Tag: AFC Championship

Patriots plow into Denver as Broncos build up backup QB

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Head coach Mike Vrabel and the New England Patriots kept the focus on the franchise’s bid to return to the Super Bowl, downplaying the massive plotline surrounding the top-seeded Denver Broncos hosting the AFC Championship game Sunday with a new quarterback.

New England (16-3) mowed down the Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans to reach the conference championship game one year after hiring Vrabel to revive the franchise following consecutive seasons finishing 4-13.

The Broncos (15-3) had no time to mourn the season-ending ankle injury to quarterback Bo Nix. As Denver walked off the same field celebrating a victory over the Buffalo Bills, 33-30, Nix was limping out of the picture and clearing a path for backup Jarrett Stidham to take the stage and make his first start of the season — for a spot in Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, Calif.

Nix piloted the Broncos back to the playoffs for the second time in his two NFL seasons and Denver held the No. 1 seed with home-field advantage. He called the injury “the most devastating football news I’ve ever received” but is working to help Stidham, 29, prepare for his fifth career start and the Broncos to go win the next one.

“He’s still a good quarterback,” Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez said. “He can make a lot of throws. We’ve seen what he’s done when he’s been in games. He’s in the NFL for a reason.”

Vrabel was playing linebacker with New England when a backup named Tom Brady emerged to lead the Patriots to victories in Super Bowl XXXVI (2002), XXXVIII (2004) and XXXIX (2005). And there’s no need for the Broncos to issue a book on Stidham to the Patriots. They can get it from one of their coaches first-hand.

Stidham started his career as Brady’s backup in 2019 as a fourth-round pick under Bill Belichick and spent three seasons in New England as part of meetings facilitated by Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels — previously head coach of the Broncos from 2009-10.

Stidham was acquired from the Patriots by the Raiders in a trade after Las Vegas hired McDaniels in 2022. He signed with the Broncos as a free agent in 2023. When the Broncos drafted Nix, head coach Sean Payton had already signed Stidham based on what he knew about his experiences with McDaniels. Stidham expected to compete and become the starter and declared he would again be “a starter in this league.”

Now is the time.

“Ultimately, it’s our three years here and our three years watching him day in and day out that you guys don’t have access to,” Payton said of his foundation of belief in Stidham winning on this massive stage. “He will be ready to go and ready for the moment.”

Broncos No. 1 wide receiver Courtland Sutton was in disbelief when staff informed him of Nix’s injury. The former Oregon quarterback showed no signs of being hurt even during the postgame celebration on the sideline.

When he realized it was reality, Sutton said it took him most of Sunday night to shift his energy from shock, depression for Nix and excitement knowing Stidham will be prepared for his shot.

“It was one of those things, quick transition, you are sad and then you realize you still have a job to go out there and do,” Sutton said. “Jarrett is qualified. He’s a very talented guy in terms of football IQ, football ability.”

With zero pass attempts and only four total snaps this season, Stidham is living a zero-to-60 moment. He has heard from many predictable voices and some unexpected ones this week.

The names of Nick Foles, who beat the Patriots in relief of regular-season starter Carson Wentz to give the Eagles a Lombardi Trophy in the 2017 season, and Jeff Hostetler are again making the rounds. In 1990, Hostetler tagged in when Phil Simms was injured with two games left in the regular season. Hostetler won three playoff games and Super Bowl XXV for the New York Giants.

Those Giants also ranked No. 1 in total defense, allowed over 20 points twice in 16 regular-season games and had All-Pro linebackers Lawrence Taylor and Pepper Johnson to fall back on.

Which could well be precisely Payton’s point of emphasis this week.

Payton wasn’t yet with Bill Parcells and the Giants in ’90, but he’s an undeniable part of the same coaching tree with ample roots in the inclination to find ways to make quarterbacks uncomfortable.

The Patriots thrived with that approach last week, intercepting Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud four times in the first half.

