For just the second time in his career, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are an underdog at home.
On Sunday, the Chiefs will take on the Cincinnati Bengals for the AFC Championship, a team that is 3-0 against the Chiefs in the last 18 months.
Although oddsmakers and NFL analysts are pointing to the Bengals as clear favorites in this game, former quarterback Dan Orlovsky highlights a key aspect of this game.
The @Chiefs had 241 QB pressures this season. Only Dallas had more.
They contacted the QB 198 times. That led the NFL.
We should absolutely not just assume Cincy’s O-line holds up again.
Joe will have hands full
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) January 26, 2023
As Orlovsky points out, the Chiefs’ defensive front is no joke.
They have been dominant all season, pressuring opposing quarterbacks 241 times, and contacting the quarterback 198 times.
This, combined with the fact that the Bengals will be missing several of their typical starting offensive linemen, could mean that Joe Burrow will be under more pressure than normal.
Burrow has been playing exceptionally well as of late but hasn’t faced intense pressure in his last several games.
The Chiefs defense has only gotten better as the season has gone on, and should provide a tough test for Burrow and the Bengals.
Another key element to this game will be the play of Mahomes, and whether he can play at 100 percent speed.
He did suffer a high ankle game in the Divisional round, and, while he has been seen running, stretching, and practicing, the injury could affect his play on Sunday.
There are several storylines to watch and keep track of during the Chiefs-Bengals game.
Ultimately, this game will come down to the defenses, and how well they will be able to defend these elite quarterbacks.
NEXT: Patrick Mahomes Takes Home His First 2023 Award
