The Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes will try to get the monkey off their back this Sunday. I don’t mean winning a championship. They’ve already achieved that, passing the NFL’s ultimate February test in 2020.
No, I’m talking about beating Joe Burrow’s Cincinnati Bengals. Since December 2021, Cincinnati has unequivocally had the Chiefs’ number, beating them on three consecutive occasions. In Mahomes’ already illustrious career, en route to a likely second MVP award, the Bengals are the first team to beat Mahomes three times (including in the playoffs).
That is quite an impressive accomplishment for anyone, let alone to manage it in roughly one calendar year.
How do the Chiefs finally defeat their Bengal tiger demons? How does the league’s gold standard find a way past a squad that seemingly knows precisely how to hem it in? Let’s dive in and consider the three-headed Cerberus of superstars that drives Kansas City forward in this AFC title game (and perhaps beyond).
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Travis Kelce is better than ever
Despite the loss of Tyreek Hill, making him the clear focal point of the Chiefs’ offense, Travis Kelce had arguably the finest season of his career. The 33-year-old tight end enjoyed the following in 2022:
- Career highs in receptions (110) and touchdowns (12)
- The second-most receiving yards of his career (1,338)
- And otherwise experienced no significant drop-off in his usual catch percentage (72.4 percent), yards per reception (12.2), and yards per target (8.8)
With Patrick Mahomes ailing against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the divisional round, Kelce was the ultimate safety valve — catching an unstoppable 14 passes for 98 yards and two scores. Expect more of the same prolific production for the First-Team All-Pro and future Hall of Fame tight against Cincinnati on Sunday.
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Patrick Mahomes is on a mission
Not that his toughness was ever in question, but it’s clear to me that this playoff run means a lot more to Mahomes than in recent years. He wouldn’t have gutted through a high-ankle sprain against the Jaguars if he didn’t want his second Super Bowl ring badly.
And with the rival Bengals on the docket — who have had Mahomes’ number over the last year or so — I think the face of the NFL wants to prove something. Don’t think Mahomes doesn’t notice how some folks are already trying to (falsely) anoint Joe Burrow as the league’s premier QB. When you have the unique power, talent, and gritty mentality that Mahomes does, every even perceived slight goes on your “list.”
Plus, I would be remiss if it wasn’t apparent the Bengals wanted to get Mahomes even angrier on his latest Super Bowl mission.
Bad idea, fellas. Bad. Idea.
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Chris Jones and the Chiefs' DL can feast on a porous Bengals' OL
Somewhat lost in the shuffle of Mahomes and Kelce’s heroics against Jacksonville (and all season, really) has been the incandescent brilliance of Chris Jones. The 28-year-old DT garnered a well-earned First-Team All-Pro selection this year. He’s arguably been the string that holds an otherwise porous Kansas City defense together.
Jones and the rest of the Chiefs’ defensive front flat-out bullied the Jaguars and prevented them from taking advantage of a Mahomes’ injury. With two Bengals’ starters in Jonah Williams and Alex Cappa nursing day-to-day ailments (that could mean literally anything this time of year) and Cincinnati already onto its backup right tackle in Hakeem Adenji, there’s a distinct possibility Jones and Co. dominate in the AFC title game. Again.
Joe Burrow can’t slice up a porous secondary with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins if he’s on his back. Look for Jones and the Kansas City defensive line to make its presence extremely known in this matchup of AFC titans.
