The Cincinnati Bengals upset the number one seeded Tennessee Titans in a thrilling matchup to punch their AFC title game ticket against the Kansas City Chiefs. This will be the second time the Bengals take on Kansas City this season, but the Bengals will head to Arrowhead this time around.
The Chiefs have been in this game for four consecutive years and have won it two years in a row. Like the Bengals have been preaching, however, you have to take the crown to rule the playoffs.
Let’s check out what fans should be watching for in this game.
3. Bengals wide receivers vs. depleted/mediocre Chiefs secondary
In Week 17, when the Bengals beat the Chiefs in a comeback victory to seal up the AFC North, most of the success came through the air. Ja’Marr Chase had his best game of the season, going for 266 yards and three touchdowns. This time the Chiefs might be even weaker in the secondary.
11 catches for 266 yards and 3 TDs are numbers you can only imagine putting up on a video game. @Real10jayy__ did it in real life in Week 17. 🔥
— NFL (@NFL) January 25, 2022
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Tyrann Mathieu, the Chiefs all-pro safety, is currently in concussion protocol, and cornerback Rashad Fenton who covered Tee Higgins the first time and held him to 64 yards, has yet to appear in the postseason and hasn’t practiced in two weeks. He has been practicing this week, however.
The Kansas City secondary has talent, but Cincinnati didn’t have trouble exploiting their weaknesses to succeed through the air in the first meeting. Burrow wound up throwing for over 500 yards in the win.
If the stripes can enter this game with the same passing attack, they should have success throughout the game on the offensive side of the ball.