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The Chiefs will host their fourth straight AFC championship sport towards a fourth opponent once they tackle the Bengals on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, CBS). In accordance with FanDuel Sportsbook, Kansas Metropolis opens as a 7-point favourite (over/underneath 54.5 factors).
The sport is a repeat of the Week 17 matchup in Cincinnati, gained by the Bengals in comeback type, 34-31. There must be one other shootout as younger elite quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow duele for the second time.
This is a full breakdown of Bengals vs. Chiefs within the 2022 AFC Championship sport, together with our decide to win and attain Tremendous Bowl 56.
NFL POWER RANKINGS:
3 Causes Chiefs, 49ers, Rams, Bengals Will (And Will not) Win Tremendous Bowl 56
Bengals vs. Chiefs ideas, predictions
- The Bengals’ offense vs. the Chiefs’ protection
Burrow is pink scorching in his final 5 begins and is shaping as much as be a late MVP contender on the high of the Comeback Participant of the Yr chief. He has nice fast assist from Joe Mixon, who’s coming off his greatest season as a Bengals return. Additionally they have an amazing trio of extensive receivers within the dynamic go-to rookie Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgns and Tyler Boyd.
The Bengals’ bugbear was move safety. Burrow was sacked 51 instances within the common season and 9 instances final week towards the Titans. But when Burrow has time to throw in an aggressive, frequent move play, he can take again cowl from seven. Mixon confronted a tough scenario towards the Titans final week and nonetheless regarded nice on the run. The Chiefs aren’t robust in that space within the entrance seven and have additionally developed many secondary considerations as accidents towards the Payments mount.
Kansas Metropolis will naturally blitz, however in addition they do not need to get burned out by huge video games from Burrow to Chase. Hassle is, Chase continues to be harmful after the catch, and Higgins can even stretch the sphere extensive. Boyd within the slot, Mixon from the backfield, and tight finish CJ Uzomah within the seam are comfy alternate options for Burrow to get the ball out rapidly as nicely. The Chiefs have Chris Jones and different Impression gamers, however they could not cease Josh Allen, who shot all around the area final week. Burrow will discover much more success after throwing for 446 yards towards the Chiefs the primary time round.
Benefit: Bengal
- Chiefs offense vs. Bengals protection
The Bengals have a superb passing rush led by Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard. With DJ Reader because the lynchpin of their internal line of protection, they’re fairly good at stopping the run. They’ve lively younger linebackers in Logan Wilson and Germaine Pratt. Chidobe Awuzie and Eli Apple exceeded expectations as outdoors cornerbacks, whereas security Jessie Bates III and slotback Mike Hilton excelled on the within.
That being mentioned, they’ve sufficient move protection points and may be inconsistent towards the run, plugging some but additionally giving up chunk performs. There’s sufficient for Mahomes to reap the benefits of. The Bengals will shield towards the large sport with zone seems, however will even shake it up with heavy blitzes. Mahomes has advanced to the place both being affected person with handoffs and shorter throws works for him, or letting it rip downfield versus a one-on-one.
The Bengals battle to cowl tight ends so Travis Kelce may be powerful on them. Tyreek Hill’s pace in stretching the sphere and quickness after the catch are additionally of concern. They had been held in Week 17 for a complete of 11 catches for 65 yards and a TD on 17 targets. That will not occur once more. The Chiefs must also be assured they will unwind extra lengthy runs.
Benefit: bosses
Boyd and Uzomah are good beginning locations for the Bengals. Chase destroyed the Chiefs all through Week 17 for 11 catches, 266 yards and three TDs. The Bengals can depend on him for lots of consideration (because the Chiefs gave Stefon Diggs) and Burrow will wish to see his matchups develop elsewhere.
The Chiefs have their very own key complementary offensive gamers, like operating again Jerick McKinnon, extensive receivers Byron Pringle and Mecole Hardman, and even backup tight ends Noah Grey and Blake Bell.
The staff that will get a giant play from certainly one of these gamers (a la Payments extensive receiver Gabriel Davis, who lights up the Chiefs) will prevail. The Chiefs even have a chance to play trick performs from fascinating formations. Nevertheless, the Bengals have extra frontline playmakers they will belief.
Benefit: Bengal
MORE: AFC, NFC championship sport is about to start
The groups have cash kickers in Bengals rookie Evan McPherson and Chiefs veteran Harrison Butker. Additionally the punting video games with Kevin Huber and Tommy Townsend are fairly good. The coordinators, Dave Toub and Darrin Simmons, have lots of expertise. However the Chiefs have a bonus right here as a result of they use HIll on key returns.
Benefit: bosses
Andy Reid is 63 and a future Corridor of Famer. Zac Taylor is 38 in his first playoff look. Reid has the extra skilled workers in Toub, Eric Bieniemy and Steve Spagnuolo. Taylor can be joined on offense by Brian Callahan, simply 37, and on protection by Lou Anarumo, 55. It is laborious to show away from Reid’s expertise, regardless that Taylor has confirmed he is an aspiring supporting actor.
Benefit: bosses
The Chiefs are a spirited and skilled staff. With Mahomes, they’re ready for these huge sport conditions. However the Bengals have constructed nice momentum and play with unwavering confidence. Burrow has the identical championship pedigree as Mahomes and his staff performs home cash. The Bengals will come to Kansas Metropolis motivated to shock whereas remaining daring and fearless. The Chiefs should be ready for an all-out assault staff. They will even be drained from Sunday’s extra time whereas the Bengals performed early Saturday.
Benefit: Bengal
AFC Championship Recreation Prediction
Burrow vs. Mahomes will come all the way down to which staff makes extra huge performs within the passing sport and runs the ball successfully when wanted. Although Mahomes can be as much as the duty of placing up extra huge playoff numbers, Burrow is a worthy opponent and the Bengals are enjoying higher total protection, together with forcing key takeaways. Kansas Metropolis will do their greatest to use stress to thwart Burrow, however that is only a defensive benefit. Cincinnati pulls off one other shocker to advance again into the Tremendous Bowl for the primary time in 33 years.
Bengal 38, Chiefs 34
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