The Kansas City Chiefs and the Cincinnati Bengals are both looking to rebound off of tough losses in Week 6, and they will get the opportunity to do so under the bright lights of Sunday Night Football. The Chiefs suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of the Patriots last Sunday, while the Bengals lost a last-minute nail-biter at home to the rival Steelers. Which one of these wounded animals will bite back? Be sure to check out our NFL betting live lines and make a wager on one of the most exciting games of the week!
While nobody is feeling sorry for the Chiefs after their first loss of the season, the 5-1 juggernauts will be facing some challenges in this game, as they are without guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif after it was revealed that his week 5 injury was much worse than initially thought. Currently, there is no timetable for his return, although Head Coach Andy Reid believes he could be back before the end of the season.
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Nobody is more aware of the challenge that the Chiefs present than Bengals Head Coach Marvin Lewis.
"We should be allowed to play with 12, a special rule for this week," Lewis said of facing the Chiefs. "They do a great job of making you defend the entire field. You get misdirection, motion shifts, personnel changes, all the things that do and make you respond to them, and they do them with great athleticism and speed."
The Bengals have the right personnel in the trenches to keep the Chiefs off the board. Mainly, Geno Atkins has been a force to be reckoned this season, compiling six sacks. That is the most in the NFL, tied with JJ Watt.
However, while Atkins has been on top of his game, the Bengals defense, in general, has not been that great. They are ranked near the bottom in the NFL in a number of categories: 29th in total yards allowed per game (409.2) and 28th in passing yards (292.0). Cincinnati is also 23rd in points allowed (26.3) and 20th in rushing yards allowed (117.2).
Offensively, the Bengals will rely on Andy Dalton, who has 14 touchdown passes through the first 6 games, putting him on pace to set a career record. On the flip side, Dalton is tied for the fifth-most interceptions in the league with 7, so the Bengals will have to make sure they put Dalton in good position to make plays if they want to have success against the Chiefs. Controlling the line of scrimmage will be key.
As far as running the ball goes, Cincinnati is averaging 89.8 yards per game on the ground, which is 25th in the NFL.
The Bengals also suffered a rash of injuries during Sunday’s game. Linebacker Nick Vigil stepped out because of a left knee injury. Safety Shawn Williams sustained a concussion, and cornerback Darqueze Dennard hurt his left shoulder. Dennard and Vigil are listed as questionable for Sunday. There is no word yet on Williams condition, but he was at practice earlier this week.
These two teams have played 27 times, dating back to 1968. The last confrontation was in 2015, when the Bengals won 36-21 at home. Overall, the Bengals have the better record in the head to head matchup at 15-13-0.
