Playoff standings
The Kansas City Chiefs have already clinched the AFC West Championship but still have a lot to play for. Kansas City has a one-game lead over the Tennessee Titans in the race for the number one seed in the AFC Playoffs with two games to play. Unfortunately for the Chiefs, Kansas City lost to the Titans earlier this season (that loss, was in fact, the last time the Chiefs lost) and so Tennessee holds the tie-breaker over K.C.. This, to guarantee themselves the top seed, the Chiefs have to win out. Now, should the Titans stumble this week against the Miami Dolphins, and if the Chiefs beat the Bengals, Kansas City would clinch the top seed.
Defense wins championships
There haven’t been many problems with the Chiefs of late during their long winning streak. They have killed the agenda around them that they can’t get stops against elite offenses, and there is no better week to continue proving that than going up against the Bengals.
Kansas City is going to continue its dominance on the defensive side of the ball and hold the Bengals to 21 points. This doesn’t seem like a great game for a defense because they are still going to give up 21 points, but only giving up 21 against a team like the Bengals is certainly a win in the Chiefs’ book because they are going to be able to score more than that and walk away with a victory.
Since the Chiefs have already clinched the AFC West, the only thing that they necessarily need to worry about now is staying healthy and making sure that they get the No. 1 seed in the AFC so that the playoffs can go through their home field.
Bengals young offense proves to be the real deal
Kansas City’s offense will have its hands full against a loaded Bengals offense. Burrow already has 4,169 yards and 30 touchdowns this season while throwing the ball to rookie phenom Ja´Marr Chase and fellow receivers Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd. Burrow also has Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon, who comes into Sunday’s game with 1,159 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground.
A big key for the Bengals’ offense during the team’s two-game winning streak has been their ability to take better care of the ball. The Bengals have gone two games without committing a turnover after committing at least one in nine straight games. Turnovers and below-average pass protection (Burrow has been sacked 47 times this season) are the Bengals’ biggest flaws on offense. An upgrade to the O-line would be great during the off-season for next season. This season Burrow will have to survive under it with help from great WR and a top 10 RB in Joe Mixon.