincinnati from falling to 0-2.
When the Chiefs have the ball
Patrick Mahomes has traditionally began seasons on a powerful word. In Weeks 1 and a pair of, the Chiefs quarterback is 11-2 all time with 41 complete touchdowns and simply 5 interceptions. From what we noticed within the season opener towards Baltimore, Mahomes seems primed to proceed that development as he accomplished 20 of his 28 throws for 291 yards, a landing and an interception.
Whereas Travis Kelce shall be a trusted possibility for Mahomes, it’s going to be fascinating to look at the continued growth of wideouts Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy. Rice was Mahomes’ most focused weapon in Week 1, trying his approach 9 instances and connecting on seven throws for 103 yards. As Rice moved the chains, Worthy, a first-round rookie out of Texas, offered a speedy burst to the offense not seen because the days of Tyreek Hill. In his debut, Worthy had two touchdowns: a 21-yard rush and a 35-yard receiving rating.
These two shall be key items for a way the Chiefs assault by way of the air, however this might find yourself being a large alternative for working again Isiah Pacheco. He had a modest 45 yards on the bottom within the opener to go together with a landing, however now faces a Cincinnati run protection that gave up 170 yards and a landing final week.
Bengals vs. Chiefs key matchup
Cincinnati proper deal with Trent Brown did not have a powerful exhibiting in his Bengals debut. On the second play from scrimmage, he was badly crushed by Patriots move rusher Keion White, who went on to sack Joe Burrow and drive a fumble. General, White completed with 2.5 sacks on the afternoon. So, if Brown’s struggles bleed into Week 2, that might end in the same outing for Chiefs move rusher George Karlaftis. The previous first-round decide had two tackles and a quarterback hit within the opener and will very properly tally his first sack in 2024 on this recreation.
Prediction
Sure, these two groups have routinely performed one another tight, however I do not count on this to be a very shut affair. The Bengals appear to be trending in an 0-2 path as Burrow would not look utterly wholesome, and there are questions alongside the offensive line and receiver room. In the meantime, you have got a Chiefs group that’s higher than it was throughout their Tremendous Bowl run a 12 months in the past with the addition of Worthy, and their protection continues to be among the many finest within the league. From a betting standpoint, the six-point unfold feels manageable for Kansas Metropolis. Joe Burrow and the Bengals are 1-8 straight up and 2-7 towards the unfold in Weeks 1 and a pair of.
Projected rating: Chiefs 30, Bengals 21
The decide: Chiefs -6