Joe Burrow is coming off a gutsy performance against the Tennessee Titans in which he took nine sacks. The Cincinnati Bengals quarterback battled through the constant pressure from the Titans and connected with Ja’Marr Chase on a late completion, setting the Bengals up for a game-winning field goal.
According to the NFL betting lines from BetMGM, the Bengals are 7.5-point underdogs against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Bengals only scored 19 points in their divisional-round matchup against the Titans, and they’ll need to have a better game offensively if they’re going to beat Kansas City.
Bengals vs. Chiefs Game Information
- Date: Sunday, January 30th
- Time: 3:00 PM EST
- Venue: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO
- Line: Kansas City Chiefs -7.5
Burrow Will Need More Time to Throw
Burrow has an impressive 73.2% completion percentage in the postseason. The playoffs only provide a two-game sample size, but that completion percentage is higher than his 2021 and career completion percentages. However, Burrow’s 8.3 yards per attempt is a bit lower than his season average of 8.9 yards per attempt. Last week against the Titans, Burrow didn’t have enough time to stretch the field with deep throws because of the Titans’ pass rush.
Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes is having an incredible postseason, completing 75.9% of his passes for 782 yards and eight touchdowns. Burrow will have to up his game to match Mahomes’ production. Burrow will need more time to throw down the field to stop Kansas City from blitzing relentlessly and trying to pressure the young quarterback.
Burrow Has Performed Well Against This Chiefs Defense Before
The Bengals’ offensive line is one of their most significant weaknesses, as evidenced by Burrow’s taking nine sacks against Tennessee. Burrow should have more time to throw on Sunday, as the Chiefs ranked 29th in the NFL this year in sacks per game.
The Bengals have also proven that they can beat Kansas City. Burrow and the Bengals beat the Chiefs 34-31 in Week 17, and Burrow was magnificent in that game. The Bengals couldn’t get much done on the ground, but Burrow led the offense on four touchdown drives. The second-year quarterback threw for 446 yards and four touchdowns while completing 76.9% of his passes.
Will Tyrann Mathieu Be Healthy?
It’s impressive that Burrow threw for 400+ yards in Week 17 against a Chiefs defense that still had Tyrann Mathieu. The Chiefs’ safety is in the NFL’s concussion protocol after getting hit by Jarran Reed’s knee on the opening drive of the Chiefs game against the Buffalo Bills.
Kansas City’s defense allowed Bills quarterback Josh Allen to throw for 329 yards and four touchdowns. It remains to be seen if Mathieu will play in the AFC Championship game. Mathieu will play a significant role in helping to defend against deep throws to Ja’Marr Chase. If he can’t play, Burrow should have an easier time finding open receivers downfield.
Reviewing Joe Burrow’s Chances to Win on Sunday
Two years into his career, Joe Burrow has led the Bengals to their first AFC Championship appearance in 33 years. Burrow now gets to play a Chiefs’ defense that didn’t have any answers for Josh Allen and the Bills, and I like his odds to keep this game within one score. It’s hard to predict a winner in this game because, as we saw last week, Patrick Mahomes only needs 13 seconds to lead his team down the field, but I do like the Bengals to cover the spread.
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