[seamonster]

Originally Posted by HC_Chief

Unfortunately for Cincy they are playing the Chiefs late in the season, after the rebuilt OL and D finally gelled. If this game had been earlier in the season they would have had a legit shot at winning by a significant margin (7+... remember, before the SB with the replacement OL, Mahomes-led KC had never lost a game by more than 8 points... most losses, few that they were, were by an avg of 4pts; and that was with significantly weaker defenses).

Barring more COVID BS, this team is healthy and on track. Mahomes has settled into the check-down offense to counter the 2-deep looks, and now carves teams up on long drives. The OL is dominating, esp. the interior (those three are seriously incredible - takes me back to the OL Green had in the Vermeil years). The D is as good as it has ever been under Reid (addition of Ingram, moving CJ back inside, starting Thornhill, Gay, and Bolton = so much win). Play-calling is working in the run just enough to force defenses to respect it, allowing for big play-action shots. This team is peaking at the right time.

Cincy's offense has put up some gaudy numbers, but surrendering that many sacks is a huge red flag: 47 sacks for -340yds, and there are still a couple of games remaining, will seriously impair your future. KC's DL can get to the QB, and their pass protection is less than stellar.

Tough game for Cincy. This is a serious test of their resolve. Are they going to man up and play toe-to-toe with the big dogs, or roll over and get throttled? This game should be flexed IMO; no one wants to watch the sorry ass squealers play the cleveland turds on MNF. Hell, the GB/Minn game is a snooze-fest SNF; GB has it locked up and Minn is dead in the water. KC at Cincy is a legit big game matchup. This could be a real score-fest if Burrow can get the ball out of his hands quickly (if he doesn't this game is going to get ugly).

Burrows has to model his game after Marino if he want's to survive the Bengals organization. Ball has to come out quick and with authority. This could be the game where that finally sinks in with Burrows (Jones is a monster).