The Kansas City Chiefs are set to take on the Bengals in Cincinnati this Sunday. Kansas City is looking to avenge two losses against this particular opponent from last season. Meanwhile, the Bengals have won three consecutive games and seven of their last nine after starting this season 0-2. There is plenty of hype going into this game. Not only does this game have a massive impact on the playoff picture, but there is legitimate angst between these two teams. How will that affect Sunday’s contest?
Which position battles could have the greatest impact on Sunday’s outcome between the Chiefs and the Bengals? Today, we will list four key matchups that we have our eyes on entering the contest between Kansas City and Cincinnati. Let’s kick it off.
Bengals Wide Receivers Vs Chiefs Cornerbacks
There may be no better wide receiver trio in the NFL than Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd. Time will tell if Chase officially returns this week from a hip injury. So far this week, all indications are that he will indeed be back on the field. Chase is arguably the best wide receiver of the group. His ability to play bigger than his size in contested catch situations makes 50-50 jump balls seem like 80-20 jump balls in his favor. Elsewhere, Chase is one of the most dynamic players after the catch and in space. Elsewhere, the physical nature and size of Higgins is challenging to corral, when you factor in his long speed. Finally, Boyd is silky smooth with his savvy route running and separation quickness. He simply knows how to eliminate the opponent’s cushion and get on top of defenders with ease.
You could argue that the Chiefs made many of their defensive moves from this past offseason for this specific matchup. We have seen how tenacious and feisty these Kansas City rookie cornerbacks can get. Trent McDuffie may not have the length that Joshua Williams or Jaylen Watson have. Yet, McDuffie has the foot fire and athleticism to keep up with these Bengals wideouts. Additionally, we have seen gradual improvement from Williams and Watson, when it comes to their ball skills and instincts at the catch point.
Chiefs Offensive Line Vs Bengals Defensive Line
Based on the initial injury report, it appears that Joe Thuney may return this week. He missed last week’s game with an ankle injury. Obviously, that is positive news for Kansas City. For the most part, this Chiefs offensive line has been more consistent over the course of the last month. We have seen excellent communication, better body positioning and more control from Kansas City’s blockers, overall. This blocking unit generally handles power better than they handle speed.
Accordingly, that power is exactly what the Chiefs will face when taking on the Bengals. Cincinnati has incredible size all across their defensive line. Surely, that is the case with parts of other NFL defensive lines. It is more of a compact build for these defenders, compared to being mostly thick or dense, though. Defensive ends Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard provide tremendous length and a wide array of hand counter moves. Not to mention, they are able to cover ample amounts of space immediately with their ability to crash hard towards the interior of the pocket. Moreover, the Bengals are incredibly quick with their first step off of the snap. Defensive tackles DJ Reader and BJ Hill are most impressive in that aspect.
Bengals Offensive Line Vs Chiefs Defensive Line
Despite making plenty of changes to the blocking unit this past offseason, the Bengals still make you hold your breath quite often. Left tackle Jonah Williams has been shaky, seeing the most volatility throughout the year. You can quickly see how his lack of length hinders him quite a bit. At right tackle, La’el Collins has been more steady lately than he was at the start of the season. The Bengals have honestly seen their most consistent performances come from the interior offensive line. Guards Alex Cappa and Cordell Volson each have the movement skills to match most defensive tackles. Center Ted Karras is able to boost Cincinnati with his instincts alone. But, his power at the point of attack should not be taken for granted.
As we have mentioned during the last few weeks, the Chiefs have already outproduced last year’s pass rush totals by a wide margin. Chris Jones is playing as good as any defensive lineman in the NFL right now. With his ability to come through against both the run and the pass, Kansas City is getting off of the field much quicker. Also at defensive tackle, Khalen Saunders has enjoyed a noticeable breakout in the final year of his rookie deal. Frank Clark has quietly produced plenty of pressures since returning from a two-game suspension. To boot, the efficiency and relentlessness of George Karlaftis, Carlos Dunlap and Mike Danna is flying under the radar. With the versatility and added quickness of this group, it will be fascinating to see what kind of tricks Kansas City has upfront.
Chiefs Tight Ends Vs Bengals Safeties
Travis Kelce has continued to be a productive threat in the last handful of seasons. Now in 2022, he is somehow on pace to have a career-best campaign. His 39-yard touchdown catch from last week perfectly exemplified his separation and football IQ, as well as some amazing burst after the catch. While much of the focus will go the way of Kelce, Kansas City has begun to emphasize their tight end depth much more in certain situations. Both Jody Forston and Noah Gray have been extremely trustworthy, making tight catches in traffic, while also clearing out space for their quarterback’s throwing window. The Chiefs are not afraid to use multiple tight end sets more often this season. As a result, both Forston and Gray will be sneaky pieces to watch for.
Like Forston and Gray, the Bengals safeties can often be forgotten as effective pieces in the Cincinnati defense. Jessie Bates has the range and downhill speed to jump any route. Do not forget about his hitting power, either. Vonn Bell has done nothing but produce in critical matchups since joining the Bengals defense. His mix of ball skills, physicality and football IQ can lead to game-changing plays in any moment. On top of that, rookie Dax Hill is a versatile chess piece that can match up with any pass catcher from all over the field.
Be on the lookout for more FPC Chiefs articles and analysis throughout this week. For more great sports and NFL content, stay tuned to Full Press Coverage.
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