Bengals return to Kansas City for another dramatic AFC title game
KANSAS CITY, MO.
The Kansas City Chiefs have lost three straight games to the Cincinnati Bengals, including last year’s AFC title game, when they blew an early 21-3 lead in an overtime defeat before a sea of stunned fans inside Arrowhead Stadium.
Patrick Mahomes, who expects to lead the Chiefs against the Bengals on a sprained right ankle in Sunday night's rematch, is likewise winless against Bengals counterpart Joe Burrow, the only quarterback to have beaten him three straight times.
In other words, there’s a reason the AFC North champions are imbued with a certain degree of confidence as they return to Kansas City, where the burgeoning rivals will once again determine who represents the AFC in the Super Bowl.
“Your preparation leads to confidence. That’s just what you see from Joe and all of our players,” explained the even-keeled Bengals coach Zac Taylor, who has somehow outschemed, out-coached and gotten his team to out-execute Andy Reid and his Chiefs over the past 13 months.
“So when they walk on the field on Sunday, they’re relaxed.”
In fact, the Bengals are
Sherfield, who turns 27 in February, is headed for unrestricted free agency.
CEDRICK WILSON JR.
Skinny: Wilson signed a three-year, $22 million deal with the Dolphins last offseason and was projected to be Miami’s slot receiver. But the trade for Hill knocked him down the depth chart and then Sherfield assumed the role of No. 3 receiver. Wilson played just 15 percent of offensive snaps and caught 12 passes, his fewest receptions since 2019.
Contract: Wilson, who turns 28 in November, is entering the second year of so confident that some have taken to calling the Chiefs’ home “Burrowhead Stadium.”
Which, as you can imagine, doesn’t sit well with the AFC West champs.
“I’m sure a lot of guys are aware of the comments they’re making,” Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster admitted. “The Bengals have always been the rah-rah team, and they back it up. And they’re doing so again in the postseason.”
Yet it’s not as if the Bengals, who roared past the Bills in the divisional round, have dominated the Chiefs, who took care of the Jaguars despite losing Mahomes for most of a quarter following his injury.
All three of their meetings have been decided by just three points each.
“We know what team we’re playing, a team that has been to this game the last five seasons, and they’ve all been in that stadium,” Burrow said. “So to me, they’re still the team to beat and we’re coming for them, but we know it’s going to be tough. We know it’s going to be hard-fought, and we know the kind of players they have on that side.”
Their matchup in last year’s title game was a classic. Mahomes threw three first-half touchdown passes, then Burrow led a dramatic comeback for Cincinnati. And when the a three-year contract. He has a cap hit of $8,000,000.
RIVER CRACRAFT
Skinny: Cracraft, who had a stint with the 49ers, was the first player signed after McDaniel was hired as head coach. He began the season on the practice squad but was signed to the 53-man roster in September. Cracraft caught two touchdowns in the first month of the season and finished with nine catches for 102 yards, all careerhigh numbers.
Contract: Cracraft, who
Chiefs’ Harrison Butker kicked a 41-yard field goal with no time left to send the game to overtime, the Bengals quickly picked off Mahomes to set up Evan McPherson’s winning kick.
“Listen, they probably should be confident. They’ve won three games,” said Reid, who is trying to guide Kansas City back to the Super Bowl for the third time in four seasons. “That’s OK. We’re still going to play the game.”
Besides, the Chiefs have a quiet confidence about them, too.
“I would say they know us. We know them. And we’re all searching for that little extra that you can throw at them,” Reid said. “We’ve played each other enough that I’m sure both sides feel the same way.”
MAHOMES ON THE MEND
The Chiefs’ All-Pro quarterback practiced as usual this week, and Mahomes’ ailing right ankle did not appear more heavily taped than the left. His ability to scramble is a big part of his game, though, particularly when it comes to finding time to make off-schedule throws, and any hesitation could be costly for Kansas City’s offense.
“It’s about being a competitor,” Mahomes said this week. “You want turns 29 in November, is headed for unrestricted free agency.
ERIK EZUKANMA
Skinny: Ezukanma, the team’s fourth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, flashed during training camp and preseason with a combination of physicality and speed. But he was inactive for all but two games, including the playoffs, and finished the season with one catch for three yards. Wide receivers coach Wes Welker said Ezukanma spent much of his rookie season learning to be out there, especially in these games.”
RECHARGED RUN GAME
The Bengals often struggled to run the ball this season, but Joe Mixon dominated the Bills last week, despite an offensive line forced to use a trio of backups because of injuries. He finished with 105 yards rushing and a touchdown.
“That’s nothing I’m surprised about,” Mixon said. “At the same time it’s a great thing to be able to contribute in a major way with my teammates in a crucial moment. So as the moments get bigger, I’ve just got to keep elevating my game.”
QUICK RELEASE
With their offensive line banged up, a big part of Burrow’s success is getting the ball out quickly, before pass rushers can find a lane and defenders can process what’s happening. His release time averaged about 2 1⁄2 seconds last week and the Bills sacked him just once.
“We can’t let him sit back in the pocket and get into rhythm throws because that's when he’s most dangerous,” Chiefs safety Justin Reid said. “You’re not going to win games if you don’t get sacks and turnovers, especially against a team like this.” the F position after learning the Z position in training camp and preseason, as well as adjusting to lengthy play calls that were different from the signalbased system he had in college.
Contract: Ezukanma, 23, is entering the second year of a four-year rookie contract. He has a cap hit of $1,051,248.
OFFSEASON QUESTIONS
1. Does Hill restructure his contract?
The Dolphins are in need of cap relief and can