“We talk all the time, when a quarterback gets hit, bad things happen,” Vrabel said.

Payton said he talked to Parcells this week — and they’re in touch regularly — about the predicament. He’s relatively at ease with Stidham given the performance of an offensive line anchored by right guard Quinn Meinerz and left tackle Garett Bolles. The Broncos’ backfield could also get a boost if running back J.K. Dobbins (foot injury) returns, the team’s leading rusher with 772 yards. He went through position drills Wednesday in his first practice since Nov. 4.

Maye was sacked 47 times in the regular season and 10 more in two playoff games. Getting heat to the pocket is already a strength of the Broncos. Denver has four players with 7.0 or more sacks. The Broncos led the NFL in sacks with 68 in 2025 and got to Josh Allen three times last week.

“(Maye is) fast. He can run. We had that challenge a week ago,” said Payton, who can tie Parcells and others on the NFL all-time list with his 11th playoff win on Sunday.

There are numerous mines for Maye to avoid in the Denver defense.

Outside linebackers Nik Bonitto — fifth in the NFL with 14 sacks this season — and Jonathon Cooper (8.0 sacks) are backed by lockdown cornerback Patrick Surtain II, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year. They could be sensing blood in the water after Maye had five turnovers in the first two playoff games.

“We have to be able to not get careless with the football. We can’t be reckless,” Vrabel said. “A lot of it is operation. We had two turnovers with not everyone on the same page.”

Maye might not win the NFL MVP award given the Los Angeles Rams’ Matthew Stafford’s 46-TD season, but he put himself in the running by excelling in pressure situations. He led the NFL with an average of 9.4 yards per pass attempt when pressured and was second in the league with a completion percentage of 57% in those situations.

New England ranked second in the regular season in points per game (28.2) and third in total offense (379.4 yards per game). Both teams were in the top 10 in total defense — Denver was No. 2 (287.2 ypg) and New England allowed 295.2. The Broncos (second at 91.1 yards per game) and Patriots (101.7) were also in the top six stopping the run.

This is Maye’s first-ever trip to Colorado. But his mentality outside of New England has been on point. Every time the Patriots packed for a road game this season, they brought home a victory.

“The magnitude of the noise is something we probably haven’t seen yet,” Maye said of going to Denver. “Playing on the road is one of the coolest things. Coming off the field with their screaming fans, coming out with a win. It’s pretty cool to celebrate in an away locker room, that’s different. Coach is always saying ‘road warriors’ and we’re trying to find that one more time.”

The Broncos beat the Patriots in the 2015 season’s AFC Championship game in Denver and hold a 4-1 advantage in the all-time postseason series. New England is 11-4 all-time in the AFC Championship and the Patriots’ 11 Super Bowl berths are the most in NFL history.

Vrabel can become the seventh head coach to lead the team he played for to a Super Bowl berth. He can become the eighth head coach to lead his team to the Super Bowl in his first season with the team.

–Field Level Media

Jan 26, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) dives for a first down against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half in the AFC Championship game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Chiefs get by Bills, head to third straight Super Bowl

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Harrison Butker kicked a tiebreaking 35-yard field goal with 3:33 remaining as the Kansas City Chiefs recorded a wild 32-29 victory over the visiting Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday to reach the Super Bowl for the third straight season.

Patrick Mahomes accounted for three touchdowns (two rushing, one passing) as top-seeded Kansas City eliminated the Bills from the postseason for the fourth time in the past five seasons. Kareem Hunt rushed for a touchdown, and Xavier Worthy had six receptions for 85 yards and one score.

The Chiefs will face the NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9 in New Orleans. Kansas City will be looking to become the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowls.

Mahomes completed 18 of 26 passes for 245 yards and added 43 on 11 rushes as the Chiefs won their ninth consecutive postseason game.

Josh Allen was 22-of-34 passing for 237 yards and two touchdowns for the second-seeded Bills, who were trying to earn their first Super Bowl appearance in 31 years.

