Game Overview ::
By mike johnson >>
- The Bengals must win out to have a chance at making the playoffs in the AFC.
- If the Chiefs win this week, they will clinch the AFC West and lock themselves into the #3 seed at worst, with an outside chance at the #2 seed.
- Kansas City has scored more than 21 points only twice in their last eight games.
- The Chiefs are likely to be without starting running back Isiah Pacheco due to a concussion.
- Cincinnati will once again be without the services of All-Pro wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase due to his shoulder injury.
- Cincinnati’s defense ranks 32nd in the NFL in yards per play allowed.
How Cincinnati Will Try To Win ::
The Bengals were on quite an inspiring run with Jake Browning under center before last week’s debacle with the Steelers. Browning has been very good in his three games against middling to lower pass defenses while he struggled mightily in both games against the Steelers. This week he draws a Chiefs defense that has been the constant for Kansas City this year and which should give them all they can handle once again. The Chiefs rank 2nd in the NFL in QB pressure rate and blitz at the 5th highest rate in the league. They will be bringing the heat on Browning, who is likely to once again be without the services of Ja’Marr Chase.
The absence of Chase and the strength of the Chiefs pass defense will tighten things up considerably for the Bengals. If they want to win this game, they want it to be a 20-16 type of game, not a game where they need to score 30+ points. While the Bengals defense hasn’t been great this year, they have had their solid moments and the Chiefs offensive struggles should let them approach this game in a more conservative mindset than they would have in past years. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo has done very well against Kansas City in past years and the Bengals are likely to trust his ability to keep this lower-octane version of the Chiefs in check. Playing without Chase, the Bengals top wide receiver option Tee Higgins will face a very tough matchup against L’Jarius Sneed and the Chiefs secondary which notoriously slows down opposing wide receivers. The result of all of this should be a more run-leaning game plan for the Bengals and their passing game to focus on their running backs, tight ends, and slot receiver Tyler Boyd. They will try to keep Browning from making early mistakes that let the Chiefs offense off the hook and will keep their passing game concepts to the short and intermediate areas with easy first and second reads.
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