[duncan_idaho]

I mean, if the lurking Bengals want some actual analysis, where we say things that all the Chiefs fans here already know, here goes:

Question 1: Are the Chiefs better positioned to counter the defense the Bengals found so much success with in the second halves of both contests last year.

Answer 1: Yes. And there are multiple reasons why.

1A: Attacking the flats in the passing game. The Chiefs have SOLVED the drop 7/8 defense by exploiting the space in the short passing game against that type of defense. As posted the other day, Mahomes has a 120+ QB rating against 3-man rushes this year. There's that wonderful 16-minute video going around showing how the Chiefs have - once again - solved the defense de joeur well ahead of the rest of the league. Watch it.

1B: More depth at WR. The Bengals paired that drop 8 approach with bracketing Hill and Kelce, and daring Pringle and Robinson to beat man coverage, which they couldn't do.

Now, the Chiefs WR group is clearly not as strong at WR1. But it has a lot more depth and quality, even with Hardman and Toney out for this one.

Valdes-Scantling, Skyy Moore, Justin Watson - all big upgrade from Robinson and Pringle.

1C: More speed in the backfield. Isaiah Pecheco is a big, strong back with legit 4.4 speed. With him, the Chiefs can get to the edges and run outside/off-tackle stuff much more effectively. Even with Reader being back and having given the Chiefs trouble last year, they are using different and more varied run techniques now that will lessen his impact.

Question 2: How are the Chiefs going to match up any better against this Bengals offense than last year?

Answer 2A: The defensive line personnel is quite a bit better than a season ago. The Chiefs win rate, pressure rate, and sack percentage have all sky rocketed. Because they have a more complete unit. Holdovers (Frank Clark, Chris Jones, Khalen Saunders, Mike Danna) are all playing at higher levels. New additions (Carlos DUnlap, Karlaftis) are playing better than the guys they replaced in the rotation (Ingram, Okafor).

It won't be just "hope Chris Jones makes someone look foolish" any more.

Answer 2B: Personnel turnover to get faster and more athletic on the back end. The Chiefs' secondary is younger than a year ago, but Trent McDuffie has been better than Ward when on the field. Justin Reid doesn't make splash plays, but he also plays well enough to get targeted infrequently. He also isn't the most exploitable defender in the NFL like Dan Sorenson was. Sneed has been dynamite in the "X-factor" role Mathieu played, and a big upgrade at that (Mathieu was more rep than production last year). And Watson and Williams are bigger, faster, and more athletic than Rashad Fenton/Mike Hughes, making them better matchups on jump balls.

And the real topper is that the Chiefs are just rolling with Nick Bolton and Willie Gay.

The Bengals have improved. But the Chiefs have, as well. On both sides of the ball.

tl;dr You are so, so, so ****ed, Brazzers is going to be calling any second now