James Cook rushed for 85 yards and two touchdowns while Mack Hollins and Curtis Samuel had scoring receptions for Buffalo.

Kansas City drove 51 yards in eight plays to set up Butker’s go-ahead kick.

The Bills faced fourth-and-5 from their own 47-yard line on their next possession when the Chiefs heavily blitzed Allen, and his desperation throw for Dalton Kincaid fell incomplete with 1:54 left.

Two plays later, Kansas City’s Isiah Pacheco took a short pass 10 yards for a first down. The Bills then had a chance to force a punt on third-and-9, but Mahomes hit Samaje Perine out of the backfield for 17 yards to clinch the victory.

Buffalo took a 22-21 lead on Cook’s 1-yard TD run with 2:56 left in the third quarter to cap a 12-play, 80-yard drive. The ensuing two-point conversion try failed.

The Bills later had possession, but Allen was stopped for no gain on fourth-and-1 from the Kansas City 41-yard line, giving the Chiefs the ball with 12:55 remaining in the game.

Just five plays later, Mahomes ran to the end zone for a 10-yard score and followed with a two-point conversion pass to Justin Watson to give Kansas City a 29-22 lead with 10:14 left.

Buffalo answered and tied the score on Allen’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Samuel on fourth-and-goal with 6:15 to play.

Kansas City held a 21-16 halftime lead.

The Chiefs drove 90 yards in nine plays on their first possession, with Hunt scoring on a 12-yard run.

Buffalo scored the next 10 points on Tyler Bass’ 53-yard field goal in the opening quarter and Cook’s 6-yard TD run with 10:25 left in the first half.

Kansas City took a 14-10 lead on Mahomes’ 11-yard touchdown pass to Worthy with 4:13 left in the second quarter. Mahomes added a 1-yard scoring run with 1:55 to go to give the Chiefs a 21-10 advantage.

Buffalo responded with Allen’s 34-yard touchdown pass to Hollins with 23 seconds remaining in the frame. A two-point conversion attempt failed.

–Field Level Media

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen throws a pass, warming up before the Buffalo Bills divisional game against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Jan. 19, 2025.

Bills seek revenge in AFC Championship rematch vs. Chiefs

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The Buffalo Bills have patiently been waiting four years to get revenge against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Kansas City will host Buffalo in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday night in a rematch of a 2021 meeting that the Chiefs won 38-24 to reach the Super Bowl.

It was a different time back then. Only 17,000 fans were allowed into Arrowhead Stadium because of pandemic-related health and safety measures, and most of that limited crowd was naturally pro-Kansas City.

Bills coach Sean McDermott believes Buffalo will have more support this time around.

“It’s huge,” McDermott said of having Bills fans in enemy territory. “We’ve gone on the road, we’ve played at home — our fans travel everywhere and anywhere that we play. So, we’ve got the best fans in the NFL. I think that the connection with our fan base, as I’ve said multiple times over, is unique in the NFL.”

Still, it’s going to take a lot more than having some rowdy fans in the building to beat the Chiefs, who have won eight straight playoff games. Only the New England Patriots (10 wins in a row from 2001-05) and the Green Bay Packers (nine in a row from 1961-68) have been able to string more victories together in the postseason.

A win on Sunday would send Kansas City to the Super Bowl for the third consecutive year, and considering the Chiefs have won the past two, quarterback Patrick Mahomes is aware of the target that he and his teammates have on their backs.

“You have to combat,” Mahomes said. “You have to look at your weaknesses and try to make those strengths, and then your strengths, make them even better, because you know that (the Bills are) gonna go out there and try to take away those things.

“It’s a great football team. Like I said, great players, well-coached and we know it’s gonna take our best in order to find a way to get a win.”

