The Cincinnati Bengals must still be having nightmares of Aaron Rodgers. Coming from a 38-28 loss at Lambeau Field, the Kansas City Chiefs take the road again, as they head to Ohio for a showdown with the streaking Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals are looking like a legitimate Super Bowl contenders this early in the season thanks to a bustling offense led by ginger-extraordinaire, Andy Dalton. Will the Chiefs prevent a three-game skid? Or will the Bengals add more to Kansas City’s woes?
For more Week 4 game previews, you can also read our breakdown of Eagles vs. Redskins and Panthers vs. Bucs.
[sc:Football ]Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cincinnati Bengals Preview and Prediction
Where: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati
When: Sunday, October 4, 1:00 PM ET
Line: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Kansas City Chiefs – see all NFL lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
Betting on the Kansas City Chiefs
[sc:NFL240banner ]Fresh off a senseless beating at the hands of Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, the Chiefs have a week to recover and plot ways on how to deal with another offensively gifted team in the form of Cincinnati.
Hopefully for the Chiefs, they could sustain the one big positive takeaway from their loss to Green Bay when they troop to Paul Brown Stadium next Sunday. In the Green Bay game, the Chiefs successfully ended their 18-game drought for a wide receiver touchdown when Jeremy Maclin scored a five-yard receiving touchdown late in the third period. Maclin finished the game with his best performance yet in Chiefs uniform, as he reeled in eight catches for 141 yards and a touchdown.
Maclin’s breakout performance of sorts, albeit in a loss, should be good news for Alex Smith, who usually relies on tight end Travis Kelce and running back Jamaal Charles down field. That said, the Chiefs’ passing attack wouldn’t go far if their offensive line continues to suck. Smith was a low-hanging fruit over Kansas City’s last two games, wherein the quarterback was sacked 11 times total.
Rivalling Kansas City’s offensive line in terms of mediocrity in the Green Bay game was the Chiefs’ defense. With minimal pressure from the Chiefs’ front seven combined with a punching bag secondary, Rodgers was able to throw for 333 yards and five touchdowns without an interception. The Chiefs are going to do a better job pressuring Andy Dalton than their one-sack effort against the Packers. Justin Houston, who led the league last season with 22.0 sacks, has 3.0 so far this year.
The secondary will also have to step up or else get humiliated anew by the Bengals’ terrific cast of receivers. The Bengals only have two interceptions this season.
The over is 3-0 in Kansas City’s last three games.
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Betting on the Cincinnati Bengals
Andy Dalton is doing a fine job of silencing his critics. Dalton and the Bengals have left detractors in a hush so far this season, thanks to a 3-0 record and a humming offense that looks scarier each passing week.
The Bengals have averaged 28.3 points and 414.3 yards per through their first three games of the season, seventh and second in the league, respectively. Cincy’s success is largely driven by the excellent play of Dalton, who has thrown for 866 yards and eight touchdowns with only a pick. Of course, it helps Dalton that he’s surrounded by elite offensive talents. The backfield has the tandem of Giovanni Bernard and Jeremy Hill, while the likes of A.J. green, Marvin Jones, and Tyler Eifert roam down field waiting for Dalton to locate them.
In the Bengals’ 28-24 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Dalton passed for 383 yards and three touchdowns with only one interception. Green, on the other hand, was simply too much for the Ravens’ secondary, as he caught 10 catches for 227 yards and two touchdowns.
The backfield was a bit silent with Bernard and Hill combining for only 70 rushing yards, but that was against Baltimore’s stop unit that ranks eight against the rush. Kansas City is also another top 10 team in rushing defense, but the Chiefs might be too focused on containing Cincy’s passing offense. If so, Bernard and Hill should be able take advantage any time Kansas City’s defense opens up some running routes.
As for their defense, the Bengals must be able to prepare for the Chiefs’ running game. Based on the way they tamed Baltimore’s backfield in Week 3, it appears as though the Bengals are more than ready to take on Jamaal Charles and company. The Bengals, who allowed just 36 rushing yards in the Baltimore game, are fifth in the NFL in rushing defense (76.7).
Cincinnati is 2-0 SU and ATS in its last two home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Kansas City wins, 32-27.
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