The A.F.C. facet of the playoffs have concluded the identical manner for 4 seasons operating, with the convention’s second-best crew touring to play the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Their opponent this time is the Cincinnati Bengals, who defeated Kansas Metropolis in Week 17 on a discipline aim as time expired, dislodging it from the A.F.C.’s prime seed.
The rematch carries weightier penalties. The Bengals haven’t performed in a Tremendous Bowl in 33 years, and Kansas Metropolis, after going 50 years between appearances, is aiming for its third straight.
Patrick Mahomes on Sunday will turn out to be the primary quarterback in league historical past to begin 4 convention championship video games earlier than his twenty seventh birthday. He overcame an uneven stretch earlier this season by staying affected person, and final week in opposition to Buffalo within the divisional spherical threw for 378 yards with out trying even one move of 20 or extra yards. Mahomes depends on a fleet of receivers to achieve yards after the catch, and his two favourite targets are tight finish Travis Kelce, who has 13 receptions for 204 yards this postseason, and Tyreek Hill, who has grabbed 16 passes for 207.
Mahomes threw for 259 yards and two touchdowns in Week 17, however Kansas Metropolis blew three separate 14-point leads as a result of their protection couldn’t thwart Cincinnati’s duo of Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, who accounted for 266 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
Kansas Metropolis’s defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo, in all probability gained’t deploy as a lot press protection as in that final assembly. The probably return of security Tyrann Mathieu, who missed a lot of the Buffalo sport with a concussion, might additionally assist, as would one other disruptive sport from defensive lineman Chris Jones. The Titans sacked Burrow 9 instances within the divisional spherical, and if Jones, an inside power, can generate constant stress, he could assist decide the result of Sunday’s sport.
Within the second 12 months of his N.F.L. profession, Burrow rejuvenated a middling Cincinnati franchise that hadn’t gained a playoff sport since earlier than he was born.
Burrow confirmed he had the potential to be the Bengals’ quarterback of the longer term throughout his rookie season, when he threw for over 300 yards in 5 of the ten video games he began, however his season was lower quick after he tore a number of ligaments in his left knee in opposition to Washington in Week 11 final season.
Burrow returned from harm this season and dazzled together with his means to throw correct downfield passes into tight home windows underneath super stress. Though Cincinnati surrounded Burrow with gifted offensive items — together with Chase, Burrow’s former Louisiana State teammate and this season’s Offensive Rookie of the Yr Award-winner — the Bengals have made few enhancements alongside their struggling offensive line. Burrow was essentially the most sacked quarterback (51) through the common season.
Within the Bengals’ 3-point win over the A.F.C.’s top-seeded Titans within the divisional spherical, Burrow spent a lot time both on the bottom or scampering away from Tennessee’s defensive entrance. The Titans recorded 13 quarterback hits on Burrow and sacked him 9 instances, which tied a postseason report.
Though the Bengals had been in a position to eke out a 19-16 victory in opposition to Tennessee, it’s uncommon {that a} crew which permits its quarterback to face such stress can proceed to win. Cincinnati’s means to supply Burrow with a clear pocket in opposition to Kansas Metropolis’s move rush can be a deciding issue within the Bengals’ offensive success.
The Bengals had no bother scoring factors through the season, although, and will probably preserve tempo with Kansas Metropolis’s high-powered offense, which has scored 42 factors in every of the primary two rounds of the postseason. Cincinnati had a top-10 scoring offense behind Burrow, Chase and operating again Joe Mixon, who had 1,205 dashing yards and 13 touchdowns, each profession highs, through the common season.
Though a lot of the Bengals’ success has been predicated on Burrow’s connection together with his playmakers, they’ve gotten assist from their protection, particularly recently, in closing out video games.
In Cincinnati’s win over the Raiders within the wild-card spherical, linebacker Germaine Pratt snagged an interception on Las Vegas’s potential game-tying drive to seal the sport. And in opposition to the Titans, linebacker Logan Wilson intercepted Ryan Tannehill with 20 seconds left within the sport to arrange Evan McPherson’s sport profitable 52-yard discipline aim.
Vonn Bell, a security and captain on the Bengals’ protection, informed reporters this week that having confronted Mahomes and Kansas Metropolis just lately helps, including that Cincinnati’s defensive unit must “clear up our method” within the convention title sport.