After a terrible Week 1 loss, here are some matchups that could propel the Bengals to even their record with a win in Kansas City.
The Cincinnati Bengals limped away from the Patriots and are now headed to Arrowhead Stadium to face the Chiefs, fresh off a season-opening win over the Ravens.
The two teams couldn’t exist on two different planes. The Chiefs are back-to-back Super Bowl champions and are riding high after their win in last year’s AFC Championship rematch. The Bengals, after another season ending with Joe Burrow on IR, are 0-1 and were thoroughly embarrassed last Sunday.
Both were supposed to be on the Super Bowl shortlist in 2024, but only the Chiefs look like contenders so far.
That could all change on Sunday. The Chiefs are favored to win by Vegas oddsmakers, but if the Bengals pull off an upset, the ship will have been more than righted. It will be an indication the Bengals aren’t pretenders and that Burrow and the high-powered Bengals offense are fully back.
Zac Taylor is one of the few head coaches that has a winning record against the Chiefs. Here are a handful of matchups that could help the Bengals keep it that way.
Joe Burrow vs. Himself
Burrow, whose superpower has been his ability to sense the pocket around him, was jumping at shadows last Sunday. He wasn’t himself, seemingly looking to check down as if his downfield receivers were blanketed when they weren’t.
Burrow completed the first offseason program of his career this summer. Three of his offseasons were cut short by injuries or illnesses. In 2021, he was rehabbing from a knee injury suffered in Week 11 of his rookie season. In 2022, he had an emergency appendectomy, and there was the calf injury in 2023. His only other offseason was in 2020, a year that was anything but normal.
You’d think having his first full offseason would allow him to hit the ground running, but that wasn’t the case. The only person who can decide whether or not we see the Burrow we’re used to this Sunday or in Week 3 or 4 is the man himself.
Bengals interior offensive line vs. Chris Jones
Now that Aaron Donald is retired, Jones is the best defensive tackle in the league. He is especially disruptive as an interior pass rusher, often from the 3-technique, where he is able to use his speed and power to exploit the gap between the guard and tackle.
This, of course, will be the responsibility of the entire line, and Dan Pitcher is likely to keep some help in the backfield. Jones isn’t the kind of guy you can leave one-on-one, though. Alex Cappa and Cordell Volson are going to need to turn in outstanding performances to keep Jones in check.
Trent Brown vs. George Karlaftis
The Bengals used their first-round pick in 2024 on offensive tackle Amarius Mims in case Trent Brown, who has a lengthy injury history, wasn’t able to go at some point in the season. It is a little ironic that it’s Brown who is healthy-ish, and Mims who is nursing a pectoral injury as we head into Week 2.
Brown was bad against the Patriots. He gave up a team-high four pressures in Week 1, which included one of Burrow’s two sacks, and often looked like he was the only player on ice.
Karlaftis is a talented edge rusher who logged six pressures, including one hit, against the Ravens in Week 1. If Burrow’s pocket “Spidey-Sense” isn’t up to game speed yet, he won’t be helped if he’s got pressure coming from his right side.
Bengals linebackers/safeties vs. Travis Kelce/Noah Gray
Patrick Mahomes is the most physically gifted quarterback I’ve ever seen play, but if he has grown to rely on someone over the course of his career, it’s future first-ballot Hall of Fame tight end Travis Kelce. Mahomes and Kelce have an almost supernatural ability to reach each other’s minds, and Kelce is a savvy route runner who knows how to get open.
Noah Gray emerged in Week 1 for the Chiefs, too, tying Kelce for receptions from the position and out-gained him by three yards as well. The two of them combined for six receptions and 71 yards, and if there are going to be two tight ends that have earned Mahomes’ trust, Lou Anarumo will have his hands full.
Logan Wilson and Germaine Pratt are one of the best duo of linebackers when it comes to pass coverage, and the Bengals signed Geno Stone and brought back Vonn Bell to head the safety position. They also have Jordan Battle, who has more than proved himself capable in coverage.
Even though Kelce is older now, all eyes must still be on him at all times, because Mahomes will be looking his way early and often.
Lou Anarumo vs. Andy Reid
Anarumo is one of the league’s premier defensive coordinators, and Reid is considered one of the league’s best play-callers. This is a clash of titans.
Reid and Mahomes have paired to be the most successful QB-head coach duo since Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, and stopping them, more often than not, is a tough task, but it’s one that Anarumo has excelled at in the past.
Mahomes and Reid have only faced off against the Bengals once before Anarumo arrived in Cincinnati, but since he’s been the Bengals’ defensive coordinator, they’ve won three and lost two.
The Bengals aren’t up to full strength on defense. They’re missing both rookie defensive tackles and last year’s first-round pick edge rusher. If the Bengals defense keeps the Chiefs offense in check, it will be because Anarumo was two steps ahead.
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What matchups will you be keeping an eye on?
