Chiefs vs. Bengals: “Cincy” provokes champion: “They know we don’t like them”

Chiefs vs Bengals
“Cincy” provokes Champion: “They know we don’t like them”

By Heiko Oldörp
15.09.2024, 20:09

Kansas City against Cincinnati – these were two thrilling AFC Championship games in the recent past. And the duel is providing something special in “Cincy”: a watch party and loud words from superstar Ja'Marr Chase.

The question would be good for a quiz. Maybe even for a quiz among NFL nerds. And the answer will surprise many. Guaranteed. Also keen to follow the National Football League as meticulously as millions of American children follow Santa Claus's route on Christmas Eve.

What is Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's career record on the first two days of play so far? N/A? 1:8. Yes, you read that right. This 27-year-old Joseph Lee Burrow, one of the most talented – and coolest – playmakers, has actually only won one of the nine games on the first and second days of play since his NFL debut in 2020 – on September 12, 2021 at home against the Minnesota Vikings with a 27-24 win in overtime.

Chiefs start masterfully, Bengals with disgrace

And we would seriously bet a high amount that this balance will be (10:25 p.m. live on RTL and RTL+) is not 1:9? First of all, there is the opponent. The Chiefs started the new season the way they ended the old one in February – with a win. 27:20 The champions at the start of the season defeated the highly-rated Baltimore Ravens. Anyone who had hoped for a championship hangover was disappointed.

The Bengals, on the other hand, have blamed themselves. At home. Losing 10:16 to the New England Patriots. A team in which pretty much everyone except owner Robert Kraft is new this season. Even the local press thinks they can only win a maximum of six games this season. And who have about as many ambitions this season as a civil servant ten minutes before the end of his shift on a Friday.

Joe Burrow is back

Nevertheless, these Patriots were too good for Cincinnati a week ago. Or rather: these Bengals were simply too bad. That's how hot it must be. These Bengals, who, once again, are among the extended circle of title contenders. With them, Joe Burrow was back after recovering from a wrist injury that forced him to end the season early in mid-November. These Bengals played a catastrophic first half – and a second half that was only slightly better.

Maybe the contract situation surrounding Ja'Marr Chase is too big a problem? A distraction? The star wide receiver had hoped to sign a long-term contract in “Cincy” in the summer. Just like other players he was drafted with in 2021, such as Amon-Ra St. Brown (Detroit, four years/$120 million), Jaylen Waddle (Miami, three years, $84.75 million), Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville/five years/$275 million) and DeVonta Smith (Philadelphia, three years/$75 million) had done with their clubs.

Chase with provocative announcement

And according to Chase, there were clear signals from the Bengals that a deal would be made in the summer. But then nothing happened. The 24-year-old is said to have even threatened to sit out the first two game days, but will then play against the Patriots and will also play in Kansas City. But the contract complications will continue. Chase made it clear that he will not be holding any talks about a long-term contract during the season.

He has clear words for Kansas City. The Bengals are the team to beat in the American Football Conference (AFC), Chase said, adding: “Everyone knows that. We know that. And that's how we have to play.”

Frustration and joy – but no title

Now Cincinnati has won two of the four games since 2021. Before the 27-24 victory after overtime in the AFC Championship Game on January 30, 2022 in Kansas City, a big surprise came. For the first time since 1989, the Bengals were back in the Super Bowl. But they lost the final to hosts Los Angeles Rams 20-23. And a year later, Cincinnati lost the reunion in the semifinals to the Chiefs 20-23.

This means that the Bengal Tigers from the largest metropolitan area in the US state of Ohio have nothing to show for other than joy and frustration. However, Kansas City has won the championship twice in the past two years – and also won the title in 2020.

Coach Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes and star tight end Travis Kelce have also proven — multiple times — that they can win games when they really need to win games. Chase and the Bengals have yet to prove that.

How much they are still enjoying the “highlight” of the 2022 AFC Championship Game victory in Cincinnati is shown by the fact that the club has invited its fans to today's match at its home stadium, Paycor Stadium. To a watch party. For $99 admission, there is live music, a meet-and-greet with some Bengals legends and perhaps the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to step onto the arena's football field. If you like it…

Mahomes close to NFL records

So far, so good. However, the whole thing has been declared a “rematch”. A new edition of the semi-final duel on January 30, 2022. Since that victory 31 months ago, both teams have seen each other several times. There was never a watch party. There was never any talk of a “rematch”.

In Kansas City, they ignore all of that. Championship parades are held here – not a victory in an AFC Championship Game. Mahomes could make NFL history today. He will play his 98th NFL game two days before his 29th birthday. If he doesn't complete a particularly challenging five passes to his teammates, Mahomes would overtake Matthew Stafford as the professional with the most passes – and he's already two games before the 100-game mark used for this count.

Bengals threaten another 0-2 start to the season

If he wins, he will have won 76 games – and will tie Tom Brady and Roger Staubach, who currently share the record for most wins in the first 100 games as a starting quarterback. Mahomes would then have the chance to become the sole leader against the Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Chargers.

While the superstar is also on the verge of making further entries in the NFL record book, the Bengals are facing a 0-2 start for the fifth time in the past six years. These contrasts create tension. “The energy is there on both sides,” emphasizes Chase. However, he also highlights the animosity that exists between the two clubs. After all, whoever faces each other in important playoff games definitely develops a rivalry. Ja'Marr Chase sums up the feelings on both sides as follows: “I think they know we don't like them – and vice versa. There's really not much more to say. Everyone knows.”