Kansas City and Buffalo have faced off six times since colliding in the 2021 AFC Championship Game, with two of those meetings in the postseason. The Chiefs won both of the divisional-round matchups, most recently taking out the Bills with a 27-24 victory in last season’s playoffs.

However, when the teams last met, Buffalo topped Kansas City 30-21 in Week 11 of this season.

McDermott doesn’t necessarily think the win will help the Bills come Sunday, though.

“That game stands alone, as this game will,” he said. “As you saw with our experience last week (against the Baltimore Ravens), these games are individual of each other.”

Buffalo edged the Ravens 27-25 to set up the date with Kansas City, which got past the Houston Texans 23-14.

Bills safety Taylor Rapp sustained a hip injury against Baltimore and wouldn’t have practiced on Wednesday anyway, but Buffalo only held a walkthrough. Rapp is also dealing with a back issue. Offensive tackle Dion Dawkins (illness) would have also been held out of practice, while linebacker Matt Milano (biceps/hamstring) was listed as limited.

Everyone on the Chiefs had the green light at their practice on Wednesday, including Mahomes, who popped up on the injury report because of his ankle. He suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 15 but didn’t miss any time and was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice.

–Field Level Media

Jan 29, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) gestures before the snap against the Cincinnati Bengals during the third quarter of the AFC Championship game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Eagles await as Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes lift Chiefs back to Super Bowl

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Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs return to the Super Bowl for the third time in four years, and the Philadelphia Eagles will be there waiting.

The Chiefs beat the Cincinnati Bengals to claim the AFC Championship and set up a showdown in Arizona in Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12 with the Eagles, who fired Reid in 2012 after 14 seasons with the franchise.

“Here we come, Philly,” Reid said in the postgame ceremony while receiving the Lamar Hunt Trophy.

The Eagles’ all-time winningest coach, Reid also appeared in five conference championship games during his run with the Philadelphia, but went to the Super Bowl just once, losing to the New England Patriots in the 2004 season.

The Chiefs gritted out a win Sunday, closing out the 23-20 win on a Harrison Butker field goal from 45 yards out with three seconds to play.

Now in his 10th season with the Chiefs, Reid leaned on defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo for a big assist Sunday night.

Bengals quarterback Burrow was intercepted twice and sacked five times. Defensive tackle Chris Jones sacked Burrow twice, including on Cincinnati’s final drive to force a punt in the final minute of the game.

“I didn’t make the plays I needed to. They did a good job of creating one-on-one matchups up front to let their guys go,” Burrow said. “We just weren’t able to convert those last couple plays.”

The Bengals lost for the first time in 11 games and were seeking back-to-back Super Bowl appearances after losing to the Los Angeles Rams last February.

“The great thing about the NFL is that it’s not just four years. You have years ahead of you where you can try to win again,” Burrow said.

Four years has been a near-constant victory parade for the Chiefs. Kansas City has 52 regular-season wins since the start of the 2019 season and six days before the AFC title game was played, the Chiefs were viewed as the underdog due to Mahomes’ right ankle injury. Also, Cincinnati cornerback Mike Hilton referenced Kansas City’s home venue as ‘Burrowhead.’

“There was a lot of talking going on this week,” Jones said. “Let me tell y’all something man, don’t ever, ever disrespect Arrowhead Stadium, no matter how many times you beat us.”

Mahomes, the second quarterback to reach three Super Bowls in his first six seasons, lost three receivers to injury before halftime — Mecole Hardman (pelvis), Kadarius Toney (ankle) and JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee). While his offensive line bought time, the running game was nonexistent for the Chiefs (20 carries, 42 yards) and tight end Travis Kelce played with a back injury.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling caught six passes for 116 yards and a touchdown for Kansas City and Kelce caught a TD. He’ll see his brother, Eagles center Jason Kelce, in the season-ender in two weeks.

“I told the guys before the game, it’s going to take everybody,” Mahomes said.

