The place to look at Bengals vs. Chiefs: TV channel, NFL kickoff time, dwell stream, unfold, odds, Week 2 prediction

We have now ourselves fairly the showdown within the late window of Week 2 because the Kansas City Chiefs are set to host the Cincinnati Bengals on CBS. These two AFC golf equipment are not any strangers to 1 one other as they’ve duked it out on a few of the NFL’s highest levels all through Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes‘ careers. 

Up to now, Burrow has been the hardest adversary for Mahomes, regardless of the Chiefs signal-caller tallying three Super Bowl championships to Burrow’s zero. The Bengals quarterback is 3-1 in opposition to Mahomes (together with playoffs), and all 4 of these matchups have been determined by precisely three factors. Their most up-to-date matchup got here within the 2022 AFC Championship, the place Mahomes notched his first win over Burrow to advance to the Tremendous Bowl. 

Whereas that is the historical past, the newer paths have these groups on totally different trajectories. Cincinnati was upset within the opener by the hands of the New England Patriots, whereas the Chiefs took down the Baltimore Ravens to start their quest for a three-peat. As we anticipate kickoff on this head-to-head bout, let’s break down this matchup and inform you the way to watch the sport on CBS and Paramount+. 

All NFL odds are by way of SportsLine Consensus.

How you can watch

Date: Sunday, Sept. 15 | Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
Location: Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas Metropolis)
TV: CBS | Stream: Paramount+ (click here)
Odds: Chiefs -6, O/U 48

When the Bengals have the ball

The Bengals are prone to be with out standout huge receiver Tee Higgins for the second week in a row. He’s formally listed as uncertain after not practising all week resulting from a hamstring harm. His absence will put a dent in Cincinnati’s means to slice Kansas Metropolis’s secondary by way of the air. In his 5 profession video games in opposition to the Chiefs, Higgins has totaled 302 yards and two touchdowns, so his doable loss cannot be overstated. 

Talking of accidents, Joe Burrow’s surgically repaired wrist has been the subject of dialog all through the summer time, and that did not subside because the common season kicked off. Within the Week 1 matchup in opposition to New England, Burrow did not push the ball down the sphere a lot, as his supposed air yards per move try was 5.6. Is that resulting from his wrist, the absence of Higgins or a bit little bit of each? Mix that with Burrow’s historic struggles to start the season, and there is some trigger for concern for a way this offense might transfer down the sphere in opposition to this Chiefs protection. 

In fact, the offense will lean on wideout Ja’Marr Chase as a lot as doable. He caught six passes within the opener for 62 yards. Whereas his general numbers in opposition to the Chiefs — 533 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns in 5 video games — are spectacular, a bulk of that got here in his first-ever matchup in opposition to them. In his final 4 video games in opposition to Okay.C., Chase has averaged 66.7 receiving yards per recreation and has one whole landing. He’ll want to supply at a better stage than that to assist keep away from Cincinnati from falling to 0-2. 

When the Chiefs have the ball

Patrick Mahomes has traditionally began seasons on a robust be aware. In Weeks 1 and a couple of, the Chiefs quarterback is 11-2 all time with 41 whole touchdowns and simply 5 interceptions. From what we noticed within the season opener in opposition to Baltimore, Mahomes seems to be primed to proceed that development as he accomplished 20 of his 28 throws for 291 yards, a landing and an interception. 

Whereas Travis Kelce will likely be a trusted possibility for Mahomes, it will be fascinating to look at the continued growth of wideouts Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy. Rice was Mahomes’ most focused weapon in Week 1, wanting his method 9 occasions and connecting on seven throws for 103 yards. As Rice moved the chains, Worthy, a first-round rookie out of Texas, offered a speedy burst to the offense not seen because the days of Tyreek Hill. In his debut, Worthy had two touchdowns: a 21-yard rush and a 35-yard receiving rating. 

These two will likely be key items for a way the Chiefs assault by way of the air, however this might find yourself being a large alternative for operating again Isiah Pacheco. He had a modest 45 yards on the bottom within the opener to go together with a landing, however now faces a Cincinnati run protection that gave up 170 yards and a landing final week. 

Bengals vs. Chiefs key matchup

Cincinnati proper sort out Trent Brown did not have a robust displaying in his Bengals debut. On the second play from scrimmage, he was badly crushed by Patriots move rusher Keion White, who went on to sack Joe Burrow and pressure a fumble. Total, White completed with 2.5 sacks on the afternoon. So, if Brown’s struggles bleed into Week 2, that would end in an analogous outing for Chiefs move rusher George Karlaftis. The previous first-round decide had two tackles and a quarterback hit within the opener and will very effectively tally his first sack in 2024 on this recreation. 

Prediction

Sure, these two groups have routinely performed one another tight, however I do not anticipate this to be a very shut affair. The Bengals appear to be trending in an 0-2 path as Burrow does not look fully wholesome, and there are questions alongside the offensive line and receiver room. In the meantime, you’ve gotten a Chiefs crew that’s higher than it was throughout their Tremendous Bowl run a 12 months in the past with the addition of Worthy, and their protection continues to be among the many finest within the league. From a betting standpoint, the six-point unfold feels manageable for Kansas Metropolis. Joe Burrow and the Bengals are 1-8 straight up and 2-7 in opposition to the unfold in Weeks 1 and a couple of. 

Projected rating: Chiefs 30, Bengals 21
The decide: Chiefs -6