Quote:
Originally Posted by LongSufferingToady
Hoping I don't get banned from this thread for stating my mind, but Cincy looks awfully strong right now. We can't have our ST play the way they did this past weekend and expect to win.
Geeze folks, Clay says really outlandish crap and you do nothing about his prurient behaviors, but I get banned for my opinion?
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I agree with you, Cincy absolutely is playing great football.
They have great weapons on offense with probably the best trio of WRs in the NFL, a stellar QB, and a very good RB that can hammer out tough yards. Right now, their O-Line is weak but Buffalo's pass rushers couldn't take advantage of it.
Their defense is solid at all 3 levels. Pratt and Wilson are both very good in coverage and solid overall linebackers. Their entire defensive line is solid and Hendrickson can absolutely be a game-wrecker. Bell and Bates have an argument as the best safety tandem in the NFL. Their weakness really is their CBs and they really aren't terrible but they are flawed.
Overall, I think Spags has to change his game plan we've seen a good majority of the season. He needs to roll a safety over the top of Chase consistently. He needs to sit linebackers down in the middle zone to take away those quick dumps (a huge issue for KC this year). He should key safety to the flats where Burrow likes to hit Boyd and Higgins when things break down. The defensive front 4 HAS TO get to Burrow. They simply can't go into this game thinking they can blitz Burrow and have positive outcomes. He's too good, too quick, and they have the weapons to get open quick enough to make it happen. I don't think KC has played terrible defense against them, but those things pop to me from the past and maybe I'm wrong and maybe I'm not. Feel free to argue it.
Offensively, I'm most worried about how well Mahomes will be able to move. That ankle is likely to still be swollen and it's going to be really painful. I'm sure a few painkillers and a lot of tape will be on the docket but the pain is still going to break through and it's going to affect his mobility.
That means this offensive line HAS TO play its absolute best game. I don't know what flavor of Wheaties OBj needs to eat before the game, but he best eat them. Same goes for Wylie, add a protein shake or two.
The IOL needs to be nails. I have faith in them, but they will be key. Mahomes probably won't be able to take those deeper drops and drift, which should help the tackles but then you can't allow penetration up the middle.
The receivers have to win matchups on the outside. Teams have been able to take advantage of that with some deep scores. Calls out to Watson and MVS. Do your jobs this week and catch the damn ball. That will force the safeties to help and take pressure off the middle zone and flats. We have scored on them, but we haven't been good enough.
We also need to run the football. I normally don't pound the table to run, but Cincy is a physical football team and they don't respond so well to a team being physical in return. If Tyler Huntley didn't make a bonehead play in the wild-card round, we aren't talking about the Bengals. The Chiefs need to hit Cincy in the mouth with Pacheco. If there is one thing this O-Line can do, it's get physical in the run game. We're going to need to do it.
Overall, I'm worried about this game. It's going to be close throughout I'd have to think. With Mahomes hobbled and maybe not making those runs for first downs, it could be tough.
I'm going to pick the Chiefs because I'm a homer and this team wants nothing more than to beat Cincinnati. They're going to need an A-game throughout though. The line actually favors Cincy with the Chiefs only being -1 in Vegas. Are we going to see another FG to win it?
Chiefs 27 Bengals 24