Chiefs rout banged-up Bengals
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Cincinnati Bengals knew that with a banged-up defense facing the NFL’s highest-scoring offense, there was a good chance they’d have to simply outscore the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night. They barely outscored the Chiefs’ defense.
Andy Dalton was held to 148 yards passing with a touchdown and a pick-six, Joe Mixon managed 50 yards on the ground and the Cincinnati offense struggled to keep up with the high-flying Chiefs in what turned into a 45-10 rout finished off by the backups at Arrowhead Stadium.
“Yeah, that’s a good team. Everybody knows that they’ve been able to score points,” Dalton said. “When you don’t do that on your side of the ball it can turn into a game like it did.”
So much for the Chiefs bringing in the NFL’s worst defense. Dalton was sacked only twice but was under constant duress, and the Bengals’ running game — which still has not produced a 100-yard rusher this season — went absolutely nowhere. Meanwhile, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense piled up 551 yards in a dominant performance.
Making it sting even more was the fact that the Bengals, already without three key players because or injuries, watched three more playmakers go down. Linebacker Vontaze Burfict limped off in the third quarter with a hip injury, speedy wide receiver John Ross went down with a groin injury and tight end Mason Schreck left with a knee injury.
Throw in injuries to running back Giovani Bernard, center Billy Price and tight end Tyler Kroft and perhaps it’s not so surprising the Bengals managed only 239 yards total offense. Ron Parker capped the forgettable performance by reading Dalton’s eyes early in the second half, stepping in front of a pass and taking the interception back for a score.
“My guy kind of just stood up and blocked,” Parker said, “and I just had my eyes on the quarterback. I saw him just looking to the right, had my eyes on him and took me right to the ball.”