Mahomes said his ankle wasn’t a major factor on Sunday. The Eagles will test his mobility. The Eagles had a season-best 78 sacks including the playoffs, which rates behind only the 1984 and 1985 Bears (82 and 80, respectively) as the third-highest all-time.

–Field Level Media

Jan 29, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) passes the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first quarter of the AFC Championship game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Chiefs edge Bengals, 23-20, return to Super Bowl

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Harrison Butker kicked the Kansas City Chiefs back to the Super Bowl.

Butker made a 45-yard field goal and the Chiefs beat the Cincinnati Bengals, 23-20, to win the AFC Championship for the third time in the past four seasons on Sunday in Kansas City.

Patrick Mahomes had 326 passing yards and two touchdowns and set up the game-winning kick on a scramble to his right with 12 seconds left in the game. As he crossed the sideline, Mahomes was shoved by Joseph Ossai, resulting in a 15-yard penalty to set up Butker’s game-winning kick.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling caught six passes for 116 yards and a touchdown, tight end Travis Kelce caught seven passes for 78 yards and a touchdown, and Kansas City’s defense had two interceptions and five sacks of Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.

In a 20-20 tie, Burrow and the Bengals took over at their own 12-yard line with 2:30 to play but defensive tackle Chris Jones’ second sack of the game forced Cincinnati to punt to rookie Skyy Moore, who caught the ball at the 18 with 35 seconds left and returned it to Kansas City’s 47.

The Bengals pounced on their first takeaway and recovered momentum in the final minute of the third quarter. From the shotgun, Mahomes faked a handoff to Isiah Pacheco but as he twisted his body to the right, he lost control of the ball. Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard came up with the ball at Kansas City’s 46.

The drive appeared to stall quickly but the Bengals went for it on fourth-and-6, and Burrow went deep for Ja’Marr Chase, who hauled the ball in at the 5. Two plays later, running back Samaje Perine churned into the end zone for a 2-yard score and knotted the game at 20 with 13:30 remaining.

A hobbled Mahomes operated most of the second half without multiple key receivers due to injuries. He found Valdes-Scantling one step into the center of the end zone to put the Chiefs up 20-13, hooking up on third-and-10 for a 19-yard touchdown with 4:15 left in the third quarter. The 11-play drive covered 77 yards and was extended on a six-yard connection to Valdes-Scantling on the previous third down.

Higgins hauled in 27-yard touchdown from Burrow to the tie the game at 13. On third-and-6, Burrow lofted a pass to the front, right corner of the end zone where Higgins elevated over Chiefs rookie cornerback Jaylen Watson for the score.

Three of Kansas City’s top receivers — Mecole Hardman (pelvis), Kadarius Toney (ankle) and JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) — exited with injuries in the first half.

Evan McPherson connected on his second field goal as time expired in the second quarter to bring the Bengals within seven points, 13-6.

Burrow was sacked four times before his fifth completion in the first half and faced constant pressure in the pocket. He was picked off three plays after the Chiefs jumped ahead 13-3 with 3:53 left in the second quarter.

On a fourth-and-1 rollout, Kelce caught his 15th career postseason TD, which tied him for second all-time with Rob Gronkowski.

–Field Level Media

Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark (55) sacks Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) in the first half of the NFL game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati. Cincinnati Bengals And The Kansas City Chiefs 456

Bengals rule out LT Jonah Williams, RG Alex Cappa vs. Chiefs

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A makeshift offensive line aligns in front of quarterback Joe Burrow for the second consecutive road playoff game on Sunday after the Cincinnati Bengals ruled out left tackle Jonah Williams and right guard Alex Cappa.

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said Friday that neither lineman was ready to return from injuries. Williams is dealing with a knee injury, while Cappa has an injured ankle.

That means Cincinnati will use Max Scharping at right guard and Jackson Carman at left tackle.

A frenzied environment in Kansas City won’t be a factor for Carman, he said.

