KANSAS CITY, Missouri – The Cincinnati Bengals find themselves in a situation they know all too well: They started the season 0-2.
Cincinnati lost 26-25 to Kansas City in a thrilling game at Arrowhead Stadium, which usually happens when quarterbacks Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes face off. The Bengals outscored the Chiefs for most of the game, but in the end it was Kansas City that found a way to win.
“It’s an emotional loss for us,” head coach Zac Taylor said after the game.
Bengals Wrap: Missed opportunities cost top game in Kansas City
Bengals reporter Kelsey Conway analyzes the Bengals’ Week 2 loss to the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
After a disappointing performance in the season opener against the Patriots, the Bengals showed improvement on both sides of the ball. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow looked like the quarterback you saw before he suffered his wrist injury last season. Cincinnati’s defense forced Mahomes to throw two interceptions.
Until the final play, it looked like the perfect recipe to beat the Chiefs on their home turf. Mahomes is known for his ability to keep plays alive, and when they faced a fourth-and-16 in the final seconds of the game, the Bengals knew there was no way they could get a penalty to extend the series.
When it looked like the Bengals were going to win the game, rookie safety Daijahn Anthony was called for pass interference, and the Chiefs managed to get within Harrison Butker’s field goal range and win by a walk-off score.
Burrow called Sunday’s loss one of the “most frustrating” he’s ever experienced, and he knows his team missed out on a loss.
What’s next for the Bengals and what can we learn from their loss to the Chiefs? Let’s take a closer look.
After a disappointing performance against the Patriots in Week 1, questions arose – and rightly so – about the condition of Burrow’s wrist. He answered those questions several times on Sunday afternoon.
Burrow completed 23 of his 36 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns, giving him a quarterback rating of 103.7. His longest throw of the day was a 47-yard pass to rookie wide receiver Jermaine Burton.
And while there are no moral victories in the NFL, it was encouraging to see Burrow back to his usual self. Burrow, however, wasn’t interested in giving himself any kind of praise.
Joe Burrow Stats, Performance, Wrist Injury
“We didn’t do enough to win the game, so we still have a lot to fix,” he said.
Bengals offense uses tight ends more often
Get used to hearing the names Mike Gesicki and Erick All more often this season. Since the Bengals drafted Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase, the offense has been heavily focused on those two and former slot receiver Tyler Boyd.
That will remain the case this season when Higgins returns to the field, but what was seen from the Bengals’ tight ends against the Chiefs was something new. Burrow threw 14 passes to his tight ends for 151 yards in Kansas City – a career high for him.
Chase was doubled by the Chiefs all game and the Bengals were ready for it. Other players would have to step up in the passing game if Cincinnati was going to stand up to the Chiefs.
That was the case and now the Bengals’ opponents will have to develop a different strategy for Cincinnati, and that’s a good thing. It won’t be as easy for defensive coordinators to just focus on shutting down Chase and Higgins. If Gesicki and All continue to play, Cincinnati’s offense has a chance to be even more dynamic than last year.
Trey Hendrickson is the Bengals’ MVP behind Joe Burrow
Cincinnati’s Pro Bowl defensive end Trey Hendrickson continues to be there when his team needs him most.
Hendrickson was unstoppable against the Chiefs. Despite facing favorable opponents all game, Hendrickson allowed three quarterback hits and two sacks. He pressured Mahomes in the pocket for four quarters, and when the rest of Cincinnati’s defensive line struggled with injury issues, he just kept delivering for the Bengals.
Hendrickson is one of the best defensive players in the NFL and in the game against the Chiefs he showed again why.
Defensive tackles BJ Hill and Sheldon Rankins are battling hamstring injuries and it’s unclear how long or if they will be out. If the Bengals are without either player, Cincinnati will rely on Hendrickson even more.
