NFL Cincinnati at Kansas City NFL Week 2 Free Pick

The Cincinnati Bengals look to erase an embarrassing start to their season when they travel to Arrowhead to oppose the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs Sunday afternoon.

Cincinnati, out of reclaim its place among the elite teams in the AFC, instead lost, 16-10, at home in a sloppy effort against the lowly New England Patriots last Sunday.

Meanwhile, it was the Chiefs outlasting the visiting Baltimore Ravens, 27-20, in the league opener last Thursday. Time expired with the Ravens thinking they’d scored the game-tying touchdown, only to find out Isaiah Likely’s foot was too big.

‘Game-tying’ might be a mistaken phrase, as Baltimore coach John Harbaugh had planned a two-point conversion to try and steal a win on the road.   

It’s Kansas City as a 5½-point favorite (total at 47½), according to NFL odds.

In a series dating back to the wonderful American Football League, Cincinnati is leading (including postseason), 18-16.

Here’s a look at one of the marquee games during the NFL’s second Sunday…  

Bengals’ Ugly Effort 

You can’t overstate the underperformance of the Cincinnati Bengals’ last Sunday, with burying of that game film a necessity.

The final stats in a 16-10 home loss to the ‘doormat’ New England Patriots were not amusing  

Then, there’s the case of Chase, as in wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. 

Fresh off a 100-catch (1,216 yards, seven touchdowns) 2023, Chase was a training-camp holdout as he eyed a new contract. That never happened, and he subsequently rejoined the team and played in the opener. Food poisoning surely did not help, either.

Chase’s limited (six receptions, 62 yards) role was due to a limited preparation, and the team has to figure he’s more of a factor this time around, a lack of pact notwithstanding,

Wideout Tee Higgins (hamstring) is expected to miss a few weeks.

Let’s not overlook quarterback Joe Burrow (21-of-29, 164 yards, no touchdowns/interceptions), returning after wrist surgery, along with a run game which had just 70 ground yards. 

We’re in Hollywood?

Coach Andy Reid did stop short of saying wide receiver Hollywood Brown would play this week. However, he acknowledged Brown is feeling much better after earlier shoulder injury, thus he is getting closer to a return.

Whether Brown (51 receptions with the Arizona Cardinals last season) makes his Chiefs’ debut this week or next (Sunday night in Atlanta) remains to be seen.

It wasn’t clear as of this (Thursday) writing whether Brown was a go. Check the injury report.

With no Brown. Rashee Rice had seven catches (103 yards) to lead all KC receivers. Rookie Xavier Worthy had one aerial and one ground touchdown while quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ line read 20-of-28, 291 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Regarding last Thursday’s escape against Baltimore, some holes existed. KC surrendered 25 first downs and 452 yards of offense (185 ground yards) against the Ravens. Lamar Jackson (267 passing yards) and his mates ran two dozen more plays than the Chiefs as well.

Grab the Points

Anytime quarterbacks Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes oppose one another has the potential to be classic. These teams met in the AFC title games after both the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Burrow’s Bengals are 3-1 against Mahomes and the Chiefs entering Sunday.

KC is the 11-4 (+275) favorite to win the AFC, Cincinnati at 10-1 (+1000), as per NFL conference odds. 

While the first week of the season doesn’t necessarily define a team, this is a game the Cincinnati Bengals desperately need.

Cincy wasn’t good, KC was exposed. At least the Chiefs came away with a win.

This 5½-point number appears to be quite the overreaction. Take the Cincinnati Bengals as they hit the road Sunday afternoon.