Chiefs at Bengals: Game Report

Laddie Morse

The Kansas City Chiefs lost to the Cincinnati Bengals yesterday, 27-to-24. That was the third time in a row the Bengals have beaten the Chiefs dating from last season to this. It’s the same number of losses for Patrick Mahomes to Bengals QB Joe Burrow. Burrow’s QB Rating in this game was 126.6 while Mahomes was at 98.2. For those saying this match-up is the modern day Brady vs Manning, neither of these QBs is willing to take that comparison.

The First Half

The Bengals won the coin toss and chose to accept the opening kickoff instead of deferring. That worked out well for them as they marched down he field on 11 plays with Joe Burrow scoring up the middle on a QB keeper. K.C. followed that up with their own long drive of 10 plays only they were held to a 26 yard Field Goal. Those two first drives were enough of an omen that showed what the rest of the game would be like. The first half ended with the Bengals on top: 14-to-10.

The Second Half

Although the Chiefs won the 3rd quarter 14-to-3, they lost the 4th quarter 10-to-nothing… and that was the game. The Bengals last TD came off of a Travis Kelce fumble, which ended up sealing the final score for them. When the Chiefs get behind, as they often do in their games, Patrick Mahomes usually brings them back. Not this time. This time Mahomes led the team on a 10-play drive which ended with Kicker Harrison Butker trying a 55-yard field goal and missing, wide right.

Player of the Game

Joe Burrow – Burrow threw for two TDs and ran for another one. Here’s a look at his rushing TD, the first on in the game:

..

I don’t normally like to give the Player of the Game Award away to an opposing player, but in the case, he deserves it.

.

Current Playoff Picture

Because the Chiefs lost this game they now have the same record as the Buffalo Bills, who… already beat the Chiefs, so, they have the #1 seed and more importantly, the current first round Bye.

.

Andy Reid Post Game

.

If Patrick Mahomes injury is not a real injury, then mentioning it in a post game presser is just plain lousy.

Kelce Fumble

The difference in this game was the fumble by all-World TE, Travis Kelce.

.

.

There’s lots of Twitter criticism of Travis Kelce, and I just don’t get it. Sure, he may have been the number on reason we lost that game, but he’s also the #1 reason the Chiefs have won so many game for the past half a dozen years. Many fans may not recall what it was like to only win 2 game in 2012, but I do. Kelce is a hige reason we’re where we’re at, so chill.

Run/Pass Balance

The Chiefs threw the ball 27 times in this game and ran the ball 25 times. Since RBs Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon each had two passes thrown their way, that means the balance of the Chiefs attack was in the running game, not the passing game. While I’m sure that was Andy Reid and Eric Bieniemy’s game plan, I’m hoping they take a stiff look at that plan before the Chiefs meet the Bengals again in the playoffs, which is likely to happen this year.

Quote of the Game

.

“I know today wasn’t our best effort. We’ve got a long season

left & I guarantee we won’t put on a display like that again.”

-Frank Clark

.

Tweet of the Game

Mahomes TD Pass to Jerick McKinnon

.

Song of the Game

I’ve loved this group for quite some time now… months I’d say… and one of the things they do is great covers of songs other artists have made popular. The name of the group is Foxes and Fossils and here’s their cover of “Don’t Worry Baby” by the Beach Boys. Why? I think that’s obvious:

.

If you notice, the leader of this group says at the end, “No real good way to end that one.” Agreed.

.

Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

.