Burrow, Mahomes to face off with a lot at stake
Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes have never met in person. They've shared texts and communicate through social media.
So when the two star quarterbacks finally get together Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium, they will do so as the focus of an important AFC matchup.
If the Bengals (9-6) beat Mahomes' Kansas City Chiefs (11-4), Cincinnati will clinch a postseason berth. If they lose, their Week 18 matchup with the
Cleveland Browns becomes a must-win scenario.
For the Chiefs, a win Sunday and a
Tennessee loss or tie secures the AFC’S No. 1 seed, a first-round bye and homefield advantage.
“This is a big opportunity, whether it’s the Chiefs or whoever they throw out there against us,” the Bengals’ Burrow said. “We’ve got an opportunity to go out there and win and win our division and make the playoffs. We’re playing a really good team that’s been in the Super Bowl the last two years, so it’s a big opportunity in that sense.”
Burrow, in his second season, has been able to watch Mahomes navigate his first few years in the NFL from afar. The Chiefs drafted Mahomes in the first round of the 2017 draft, a pick that surprised many as he wasn’t viewed by many draft analysts as a top quarterback.
Mahomes’ and Burrow’s first seasons in the NFL don’t resemble one another in the slightest. Burrow was drafted and expected to start immediately. Mahomes sat behind veteran Alex Smith for his first season. When he got his opportunity in 2018, Mahomes was named the NFL’S MVP.
The following season, Mahomes was named Super Bowl MVP for his performance in a comeback win over the San Francisco 49ers. In 2020, the Chiefs won the AFC again but lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Super Bowl.
Burrow is outperforming Mahomes this season. Following last week’s 525-yard, fourtouchdown game against Baltimore, Cincinnati’s second-year star is Pro Football Focus’ highestgraded quarterback.
But Burrow knows a quarterback’s legacy is determined in big games like Sunday’s.
“They’ve been one of the best offenses in the league since he has been the starting quarterback,” Burrow said of Mahomes. “We’re going in expecting to have to score a lot of points and we’ll adapt accordingly.”
FALCONS (7-8) AT BILLS (9-6)
TV: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
Tipico Sportsbook line: Bills by 141⁄2 Falcons’ keys: Atlanta needs to keep pace with Buffalo’s offense. QB Matt Ryan has to put up points, and the best way to do so is to exploit the Biills secondary.
Bills’ keys: It’s a bit of a rinse and repeat since it’s what Buffalo does every week, but let QB Josh Allen do what he does best.
GIANTS (4-11) AT BEARS (5-10)
TV: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Tipico Sportsbook line: Bears by 51⁄2 Giants’ keys: With quarterback Daniel Jones done for the year with a neck injury, the Giants need to establish the run with running back Saquon Barkley.
Bears’ keys: The only thing Chicago has done well on offense is run, and this is the kind of game where it can find some success on the ground.
CHIEFS (11-4) AT BENGALS (9-6)
TV: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Tipico Sportsbook line: Chiefs by 41⁄2 Chiefs’ keys: Limit turnovers. The Chiefs beat themselves more often than anything else. Entering Week 16, they had an even turnover differential.
Bengals’ keys: Protecting QB Joe Burrow. The line has been ravaged with injuries. Spreading out and locating WR Ja’marr Chase could work well.
DOLPHINS (8-7) AT TITANS (10-5)
TV: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Tipico Sportsbook line: Titans by 31⁄2 Dolphins’ keys: The Dolphins’ best bet is to attack the Titans through the air, as Tennessee sports an elite run defense. That’s easier said than done, though.
Titans’ keys: Tennessee’s passing attack found some life in Week 16 thanks to WR A.J. Brown, and the
Titans need to lean on their star again.
RAIDERS (8-7) AT COLTS (9-6)
TV: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
Tipico Sportsbook line: Colts by 71⁄2 Raiders’ keys: The offense has to maintain balance between QB Derek Carr and the run game. The Colts are susceptible through the air against tight ends.
Colts’ keys: Indianapolis needs to continue what they’ve been doing: moving the ball through Jonathan Taylor and piling up takeaways.
JAGUARS (2-13) AT PATRIOTS (9-6) TV: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Tipico Sportsbook line: Patriots by 141⁄2 Jaguars’ keys: They need to start by protecting QB Trevor Lawrence, whether that’s by establishing the run or protecting him in the passing game..
