The Cincinnati Bengals clash with the Kansas City Chiefs with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line in the AFC Championship on Sunday. Cincinnati’s gotten here with victories over Las Vegas and Tennessee, while the Chiefs have wins over Pittsburgh and Buffalo. The Bengals topped the Chiefs, 34-31, back in early January in Cincinnati.
Sunday’s kickoff is at 3 p.m. EST inside Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. Kansas City is a 7-point favorite over the Bengals, and the over-under total is at 54.5 points.
What to Know – Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals are back in the conference championship for the first time since 1989, when Cincinnati defeated Buffalo, 21-10, to advance to Super Bowl XXIII. Cincinnati’s defense has turned up the heat in the postseason, forcing five turnovers over the first two games.
Through the playoffs, the Bengals offense is averaging 27.1 points and 385.2 yards of offense per game. On defense, Cincinnati holds opponents to 17.5 points and 386.5 yards of total offense.
Evan McPherson connected on his fourth field goal of the contest, hitting from 52-yards out, to send the Bengals to the AFC title game and knock off the No. 1 seed on the road. Joe Burrow threw for 348 yards, and his primary target was rookie wideout Ja’Marr Chase hauling in five receptions for 109 yards. Joe Mixon carried the ball 14 carries for 54 yards and scored Cincinnati’s only touchdown.
Cincinnati is 12-7 against the spread this season and 7-2 ATS on the road. The Bengals are 6-0 ATS over their previous six games and 7-1 ATS in their last eight games on the road.
What to Know – Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City makes their fourth straight trip to the AFC title game, where they’ve won the last two as well as Super Bowl LIV in 2020. This postseason, the Chiefs’ offense has been unstoppable, but the defense has looked suspect.
Kansas City is scoring 28.2 points behind 405.4 yards of offense through the first two postseason games. The Chiefs’ defense has surrendered 28.5 points and 354.5 yards of offense to opposing teams.
Some dubbing the Kansas City vs. Buffalo game the Game of the Century, KC pulled out a stunning 42-36 overtime victory at home. The Chiefs, trailing by a field goal, got the ball back with 13 seconds remaining and marched down the field on a pair of plays to set up Harrison Butker with a 49-yard game-tying kick. Patrick Mahomes threw for 378 yards and three touchdowns and led the team with 69 yards on the ground and a rushing score.
The Chiefs are 10-9 ATS and own a 6-5 mark ATS at home. Kansas City is 8-2 ATS over their last ten contests and 6-0 ATS in their previous six home games.
The Pick is In
Who is going to be able to stop who in Sunday’s matchup? Cincinnati has forced a handful of turnovers during the playoffs, while the Chiefs’ defense has just one. Burrow was sacked nine times last week, and his protection will be essential if the Bengals want to win the game.
Cincinnati’s playoff run might be cut a game short, but the Bengals have the firepower offensively to match up with the Chiefs’ stable of playmakers. The Bengals have already beat KC once, so the confidence will be there.
Betting Pick: Cincinnati Bengals +7
