The Cincinnati Bengals will play the Kansas City Chiefs for the second straight season in the AFC Championship Game. Last season, the Bengals were down 21-10 at halftime but came back to shock the Chiefs. Cincinnati forced the game into overtime and won thanks to a field goal, 27-24.
The Bengals have been one of the hottest teams in the NFL, as they won eight straight regular-season games following a slow start to the campaign. Last weekend, Cincinnati went to Buffalo and destroyed the Bills 27-10. Buffalo was the bookmakers’ favourite to win Super Bowl LVII all season long, but the Bengals made short work of the favourites. Can Cincy go to Kansas City and defeat the Chiefs for the second straight season in the AFC Championship Game?
Kansas City defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Divisional round 27-20. The Chiefs had to weather a late storm but held off the Jags in the end at Arrowhead Stadium. KC will have its home fans behind the team. However, Cincinnati went to Arrowhead last season and won the AFC Championship Game in overtime.
The Bengals overcame an 18-point deficit at one point in last season’s AFC Championship Game to defeat the Chiefs and progress to the Super Bowl. The Chiefs are slight favourites according to bookmakers. Can Kansas City see off Cincinnati or will the Bengals reach the Super Bowl once more?
Cincinnati Bengals @ Kansas City Chiefs Betting Odds
Kansas City is a one-point favourite to defeat Cincinnati at home and progress to Super Bowl LVII. The Chiefs had a scare from the Jacksonville Jaguars a week ago but held on for the win. Kansas City were 14-3 in the regular season with a 7-1 home record. The Chiefs went 9-3 against teams from the AFC.
Cincinnati is the underdogs for the second straight season in the AFC Championship Game. It is extremely difficult for an NFL team to make the playoffs and even more difficult for a team to reach the Conference Championship Game in back-to-back years.
The Bengals are aiming to make the Super Bowl for the second straight season. They lost the NFL Championship game last season to the LA Rams 24-20 thanks to a late fourth-quarter touchdown from the Rams.
When considering how difficult of a feat it is to reach the Conference Championship Game two years in a row, remember that the LA Rams, last season’s Super Bowl winners, missed the playoffs completely.
Cincinnati is evens on the moneyline, while the Chiefs are at the best odds of 5/6. Bookmakers have set the over/under at 48.0 points. Last season’s AFC Championship Game saw the teams combine for 51 points.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Kansas City Chiefs Team News
All eyes are on Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes suffered an ankle injury against Jacksonville. The injury looked serious but the Chiefs haven’t given the full extent of how bad the ankle problem is.
Mahomes could be limited in his mobility when dropping back into the pocket. Cincinnati’s defence got after Josh Allen last weekend but only managed to pick up one sack. However, the Cincy defence was able to force an intercept.
Mahomes didn’t play for most of the second quarter against Jacksonville, as the medical team worked to get him ready for the second half. Even with a bum ankle, Mahomes completed 22 of 30 passes for two touchdowns and 195 yards. Back-up Chad Henne filled in well by leading KC to a touchdown. However, Cincinnati’s defence is far better than Jacksonville’s.
Cincinnati’s three biggest offensive weapons will be ready for the Chiefs' defence. Joe Burrow threw two touchdowns and completed 23 of 36 passes for 242 yards against the Bills. One of those touchdown passes was to Ja’Marr Chase, who posted 61 yards on five catches. The surprise of the game was Joe Mixon’s 105 rushing yards on 20 carries. The Bengals’ offensive line dominated the line of scrimmage against the highly touted Bills' defence.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Kansas City Chiefs H2H
The Cincinnati Bengals are on a three-game winning streak against the Kansas City Chiefs. Cincy won 34-31 in January 2022 against the Chiefs in the regular season at home before going to KC and winning 27-24 in overtime in the AFC Championship Game.
Earlier this season, the Chiefs went to Paul Brown Stadium to face the Bengals once more. The game, which was played in early December, saw the Bengals win 27-24. The Bengals have won two straight games versus the Chiefs by a score of 27-24.
Before the teams met in 2022, they hadn’t played a regular season match-up since the 2018 campaign.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Kansas City Chiefs Predictions
It will be very difficult for Cincinnati to pull off a fourth straight win over the Chiefs in a year. But if there is any NFL team that can do it, it is the Cincinnati Bengals. Joe Burrow is playing brilliantly and the offensive weapons the Bengals possess could see them win the AFC Championship Game for the second straight season.
Mahomes’ injured ankle is a major issue. Yes, backup quarterback Chad Henne played well when called upon for a short time last week against the Jaguars, but it is doubtful the second-choice signal-caller can lead the Chiefs through a full game – especially the AFC Championship Game.
Cincinnati’s defence will be targeting Mahomes from the start due to the quarterback’s ankle injury. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo could call blitzes early and often against the Chiefs. Anarumo likes to bring his cornerbacks off the edge, and it could be an early tactic.
The Chiefs could use their home-field advantage and vocal home crowd to get an early lead on Cincinnati. The excitement could lead to an opening drive touchdown. But the Bengals took the crowd out of the game in Buffalo last weekend and shut down the bookmakers’ favourite to win the Super Bowl. Josh Allen was kept in check, and Cincinnati dominated the game. KC struggled to win against Jacksonville.
Our betting tips prediction is for Cincinnati to win the AFC Championship Game for a second straight season and return to the Super Bowl. Cincy should win by a field goal or more.
