The Kansas City Chiefs host the Cincinnati Bengals on September 15 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium at 4:25 p.m. EDT for their Week 2 matchup.
In the Patrick Mahomes era, this will be the fifth meeting against Joe Burrow and the Bengals. So far, the Bengals are 2-0 against Mahomes and the Chiefs in the regular season and 1-1 in the postseason.
Will this finally be the year the Chiefs turn the tables on the narrative that the Bengals have their number in the regular season? Or will the struggle against Cincinnati continue? Here are three things to know before heading into this matchup on Sunday.
Patrick Mahomes vs. Joe Burrow
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In the two regular-season games between Mahomes and Burrow, Burrow has completed 55 of his 70 pass attempts, boasting a 78.6 completion percentage. He has thrown for 732 yards, six touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Additionally, Burrow has rushed for 56 yards and a touchdown against the Chiefs.
Mahomes, in those two games, has completed 42 of 62 pass attempts with a 67.7 completion percentage. He has thrown for 482 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Mahomes has also rushed for 34 yards and a touchdown against the Bengals.
Key Offensive Players to Watch
Every matchup between these teams usually comes down to a few plays, and these are the offensive players most likely to make those critical plays. For the Chiefs, their star tight end, Travis Kelce, hasn’t put up impressive stats against the Bengals. In the two meetings, he totaled 81 yards on nine receptions and one touchdown. However, in the Chiefs’ new-look offense, Kelce will likely come up with timely plays as he often does against top NFL teams.
Receivers Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy are also expected to step up, building off their impressive Week 1 performances. Rice finished the game with seven receptions for 103 yards, while Worthy recorded two touchdowns and 68 total yards on only three touches. Rice has faced the Bengals once, posting five receptions for 127 yards in Week 17 when Burrow wasn’t playing. Worthy, yet to face Cincinnati, has the speed to cause problems for their defense.
On the Bengals’ side, Ja’Marr Chase is Burrow’s clear number-one target. In the two regular-season matchups, Chase has dominated, totaling 363 yards on 18 receptions with three touchdowns. He’ll be a major concern for the Chiefs’ defense. Tee Higgins, meanwhile, is listed as questionable after suffering a hamstring injury in the Bengals’ Week 1 loss to New England. If he plays, Higgins has proven effective against the Chiefs with 97 yards on six receptions and a touchdown in their two matchups.
Defensive Matchups to Watch
The key defensive battle in this game will be in the trenches. Whichever defensive line can apply the most pressure on the opposing quarterback will likely determine the outcome. Both quarterbacks are elite and will pick apart defenses if given time in the pocket. For the Chiefs, Chris Jones and George Karlaftis will need to step up. Both players recorded at least one sack in the previous meetings and are crucial for creating pressure.
On the Bengals’ side, Sam Hubbard and B.J. Hill are the key defensive linemen to watch. Hubbard has totaled eight tackles, one sack, and a tackle for loss in these games, while Hill has eight tackles and a quarterback hit. These two will need to cause disruption for the Bengals to stand a chance.
In the secondary, the Chiefs will rely on cornerback Trent McDuffie to guard Chase, while linebacker Nick Bolton looks for a bounce-back performance. Both players have been steady forces for Kansas City in their meetings against the Bengals. For Cincinnati, safety Vonn Bell will play a vital role in locking down the Chiefs’ deep passing game. Bell has recorded 10 tackles and three pass breakups in these matchups.
Final Thoughts
Both teams are stacked with playmakers, but these matchups typically come down to just a few critical plays. This Week 2 meeting will likely be no different, with key offensive and defensive players making the difference.
Although it’s only Week 2, both teams have a lot on the line. The Chiefs are looking to overcome their regular-season struggles against Cincinnati, while the Bengals are trying to avoid a slow start to the season.
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