AFC CHAMPIONSHIP: CINCINNATI BENGALS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

BY ADAM GREENE

Some people might say that the AFC Championship happened a week ago when the Kansas City Chiefs outlasted the Buffalo Bills in overtime. I am not one of those people. These Cincinnati Bengals earned their way to the AFC title game, beating these same Chiefs along the way. Now, we get the rematch — Burrow vs. Mahomes 2, when Cincinnati makes its way to Arrowhead to face the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Chiefs, thanks to these Bengals, are hosting their fourth consecutive AFC Championship. Patrick Mahomes has yet to play a road playoff game in his life.

Cincinnati’s QB, Joe Burrow, has not to lost a playoff game in college and the pros. So that might be something you want to factor in.

This is the 31^st all time meeting between the two franchises with the Bengals holding a 16-14 advantage. The Bengals not only won their match up this year, back on Jan. 2, but have won five of the last six going back to 2008. They have never met in the posteason before.

Cincy took that Jan. 2 game 34-31 with a last second field goal at Paul Brown Stadium. Joe Burrow finished 30 of 39 for 446 yards and four touchdowns in the win. Joe Mixon rushed for 48 yards and caught seven passes for 40 yards. Ja’Marr Chase caught 11 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns. Mahomes finished with 259 yards and two touchdowns with no picks. Darrel Williams rushed 14 times for 88 yards and Tyreek Hill caught six passes for 40 yards.

CINCINNATI BENGALS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (-7.5, O/U: 54.5)

Location: GEHA at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Mo.

Broadcast: CBS

Kickoff: Jan. 30, 3 p.m.

CINCINNATI BENGALS (12-7)

The Bengals are making playoff nailbiters their modus operandi. Last Saturday Cincinnati traveled to the No. 1 seeded Tennessee Titans and knocked them off 19-16 with a last second field goal after a scoreless fourth quarter. Burrow finished 28 of 37 for 348 yards and an interception in spite of being sacked a playoff record nine times (in a win). Mixon rushed for 54 yards and a score and added 51 yards through the air. Chase caught five passes for 109 yards. Cincy’s defense sacked Ryan Tannehill once and picked him off three times.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (14-5)

Kansas City survived what might have been the best playoff game of all time, beating the Buffalo Bills 42-36 in overtime. Mahomes finished the day 33 of 44 for 378 yards and three touchdowns. He also led the team in rushing with seven carries for 69 yards and a TD. Clyde Edwards-Helaire had seven carries for 60 yards. Hill caught 11 passes for 150 yards and a score. KC’s defense sacked Josh Allen twice.

THE PICK

Like the divisional round, nothing would surprise me here. Both final four games are rematches from the regular season and the team hosting the title game lost those regular season games. Burrow is just as capable as Allen and Mahomes when it comes to a track meet and he’s got better supporting players at the skill positions than Allen. I won’t predict a Kansas City loss, but I’m betting it’ll be closer than -7.5. Chiefs 27, Bengals 24

Last Week

Straight up: 1-3

Against the spread: 3-1

Playoffs

Straight up: 6-4

Against the spread: 6-4

Season

Straight up: 176-105-1

Against the spread: 149-133

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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