Week 2 of the NFL season features an intriguing clash in the American Football Conference, pitting the Cincinnati Bengals (0-1, 0-1 ATS) against the Kansas City Chiefs (1-0, 1-0 ATS). Their previous encounter last season ended with the Chiefs securing a 25-17 victory at home, notably without Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow in the lineup. Cincinnati enters this game following a disappointing home defeat to the New England Patriots, losing 16-10 as 8-point favorites. Meanwhile, Kansas City triumphed in their opener against the Baltimore Ravens, covering the 3-point spread in a 27-20 win. The Chiefs are currently favored by 5.5 points against the Bengals. The game is set to kick off at 4:25 PM EST at Arrowhead Stadium, with regional coverage available on CBS.
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Cincinnati’s Rocky Start
The Bengals shocked many football enthusiasts across the nation in Week 1, where they were heavily favored to defeat the Patriots. Cincinnati’s offense struggled to find its rhythm against the Patriots’ defense, led by Jerod Mayo in his inaugural coaching game. Questions are swirling around the Bengals; Burrow’s wrist injury may be more severe than previously indicated, Tee Higgins could be exaggerating his injury, Ja’Marr Chase was limited in his playing time, and the absence of Joe Mixon has hampered the running game. Regardless of the circumstances, Cincinnati must resolve these issues promptly as they prepare to face the reigning champions.
Burrow had a lackluster performance, throwing for only 164 yards without any touchdowns. Although he completed 72.4% of his passes, his average of 5.7 yards per completion raises concerns. After suffering an injury that cut his last season short, Burrow’s wrist appears to be a lingering issue. A standout performance is essential for him to maintain his status as a top-tier quarterback. The running duties have shifted to Zach Moss, who joined from the Colts after rushing for 794 yards and scoring five touchdowns last season. In his first game, he managed just 44 yards on nine carries but did find the end zone once. The Bengals hope to involve Ja’Marr Chase more; last season, he amassed 1,216 yards and seven touchdowns, yet he only recorded 62 yards in the opener.
Defensively, linebacker Logan Wilson led the Bengals with 135 tackles last season and stood out against the Patriots with a team-high 12 tackles. He also shared the team lead in interceptions last year with four. Cam Taylor-Britt matched that total and contributed seven tackles in the opener. Trey Hendrickson was effective on the edge last season with 17.5 sacks, but only cornerback Dax Hill managed to secure a sack against New England.
Injury Report:
Questionable: WR Tee Higgins, OT A. Mims, TE T. Hudson, LB Logan Wilson
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Chiefs Continue Their Dominance
The Kansas City Chiefs are on a mission to achieve an unprecedented third consecutive Super Bowl title. Many analysts believe their roster has improved this season, retaining key players while adding new offensive talents for Patrick Mahomes. In a thrilling opener against the Ravens, Kansas City narrowly escaped defeat, with Baltimore’s Isaiah Likely almost catching a game-tying touchdown as time expired. Mahomes showcased his usual prowess, throwing for 291 yards and one touchdown, although he did commit one interception.
Last season, Mahomes accumulated 4,183 passing yards and threw 27 touchdowns against 14 interceptions. As a three-time Super Bowl MVP, he is widely considered among the elite in the league, despite having lost three of his last four matchups against Burrow. Isaiah Pacheco returns to the backfield after rushing for 935 yards and seven touchdowns last season; he has already found the end zone this year and gained 45 yards in the opener. The receiving corps features rising stars, with Rashee Rice having a solid rookie season with 938 receiving yards and contributing 103 yards with seven receptions in the first game. Rookie Xavier Worthy displayed impressive speed, scoring two touchdowns in his debut. Veteran tight end Travis Kelce, who led the team last season with 984 yards, managed only 34 yards in the opener.
Defensively, Chris Jones returns to anchor the line after leading the team with 10.5 sacks last season. He recorded a sack against Lamar Jackson in the opener. Safety Justin Reid, who tallied 95 tackles last season, made nine tackles in the first game, while cornerback Jaylen Watson led the team with 11 tackles. The Chiefs did experience a setback in their secondary with the loss of L’Jarius Snead to the Titans, and they lack other players from last year’s roster with multiple interceptions.
Injury Report:
Questionable: WR H. Brown
Best Bets for Cincinnati Bengals vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The public is heavily favoring Kansas City in this game. As of the latest data from SportsBettingDime, 86% of the money is backing the Chiefs. Sharp bettors often look to go against such trends, but Kansas City has proven to be a reliable choice, as shown by their Week 1 performance. The concerns surrounding Cincinnati’s recent loss are valid. Burrow’s wrist injury might be more serious than disclosed, Tee Higgins could be sidelined, and Ja’Marr Chase’s status remains uncertain. Will Chase’s limited snaps or his contract situation become distractions during the game? With these worries, the Bengals face significant hurdles, while the Chiefs present a cohesive unit that continues to improve. Mahomes now has a promising weapon in rookie Xavier Worthy, who made an immediate impact with two touchdowns in his first game. The smart bet seems to be on Kansas City.
