Cincinnati Bengals have two of the best tight ends in the league on their 2021 schedule, which isn't a relaxing t..."/> Cincinnati Bengals have two of the best tight ends in the league on their 2021 schedule, which isn't a relaxing t..."/>
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Cincinnati Bengals: 4 toughest tight ends on 2021 schedule

By Leigh Oleszczak

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 11: A Cincinnati Bengals helmet sits on the grass during warm ups before the start of the Bengals and Baltimore Ravens game at M&T Bank Stadium on October 11, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 11: A Cincinnati Bengals helmet sits on the grass during warm ups before the start of the Bengals and Baltimore Ravens game at M&T Bank Stadium on October 11, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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Cincinnati Bengals
George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Toughest Tight Ends on Cincinnati Bengals Schedule – No. 2: George Kittle

Normally, the Bengals wouldn’t have George Kittle and the 49ers on their 2021 schedule, but thanks to the extra game, they’re now tasked with facing one of the sneakiest teams in the league this year. The 49ers were way better than their 2020 record would indicate but because they finished in the basement of their division, the Bengals get the honor of hosting them late in the year.

With facing the 49ers comes the nightmare of having to deal with Kittle, who is the second-best tight end in the NFL. He only appeared in eight games last year but still tallied 48 receptions for 634 yards and two touchdowns. In the previous year, when the Niners went to the Super Bowl, Kittle had 1,053 yards and five touchdowns.

Kittle’s best game last year came against Philadelphia in Week 4. The Niners tight end hauled in 15 receptions for 183 yards and a touchdown in a losing effort by San Francisco. This kind of performance is what Kittle can do every week if teams aren’t careful in defending him.

The Bengals have faced Kittle once in his career (Week 2 of the 2019 season) and it wasn’t an eye-popping stat line by any means. In that game, Kittle recorded three receptions for 54 yards but didn’t find the end zone in a blowout 49ers win.

This game versus the 49ers is going to be tough enough but with Kittle on the roster, it’ll make things even more difficult.