Carman lined up for 35 snaps at right guard in the 2021 AFC Championship game. He also was the starting left tackle for Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence when they were teammates at Clemson.

“We have a culture of winners and extremely humble, hard-working men,” Carman said. “It’s crazy to see what type of men. I’m walking with amazing people. I can’t overstate that enough.”

Carman’s primary assignment at left tackle is defensive end Frank Clark, who posted 5.0 sacks in the regular season while battling a pinched nerve in his neck.

Scharping will be in that right guard spot, which means a long evening dancing with Chiefs sack leader Chris Jones (15.5).

The Chiefs’ defense had a total of 18 pressures of Lawrence last week, with six QB hits and two sacks.

Taylor said cornerback Tre Flowers, who didn’t play last week, is set to play and has no injury designation on the team’s final report released Friday.

–Field Level Media

Dec 4, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) runs for the first down as Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Carlos Dunlap (8) makes the tackle during the fourth quarter at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Bengals at Chiefs Odds, Props & Picks

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In the playoffs, there’s no passer like Patrick Mahomes at home.

Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs welcome the Bengals in the AFC Championship game Sunday in a repeat of the 2021 title game that sent Joe Burrow and Cincinnati to the Super Bowl. But there’s a significant twist.

Mahomes plans to play with a sprained right ankle and has lost three games in a row to the Bengals, including 27-24 on Dec. 4. His health and the groundswell of support for Burrow has the Chiefs as the underdog in the playoffs for the first time in Mahomes’ career.

Mahomes has been at his best on the big stage with 32 touchdowns (28 TD passes, four rushing) and three interceptions in 10 career home playoff starts.

The tug of war for bettors has been evident since Sunday night, when most books had the Chiefs as favorites — by 2 or 3 points — only to see the Bengals favored by 2 as a consensus by midday Monday. But with Mahomes’ status firmed up by the Chiefs and video evidence to support, the public forced a wild swing that had Kansas City favored by a point.

Burrow, mind you, is 19-5 against the spread in his last 24 games as an underdog. Cincinnati is 9-0 in its last nine as an underdog.

As of Friday morning, the Chiefs were a 1.5-point favorite and a low money line to win outright (-118 at FanDuel).

BetMGM’s handle on spread betting as of Noon ET Friday was 70-30 in favor of the Bengals. At DraftKings, the swing to give Cincinnati points pushed more money on straight spread bets toward the Bengals. DraftKings had 76 percent of the total spread handle on Cincinnati.

Money line wagering was also leaning Cincinnati and tipped the two-thirds mark at DraftKings.

The initial sprain forced him out of the Chiefs’ divisional playoff win over the Jacksonville Jaguars last week. He returned to the game with limited mobility, completing 22 of 30 passes for a season-low 195 yards with two touchdowns and was not sacked.

He’s 9-3 in 12 career playoff games with 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Mahomes said the injury isn’t as severe as his 2019 high ankle sprain or a toe injury two seasons ago, when he finished the season in a Super Bowl defeat at the hands of Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. The difference will be in physical limitations on his right ankle and plant leg throwing from the pocket.

Cincinnati has a 10-game winning streak and its most recent loss was to Cleveland on Halloween. Burrow would tie Russell Wilson for most wins (six) by a quarterback in their first three seasons if he can knock off the Chiefs again.

“He’s got an edge to him,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said of Burrow. “I like that in our quarterback.”

He hasn’t been intercepted in his past three playoff games. In three starts against the Chiefs, Burrow has nine TDs (one rushing), one interception and a combined passer rating of 121.

A fumble by Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce in the fourth quarter turned the game at Cincinnati in December, and kicker Harrison Butker missed a 55-yard field goal that would have sent the game into overtime.

Mahomes will start his fifth conference championship game.

