Bengals (12-7) at Chiefs (14-5)
Sunday, 3 p.m. ET, GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
TV: CBS
Tipico Sportsbook line: Chiefs
by 7 ⁄2
1
Chiefs’ keys to victory: Joe Burrow was pressured 19 times and sacked 11 sacks by Tennessee’s defense in the divisional round. The Arrowhead Advantage could play a big part for the Chiefs. It’s going to be loud, which makes things increasingly difficult on the communication between the offensive line and the quarterback. That means Kansas City could steal a few sacks on miscommunications up front. The Chiefs must take advantage of Cincinnati’s weakness with pressures and sacks on Burrow. Chris Jones, Jarran Reed and Frank Clark all had sacks in the teams’ Week 17 meeting.
Bengals’ keys to victory: The big similarity between Cincinnati’s divisional-round win and their win against Kansas City in Week 17 is that they were the last team to touch the football. This game is going to be a shootout between Burrow and Patrick Mahomes. Whether the game ends in a touchdown or a kick from Evan McPherson doesn’t matter, but they’re going to want to ensure that Mahomes doesn’t become the “Grim Reaper” two weeks in a row.
Matchup to watch: Chiefs CB Charvarius Ward vs. Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase. No one could cover Chase in Week 17. Ward was in position on a few of the big receptions by Chase, but he didn’t come up with the play. Ward is the Chiefs’ top cover corner and very well could travel with Chase this game.
Who wins? The Chiefs get the Bengals in their house this time and that looks to be a big difference from Week 17.
Chiefs, 35-28