Bengals-Chiefs: NFL playoff picks
What to Watch Out For: During the regular season, the quarterback for the Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes, led the NFL in QBR (73.0) for throws made inside the pocket. This is where he will likely have to do the majority of his throws against the Bengals due to his high ankle sprain suffered in the divisional round and his performance against the Bengals in Week 13. During the recent game between these two teams, Mahomes had a good outing in terms of QBR (79.6) when throwing from the pocket, but had a poor performance (14.0 QBR) when throwing outside the pocket. The Bengals are currently on a ten-game winning streak, and both teams have won all their games when scoring first this season.
Bold Prediction: The Bengals will score more red zone touchdowns than the Chiefs. During the regular season, the Bengals ranked fifth in red zone efficiency on offense and tied for ninth on defense. While the Chiefs offense is good at scoring touchdowns inside the 20-yard line (ranked second), their red zone defense was one of the worst in the league (31st) during the regular season. The team that scores the most red zone touchdowns will have the advantage in winning the Lamar Hunt Trophy and advancing to the Super Bowl. - Ben Baby
Stat to Know: Both defenses will have a challenge containing the quick passing game. Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow (19) and Mahomes (18) are ranked first and second respectively for touchdown passes made under 2.5 seconds, including the playoffs. The Chiefs have stood out for their ability to generate yards after a catch, especially on Mahomes' quick throws. This season, the Chiefs have generated more yards after a catch than any other team (2,908) and have the third-highest average yards per catch for any offense (6.3). In total, yards after the catch make up 53% of the Chiefs' receiving yards, the second-highest rate in the league. However, Cincinnati's defense is ranked sixth for limiting after-the-catch production, allowing only 4.7 yards after the catch per reception.
Bowen's Game Plan Key: Cincinnati needs a specific plan for defending against Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Cornerback Tre Flowers is usually the defender for tight ends in dime looks, but he's currently recovering from a hamstring injury. The safeties Dax Hill or Vonn Bell could take on man coverage, but defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo may also have a defender jam and reroute Kelce at the line of scrimmage in zone looks before dropping back to depth.
Bengals-Chiefs: NFL playoff Live Streaming here π