PROP BETS
Chiefs WR JuJu Smith-Schuster under 46.5 yards (-110, FanDuel): With only 11 targets in the past four games combined and two in the playoff win over the Jaguars last week (29 yards), Smith-Schuster might be due. But his breakout isn’t coming here. The Bengals clamped him the regular-season clash in December, when he caught three of four targets for 35 yards. Smith-Schuster has been limited to 38 yards or fewer seven times in the past nine games.

Bengals RB Joe Mixon over 58.5 rushing yards (-110, BetMGM): Only four NFL teams played more base nickel or dime defense than the Chiefs and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo isn’t the type to change his stripes. He’s the type to rip with the front four and vary coverage. The Chiefs could apply more pressure if the Bengals, who didn’t have three starters on the offensive line at Buffalo last week, show leaks in protection. Methodical drives and a heavy reliance on plowing ahead with Mixon – 105 rushing yards last week — worked in beating the Bills, and Mixon had 88 rushing yards at Kansas City in the 2021 AFC Championship. Noteworthy: Mixon’s rushing total at FanDuel and DraftKings was set at 59.5.

Bengals LB Germaine Pratt over 6.5 tackles (-120 at BetMGM): This number includes solo plus assisted tackles. Pratt’s total was bet up to -140 at other books, and this one is a soft guarantee. Soft because he had only four total tackles when the teams met Dec. 4. He had eight or more tackles in nine games this season and a physically limited Mahomes brings the chances of short and quick throws, where Pratt could be in on double-digit stops.

Butker over 7.5 points (+105 at Caesars Sportsbook): Bend, don’t break. That’s the charge for Cincinnati against the Chiefs, a winning approach that resulted in back-to-back 27-24 wins for the Bengals. Butker missed a field goal in the December meeting that would’ve forced overtime – and given him nine total points for the game. With safeties deep and boundaries available, the Chiefs won’t have as many explosive plays – or points – but count on Kansas City consistently moving the ball into FG range.

–Field Level Media

Dec 4, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) makes an adjustment as the Bengals go for it on 4th and 1 in the second quarter of a Week 13 NFL game at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit:Sam Greene-USA TODAY Sports

Joe Burrow, Bengals target another win over Chiefs

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Only one quarterback in the NFL has three consecutive wins against Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and he’ll have the striped orange helmet in the AFC championship game in Kansas City on Sunday night.

Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals (14-4) can return to the Super Bowl by eliminating Mahomes and the Chiefs (15-3) in the conference title game for the second year in a row.

“Last time we played him, he didn’t make a mistake all game,” Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton said Wednesday of Burrow.

That last time was Dec. 4, a 27-24 win for the host Bengals that was near the middle of the team’s current 10-game winning streak.

Cincinnati’s most recent loss was to Cleveland on Halloween. Burrow would tie Russell Wilson for most wins (six) by a quarterback in their first three seasons if he can knock off the Chiefs again.

“He’s got an edge to him,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said of Burrow. “I like that in our quarterback.”

He hasn’t been intercepted in his past three playoff games. In three starts against the Chiefs, Burrow has nine TDs (one rushing), one interception and a combined passer rating of 121.

“They know us, we know them,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said.

A takeaway on a fumble by Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce turned the game at Cincinnati at December in the fourth quarter, and kicker Harrison Butker missed a 55-yard field goal that would have sent the game into overtime.

Mahomes will start his fifth conference championship game. His overall playoff record is 9-3, and he has 32 touchdowns (28 TD passes, four rushing) and three interceptions in 10 career home playoff starts.

But Mahomes is dealing with a sprain of his upper right ankle. The initial sprain forced him out of the Chiefs’ divisional playoff win over the Jacksonville Jaguars last week. He returned to the game with limited mobility, completing 22 of 30 passes for a season-low 195 yards with two touchdowns and was not sacked.

The expectation from the Chiefs is more shotgun formation and the max-protection looks Kansas City showed in the second half of the divisional playoffs.

