Chiefs News: Defense preparing for challenge from Bengals’ Joe Burrow

When the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs welcome the Cincinnati Bengals to Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, ghosts of the latest previous loom giant.

Out of context, it must be unsurprising the Chiefs opened the week as a considerable favourite to win. Kansas Metropolis opened the season with a powerful efficiency in defeating the Baltimore Ravens — and enjoys a three-day relaxation benefit. The Bengals have been among the many league’s most disappointing Week One groups with a surprising residence loss to the New England Patriots.

Chiefs followers, nevertheless, haven’t forgotten the Bengals’ upset victory within the 2021 AFC Championship Sport, with a stifling protection irritating quarterback Patrick Mahomes to arguably the worst play of his profession within the recreation’s second half.

Kansas Metropolis returned the favor a 12 months later, topping the Bengals en path to profitable Tremendous Bowl LVII.

On Thursday, the Chiefs’ greatest defensive star left little doubt that Kansas Metropolis’s locker room sees the Bengals as a serious rival.

“It’s [a] powerful problem and opponent,” defensive sort out Chris Jones stated earlier than follow. “[They] all the time give us hassle. It’s all the time a battle once we face these guys. Whether or not it’s in an everyday recreation or an AFC Championship, we all know it’s going to be a four-quarter battle.”

From earlier expertise, Jones is aware of Sunday’s early-season contest would possibly instantly have an effect on eventual playoff seeding.

“Any time you face an opponent,” he defined, “that may [be there] within the later a part of the 12 months, your report will be affected by it. Whether or not it comes down us having the identical report or positioning [in the playoffs], I believe it’s crucial. Particularly for us and the place we’re attempting to go and the way [the playoffs are] just one bye week now. Additionally, the home-field benefit, which is necessary for us.

“We’d undoubtedly love to remain at residence, nevertheless it’s type of early to be fearful about that. I believe extra so, it’s about ensuring we’re competing at a excessive degree [when] going through a tricky opponent — an AFC opponent, at that.”

The Bengals and Chiefs final performed in December. In that recreation, Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow had already suffered a season-ending harm to his wrist. Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo on Thursday famous the problem a returning Burrow presents.

“The quarterback is all the time going to make offensive schemes totally different,” Spagnuolo noticed. “I simply assume they stick with what they do. They’re a type of offenses that can attempt to discover methods to get you to point out them what you’re doing in order that they will get in the most effective play. [Head Coach Zac Taylor] has obtained a quarterback that does it nearly as good as anyone. I believe that’s all the time been a problem for us. They’re actually good at that.”

In his first motion since final season’s harm, Burrow solely managed 164 passing yards — regardless of throwing 21 occasions. Spagnuolo declined to hitch in on rampant hypothesis that Burrow remains to be restricted by his wrist.

“I’m not shopping for it,” the coach declared. “He appears fairly good to me. I’ve obtained quite a lot of respect for this quarterback, the wideout [Ja’Marr Chase], the entire offense, the coaches, and the way in which they run their program. It’s all the time been a tricky out for us…Final 12 months, regardless that Joe didn’t play, I believed the backup [Jake] Browning was actually good.

“I simply assume they do a very good job. They assault us a sure manner and it makes it actually difficult. We’ve obtained to be on level. We actually need to be higher as a protection than we have been final wee,ok in my view.”

When assessing Burrow, Jones pointed to a talent not often related to him: his working skill.

“Joe Burrow is a heck of a quarterback when throwing the ball and making all of the powerful throws,” stated Jones, “however I believe his working skill doesn’t go as observed as all people sees. He can run the ball exceptionally nicely. I believe he’s a step-up man… He’s an efficient runner when he has the house. We undoubtedly need to be cognizant on our go dashing lanes.”

Spagnuolo concurred with Jones’ statement.

“[Burrow] would in all probability inform you he’s not [Ravens quarterback] Lamar Jackson,” remarked Spagnuolo, “however he’s loads higher at evading a rush than I believe folks give him credit score for. He’s sneaky fast… He is aware of precisely the place to go along with the ball. If he can’t get it in that spot early, he is aware of the right way to bide himself simply sufficient time to get the ball downfield.”