The Cincinnati Bengals (0-1) travel to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs (1-0) in Week 2. The two teams have had several intense meetings in recent history and this time should prove no different.
Here are three Bengals who could impact the game the most.
Quarterback Joe Burrow
Burrow is coming off a disappointing Week 1 showing against the New England Patriots in which he threw for just 164 yards and zero touchdowns in a 16-10 loss.
However, there’s no arguing against Burrow’s dominance against the Chiefs. He has thrown for nine touchdowns to three interceptions when matching up with the AFC’s top dog and owns a 3-1 record against them.
Burrow’s play even had fans and teammates nicknaming Arrowhead Stadium “Burrowhead” two seasons ago.
That was short-lived, as the last time Burrow played in Kansas City he took his lone loss (23-20) against the franchise in the AFC Championship game. Expect him to bounce back in Week 2.
Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase
It looks like the Bengals will be without wide receiver Tee Higgins for the second straight week as he did not practice once again on Friday due to his hamstring injury.
That means Chase (among others), will have to make up for the loss of Higgins, and he knows it.
“I told all the receivers, there’s no better opportunity than this week,” Chase said, via Joe Danneman of Fox19. “They don’t like us, we don’t like them.”
Chase was Burrow’s top target last week, finishing the day way six catches for 62 yards.
He’ll have to play even better if he hopes to prove his belief that the Bengals are still the top team in the AFC.
“Everybody knows that, bro,” Chase stated. “It’s no ‘if.’ We are the team to beat in the AFC. And we know it. And we gotta act like it and we gotta play like it, too.”
Edge-rusher Trey Hendrickson
The best way to beat quarterback Patrick Mahomes is by bringing him down and there’s no player better suited for that job than Hendrickson.
The three-time Pro Bowler had a quiet regular-season opener last weekend, registering just two tackles and two quarterback hits, but he’s capable of much more after finishing last year with the second-most sacks (17.5) in the league.
If Hendrickson can find a way to do what seems nearly impossible and fluster Mahomes, he’ll give his team a chance to get its revenge on its rival.