If he’s operating within a designed barricade in the pocket this week, the Chiefs know the drill. Even though Kansas City leads the NFL with pass attempts on the move, Mahomes also had an NFL-best 34 TD passes from the pocket (41 total TD passes).

“They’re just a physical team. They play physical, from start to finish, all four quarters,” Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster said.

From Mahomes’ view behind center, he said the challenge of solving the Bengals’ defense is the ever-changing approach behind a defensive line without a weakness. In the AFC championship game last season, defensive end Trey Hendrickson had 1.5 sacks and Sam Hubbard had two sacks and a forced fumble.

To beat the Buffalo Bills last week, the Bengals used 10 designed cornerback blitzes, a look Mahomes said was rarely seen this season.

“They have no weakness,” Mahomes said.

With three starters on the offensive line injured and out at Buffalo last week, Burrow was rarely pressured. But protection could be a problem for the Bengals if left tackle Jonah Williams (knee) and right guard Alex Cappa (ankle) are out again. Neither practiced Wednesday.

Taylor said the Bengals leaned on running back Joe Mixon heavily last week (105 rushing yards at Buffalo) to get their fill-in linemen comfortable. The plan has also worked against the Chiefs. Kansas City runs nickel or dime base defense more than only four other teams in 2022.

“We can’t let Joe Burrow sit in the pocket and get rhythm throws. We have to force him out of the pocket,” Chiefs safety Justin Reid said. “We’re not gonna win the game if we don’t get sacks or turnovers.”

Wide receiver Mecole Hardman (pelvis) returned to practice, but Reid said the Chiefs will monitor him closely this week. Hardman didn’t play against the Jaguars and has been sidelined since Nov. 6.

The Chiefs aren’t expecting running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire to be activated from injured reserve. He has missed the past eight games.

If Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo shifts gears from a tendency to rush four, Burrow’s options in the passing game are led by wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase (513 career postseason receiving yards) and Tee Higgins (103 yards in last year’s AFC championship game).

Andy Reid is seeking his third Super Bowl appearance in four seasons and could find his former employer, the Philadelphia Eagles, on the other sideline in Arizona on Feb. 12. A Bengals’ win on Sunday would make Taylor the third head coach in NFL history to appear in two Super Bowls in his first four seasons.

–Field Level Media

Mar 4, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; A general overall aerial view of Lucas Oil Stadium, the home of the Indianapolis Colts and site of the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Indy turns down chance to host AFC title game

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Indianapolis reportedly turned down a request from the NFL to serve as a potential neutral site for the AFC championship game.

The city cited “scheduling conflicts” as the primary reason for not hosting a game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Jan. 28 or 29, the Indianapolis Business Journal reported Saturday.

A national volleyball tournament at Capitol Sports Center is expected to draw about 30,000 people to the downtown area that weekend.

The NFL reached out to Indianapolis and other locales after the cancellation of Monday night’s game between the Buffalo Bills and host Cincinnati Bengals. That contest was halted after Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest on the field.

On Friday, NFL owners voted to approve several neutral site AFC playoff proposals. The AFC title game would be played at a neutral site if any of three possibilities occur:

–If Buffalo (12-3) and Kansas City (13-3) both win or tie this weekend, a Bills-Chiefs championship game would be held at a neutral site.

–If the Bills and Chiefs both lose this weekend and the Baltimore Ravens (10-6) win or tie, a Buffalo-Kansas City championship game would be played at a neutral site.

–If the Bills and Chiefs both lose and the Bengals win, a Buffalo-Kansas City or Cincinnati-Kansas City AFC title game would be held at a neutral site.

Indianapolis is not the first city to decline the NFL’s request. NFL Network reported that Detroit’s Ford Field is not available because of a scheduled change-out of the turf.

Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas is also under consideration, per multiple reports. Raiders owner Mark Davis said the venue would be available. “We are here for the NFL if they need us,” Davis told the Las Vegas Review-Journal on Friday night.

–Field Level Media