Bengals at Chiefs: 2022 AFC Championship Game Predictions

The 2022 AFC Championship game is upon us, and this year, the participants are the Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs.

BetMGM’s current NFL betting lines have the Chiefs as 7.5-point favorites.

In this Bengals at Chiefs game, will the Chiefs cover the spread and go to their third straight Super Bowl? Or, will the Bengals upset the Chiefs and make it to their first Super Bowl since 1989?

Here are some of my predictions.

Bengals at Chiefs Game Information

Before we get to some of my predictions for this game, here is what you need to know about it going in.

• Date: Sunday, Jan. 30th
• Time: 3:00 P.M. EST on CBS
• Venue: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO

Chiefs -7.5

I like the Chiefs to cover the spread because I think their offense has played exceptionally well in the playoffs. Kansas City has scored 42 points in each of their games this postseason.

Kansas City’s offense ranks fourth in the NFL in points per game (29.7). Last week, they scored 42 points against the Buffalo Bills, who have the number one defense in total yards allowed per game and passing yards allowed per game. The Bills also allowed the fewest points per game this season.

The Bengals have relied on their defense so far in the postseason. Last week against the Tennessee Titans, the Bengals only gave up 16 points and held Derrick Henry to 62 yards on 20 carries. While their defense has played well, only allowing 17.5 points per game, their offense has only averaged 22.5 points per game in the postseason.

The Bengals will need to protect quarterback Joe Burrow in this game. He got sacked nine times last week. If the Chiefs can put pressure on Burrow, I believe the Bengals won’t be able to score enough points to keep up with Kansas City.

Over 54.5

As mentioned above, the Chiefs’ offense has been dominant in the playoffs so far. Their games are 2-0 on the over.

However, both teams have struggled against the pass this season, ranking 26th and 27th in that category, respectively.

The Chiefs ranked fourth in passing yards per game during the regular season with about 282 passing yards per game. Meanwhile, the Bengals were right behind, ranking seventh in that category (259).

I believe both teams will rely on their passing game to take advantage of each other’s secondary. The first time these teams played in Week 17, both quarterbacks had over 30 pass attempts and combined for 65 points. I like this game to go over.

Chiefs ML and Both 20+ Points (+125)

I think the Chiefs’ offense is too talented to lose this game, and I believe the Bengals’ poor play on the offensive line will eventually catch up to them. The Bengals allowed the third-most sacks during the season, and I don’t see the Bengals winning another game if Burrow is sacked nine times like he was against Tennessee.

However, if you want to find a bet with better odds, this could be worth a shot for you because both can put up a lot of points through the air. Both teams have averaged over 20 points per game in the postseason, and when they played in Week 17, both teams had over 30 points.

Make Your AFC Championship Game Predictions

The AFC Championship game has big stakes, with the winner of this Bengals at Chiefs game earning a spot in the Super Bowl. Do you agree with these predictions, or do you think things will play out differently?

Make your predictions at BetMGM’s online sports betting site. Sign up today for a risk-free initial bet of up to $1,000.