Patriots’ keys: After two rough weeks, the Patriots need to take the opportunity to re-establish their fundamentals as a defense.
RAMS (11-4) AT RAVENS (8-7)
TV: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, : Fox Tipico Sportsbook line: Rams by 31⁄2 Rams’ keys: If the Los Angeles offense can get off to a quick start against a depleted Ravens secondary, the game could get out of hand fast.
Ravens’ keys: If the Ravens can neutralize Cooper Kupp and make the Rams beat them elsewhere, they’ll have a shot.
BUCCANEERS (11-4) AT JETS (4-11)
TV: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
Tipico Sportsbook line: Bucs by 131⁄2 Buccaneers’ keys: With Tom Brady at quarterback, Tampa Bay just needs to show up, play clean football and perform to its own standards to avoid a late-season trap. Jets’ keys: If the Jets want to steal an improbable win, they’re going to have to put forth their best defensive performance of the year.
EAGLES (8-7) AT WASHINGTON (6-9) TV: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
Tipico Sportsbook line: Eagles by 31⁄2 Eagles’ keys: In the Week 15 win over Washington, the Eagles rushed for 238 yards on almost 6 yards per attempt. Can the Eagles repeat their rushing success? Washington’s keys: Offensive coordinator Scott Turner must find creative ways to get WR Terry Mclaurin more involved in the offense.
BRONCOS (7-8) AT CHARGERS (8-7) TV: Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS Tipico Sportsbook line: Chargers by 51⁄2 Broncos’ keys: Defensively, the Broncos need to do what they’ve done best against the Bolts by rushing four and confusing QB Justin Herbert with their zone looks. Chargers’ keys: Slowing down the run is the top priority, Los Angeles allowed 5.3 yards per carry last weekend.
TEXANS (4-11) AT 49ERS (8-7)
TV: Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS Tipico Sportsbook line: 49ers by 141⁄2 Texans’ keys: How good is rookie QB Davis Mills? The version of the third-round pick who shows up will determine a lot about their chances in Santa Clara. 49ers’ keys: When Jimmy Garoppolo is efficient and careful with the ball, the 49ers have an offense that’s nearly impossible to stop.
CARDINALS (10-5) AT COWBOYS (11-4) TV: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox Tipico Sportsbook line: Cowboys by 41⁄2 Cardinals’ keys: Kyler Murray is certainly missing injured Deandre Hopkins, and a turnaround on offense will be linked to putting sustainable pressure on Dallas’ DBS. Cowboys’ keys: Keeping the Cardinals’ rushing attack contained is priority No. 1, so Demarcus Lawrence will have to be on top of his game.
LIONS (2-12-1) AT SEAHAWKS (5-10) TV: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox Tipico Sportsbook line: Seahawks by 71⁄2 Lions’ keys: In their two victories, the Lions have gotten big production from rookie WR Amon-ra St. Brown. Leaning on him should be the plan.
Seahawks’ keys: Continue to ride the hot hand of RB Rashaad Penny. Over his last three games, he has totaled over 300 yards on the ground.
PANTHERS (5-10) AT SAINTS (7-8)
TV: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox Tipico Sportsbook line: Saints by 61⁄2 Panthers’ keys: Keeping the Saints defense on its heels and opening up the field will work wonders for an offense that’s struggled to put points on the board.
Saints’ keys: While they’ll want to get QB Taysom Hill going on the ground, they need to find ways to pick up yards through the air.
VIKINGS (7-8) AT PACKERS (12-3)
TV: Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, BC Tipico Sportsbook line: Packers by 61⁄2 Vikings’ keys: The Vikings threw the ball all over in these teams’ first meeting, but more from the run game might be required outdoors at Lambeau Field.
Packers’ keys: Feed the ball to playmakers and win the line of scrimmage. Finding WR Davante Adams is always a good recipe for scoring.
BROWNS (7-8) AT STEELERS (7-7-1) TV: Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN, ESPN2 Tipico Sportsbook line: Browns by 21⁄2 Browns’ keys: The Browns need to find a way to get on the same page on offense and use their skill players. This means handing the football to RB Nick Chubb often. Steelers’ keys: The offense has to find a way to put up early points – Pittsburgh has gone five straight without scoring a TD before halftime.