CINCINNATI (WKRC) - Here are five storylines of note in Sunday's Bengals game against the Kansas City Chiefs, which will kick off at 4:25 p.m. at Paycor Stadium (and can be seen on Local 12):
5. The challenge of beating a great team three times in a year
The Skinny: Over Kansas City's last 24 games, including the postseason, it posted a 20-4 record with two of those losses coming to the Bengals back in January (one in the regular season on Jan. 2 and the other in the AFC Championship game on Jan. 30).
Now comes the tall task for the Bengals to beat them three times inside one calendar year.
"We all know what type caliber team we have and how we prepare to go into games," said wide receiver Tyler Boyd. "We're always confident going into each game, and it's been a lot of people asking us about the schedule or whatnot. We've got good teams coming up, but at the end of the day, they look on the schedule and see us, so they've got to play us as well."
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor says there is so much different personnel for the two teams that he doesn't believe there is a carryover despite playing the Chiefs for the third time in their last 17 games.
"It's two different seasons," said Taylor "At this point in the year, we'll go through and be aware of how those games played out and what things they did, and they'll do the same things with us. At the end of the day, just looking at the DBs, I already see a lot of different DBs and it's just a lot of different personnel for both teams. So, you just have to be ready for how they've evolved over the course of the season."
The Bengals are riding a three-game winning streak and playing their best football of the season over the last month.
"We get better each and every year, each and every day and each and every week," said Boyd. "We're growing and maturing and just figuring out ways to always execute. It's the same plays, but we're just more detailed on them, figuring out more ways to defeat coverages that maybe isn't designed to beat that specific coverage and that play. But us as players, we make it work because we know what teams is tryin' to do to us. These last two months is the most important football. We're on a streak and we're confident and we feel like we're the caliber team we were last year, and it's still getting better as the weeks come on. The sky's the limit. As long as we continue to just dial in and execute our battles and make plays, then I think we'll get back on pace to where we left off."
4. Chris Jones is a problem
The Skinny: Kansas City defensive tackle Chris Jones has recorded at least a half a sack in six straight games and has 10.0 sacks on the season, which is fifth in the NFL and the most by an interior lineman.
"We’ve played some really good ones this year, we really have, but he’s up there because he’s quick, he’s smart, he’s physical, he finishes at the quarterback," said Taylor. "He’s really good in the run game. He can turn it on and be a big force. It’s a tough task. Part of playing the Chiefs is they have good guys around him. Yeah, 95 (Jones' number) has your attention but they also have other players that are really good. They drafted some young players now. It’s a really good defense and they get our attention."
The 6-foot-6, 298-pound Jones has six more sacks than the next most on the Chiefs team. Former Bengals end Carlos Dunlap has recorded 4.0 sacks.
“Well he’s the best interior pass rusher in the league, I think, outside of Aaron Donald," said Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. "He just creates so many problems and mismatches for you. You always gotta be alert of where he’s at because he can wreck the game. Always gotta be aware of him, but I’m confident in the ability of our guys inside to give me enough time to make the plays.”
The Bengals offensive line is playing very well of late and allowed just four sacks in the last three games combined, including allowing just one to Tennessee, which sacked Burrow nine times in the playoff matchups last season.
"Watching those guys play the way that they did, that’s really the way they’ve been playing for a lot of the year," said Burrow. "Got all the confidence in the world in those guys because they keep showing it on tape.”
Taylor has praised the line throughout the year despite some early struggles.
"They’ve been playing good in protection all year I don’t care what the numbers say, we just watch the tape," said Taylor. "We’ve had confidence in them all year and the stats are starting to bare that out, not that it matters to us."
3. Defense had answers for Kelce last season, but will it again?
The Skinny: Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is having another in a long-line of outstanding seasons in his 10-year career with a team-high 73 receptions for a team-high 912 yards and 12 touchdown catches, which ranks second in the NFL.
The Bengals slowed him down in last year's two matchups however, as he had only five catches for 25 yards in the regular-season meeting, and while he did have 10 receptions in the AFC Championship game, they amounted to only 95 yards.
Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo utilized long and lanky backup cornerback Tre Flowers to cover him and helped out by clogging the middle of the field with zone defense.
"Everybody goes in with a plan to limit his touches," said Taylor. "He's got a great knack. I don't know their playbook, I've never been in that system, but there is an awareness there where he and (Chiefs quarterback) Patrick (Mahomes) are on the same page of breaking off a route, finding the zone. That really takes chemistry and experience to the next level. He's going to get touches, that's difficult to cover all the time, and on top of that, they've added great players around him."
Anarumo said whatever the plan is it still isn't easy to limit Kelce.
"He’s a super hard cover that’s all I know," said Anarumo. "He just knows how to get open. He’s a guy that blocks his butt off. He’s a handful for sure. If he’s not (best tight end in the NFL), he’s in the top whatever. He’s a great player."
2. Bengals cornerbacks face first real test since Awuzie got hurt
The Skinny: The Bengals not only survived the first three games since cornerback Chidobe Awuzie suffered a season-ending knee injury at Cleveland on Oct. 31, but went 3-0 in those three games.
It should be noted that the quarterbacks they faced were P.J. Walker/Baker Mayfield for Carolina, rookie Kenny Pickett for Pittsburgh and Tennessee's Ryan Tannehill.
Now comes arguably the best quarterback in the NFL in Mahomes, who threw for over 300 yards in each of his last six games.
That will put pressure on oft-maligned veteran cornerback Eli Apple, rookie cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt and veteran slot corner Mike Hilton.
Apple has played noticeably better since Awuzie got hurt.
"I always say I have confidence in him," Anarumo said of Apple. "He certainly made some big plays (at Tennessee). I certainly think he's doing a heck of a job."
This will be just the fifth game Taylor-Britt has played in his NFL and fourth straight start since Awuzie got hurt. Taylor-Britt has shown great physicality against the run, and according to Anarumo continues to improve in pass coverage.
Anarumo was asked what message he has for Taylor-Britt this week.
"You just can’t get flustered," said Anarumo. "They’re going to complete balls. They’re the best offense in the league for a reason. He’s one of the best quarterbacks in the league for a reason. Yards don’t equal points this week. Get the points off the board."
Veteran safety Vonn Bell also has advice for Taylor-Britt when Mahomes goes off script and begins to scramble.
"I say you cover until you hear that whistle blow, because it’s real now," said Bell. "It’s just not the guy you been seeing on commercials, it’s not the guy you’ve been seeing wherever you’ve been seeing him when you were in college and now you’re going against him. He’s one of the best and tops in the league and everything’s on the line. They’ll be dialed in for sure. This guy can make every throw. Just gotta show them on film, make it real to them and that’s coming real soon and fast. They’ll be ready, for sure. They’ll answer the bell.”
1. Chase expected to return and how much impact will that have?
The Skinny: Wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase is officially listed as questionable for the game, but Taylor said on Friday he is optimistic Chase will play after missing the last four games due to hairline hip fracture suffered in the Atlanta game on Oct. 23.
The Bengals went 3-1 without Chase, but Burrow will welcome him back with open arms.
"He’s one of the best in the league, so when a guy like that comes back and enters your offense, it’s going to change the way defense’s play you," said Burrow. "Just adds more explosiveness. He can score from any point on the field and teams know that. It adds a fear element."
In the Bengals 34-31 win over the Chiefs in Week 17 of last season, Chase caught 11 passes for a single-game franchise record 266 yards and three touchdowns. In the Bengals 27-24 win over Kansas City in the AFC Championship game he had six catches for 54 yards and a touchdown, but with more focus on him in that game it helped allow Tee Higgins to have six catches for 103 yards.
Because of what the Bengals did to the Chiefs secondary last season they signed veteran safety Justin Reid, drafted cornerback Trent McDuffie in the first round and safety Bryan Cook, a University of Cincinnati product, in the second round. All three started last week, while fourth-round pick Joshua Williams has seen increased playing time over the last six games.
"They're flying around," Burrow said. "They do a great job of running to the football and challenging all the throws. When they play their man they're always around the ball and do a good job making plays. It will be a challenge for us."
Chase is looking forward to that challenge.
"I know they have an all new, almost, secondary," said Chase. "A lot of rookie DBs. I know (L'Jarius) Sneed is back, they got new safeties, too, so it's gonna be nice matchups, see how they game plan us, see what they come up with scheme wise and so we got to execute. It's gonna be a good game."
PREDICTION: Bengals 30, Chiefs 27
The Skinny: Because both matchup last season were decided by a field goal, that seems right once again.