Chiefs-Bengals NFL Week 2 predictions from Arrowhead Pleasure

In Week 1, Arrowhead Pleasure contributors obtained off to a record-setting begin, handing over the most effective set of sport picks we’ve ever made. Our mixed prediction was for the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs to gather a 27-21 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, which had solely two factors of error from the 27-20 ultimate. Our earlier finest guess was for final season’s Divisional spherical playoff sport towards the Buffalo Payments, when our 24-21 prediction was six factors faraway from the 27-24 ultimate.

62% of our readers (in comparison with 75% of our staffers) referred to as for a detailed Kansas Metropolis win. 11% thought Baltimore would win the AFC Championship rematch.

In Week 2, the Chiefs host the Cincinnati Bengals on GEHA Discipline at Arrowhead Stadium. In accordance with FanDuel Sportsbook, Kansas Metropolis is favored by 5.5 factors.

Let’s see what the workers — and our readers — take into consideration the matchup.

Nate Christensen (@natech32)

For Cincinnati, this sport couldn’t have come at a worse time. Despite the fact that this matchup has had loads of juice lately, the present version of the Bengals doesn’t match up with the Chiefs very effectively. Vast receiver Tee Higgins is injured — and wideout Ja’Marr Chase simply got here again; they don’t have the large receiver benefit they’ve often had. The protection is struggling because it exchanges departed veterans for younger gamers. The absences of DJ Reader and Jessie Bates — who’ve been game-changers towards the Chiefs — make it a lot tougher for Cincinnati defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo game-plan towards Kansas Metropolis. Later within the season, this is perhaps a more in-depth sport — however on Sunday, I count on a straightforward Chiefs win.

Chiefs 31, Bengals 20

4 of the final 5 video games between these groups (two of them for the AFC Championship) have been determined by three factors — and the Bengals have received three of them. However none of these matchups have been performed sooner than Week 13. Throughout Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor’s tenure, the Bengals are 1-10 throughout the first two weeks of the season. Throughout that very same interval, the Chiefs are 9-2 throughout Weeks 1 and a pair of. Simply the identical, that is the NFL. I don’t assume Cincinnati is simply going to roll over.

Chiefs 31, Bengals 21

On Sunday, the Chiefs will goal to enhance to 2-0 — whereas the Bengals shall be determined to keep away from an 0-2 begin for the fifth time in six seasons. Cincinnati shall be battling with urgency. The rivalry between these groups is well-established — and that dangerous blood solely heightens the depth of this matchup. We should always count on one other hard-fought, emotional sport. However primarily based on their Week 1 performances, the Chiefs seem extra polished on each side of the ball. With a sharper offense (and a protection that may capitalize on errors), Kansas Metropolis has the sting.

Chiefs 31, Bengals 24

The Chiefs’ Week 1 win would have been way more comfy if the offense had completed extra drives and the protection had extra power left on the finish of the sport. Nonetheless, the protection in the end performed effectively. I believe that can proceed towards a Cincinnati offense that struggled in Week 1 — and isn’t absolutely wholesome. Each week, quarterback Patrick Mahomes (and the offense) will solely get higher and extra environment friendly. Then when you combine in some additional depth from the rivalry with the Bengals, I see a whole Chiefs victory.

Chiefs 27, Bengals 17

On this sport, the most important query mark is whether or not Kansas Metropolis’s rookie left sort out Kingsley Suamataia will want further assist to carry down the sting towards Cincinnati cross rusher Trey Hendrickson. If he preserve Mahomes upright by himself, I don’t assume this de-clawed (and shell-shocked) model of the Bengals has the expertise to run with the Chiefs. Vast receivers Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy are a nightmare for a great protection — not to mention a pile of JAGs. In the meantime, quarterback Joe Burrow appears like he’s seeing ghosts (and listening to footsteps) each time he drops again to cross. So on Sunday, count on issues to go from dangerous to worse for Burrow. Cincinnati continues to be lacking Tee Higgins, whereas Ja’Marr Chase is the poster boy for undesirable distractions. If the NFL had a Mercy Rule, it will be in impact on Sunday.

Chiefs 38, Bengals 10

After an embarrassing Week 1 loss to the New England Patriots, the Bengals are scary for a easy cause: no NFL group has extra using on Week 2 than they do. Sadly for them, the issues that plagued Cincinnati per week in the past — a clumsy run protection and an absence of dependable offensive weapons — typically aren’t points that may be mounted rapidly. The Chiefs will possible disappoint tens of millions of fantasy gamers who added Xavier Worthy to their rosters over the past week. Whereas the rookie will nonetheless be within the sport plan, the 170 dashing yards the Bengals allowed to New England recommend the Chiefs will wish to assault Cincinnati on the bottom. Operating again Isiah Pacheco needs to be given an opportunity to select off the place he left off in December, when he had a career-best 130 dashing yards in his group’s most up-to-date victory over the Bengals. And don’t overlook that former Cincinnati again Samaje Perine may also be extra built-in into the offense — hopefully with an ax to grind towards his former group. Count on the Chiefs to regulate this one from the beginning; they’ll wish to keep away from giving the Bengals’ offense any alternative to search out itself.

Chiefs 27, Bengals 13

The Bengals (and their followers) assume that is their 12 months; they’ve publicly stated they count on to be the AFC’s favourite. There’s an apparent downside with that: the Chiefs are nonetheless right here — and is perhaps higher than ever. Whereas they aren’t division rivals, these groups don’t like one another; they have an inclination to have video games simply as epic because the bulletin board materials Bengals gamers put out. It’d be logical to anticipate this sport will come right down to the wire — however given what we noticed from every group in Week 1, I’ll decide the Chiefs by double digits. The brand new-look Kansas Metropolis offense will go away the Cincinnati protection with no good solutions — I believe this may very well be a giant sport for each Isiah Pacheco and Rashee Rice — and I imagine defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo could have some strain dialed up for Joe Burrow.

Chiefs 31, Bengals 20

Wanting again, it’s odd to explain the Chiefs’ opening-night victory over the Baltimore Ravens. Kansas Metropolis performed a sport that was a couple of performs away from a blowout — and in addition, someway, a couple of performs away from a loss. 10 days later, the Chiefs meet the Bengals. Whereas they might not essentially be the house group’s most-hated rival, the Chiefs are certainly theirs. Just a few years in the past, we’d have anticipated Sunday’s matchup could be an prompt traditional — but it surely received’t be. No matter what Joe Burrow says, I don’t assume he’s wholesome — and when your quarterback is lower than 100%, it’s very tough to beat Kansas Metropolis’s Patrick Mahomes. I additionally assume Cincinnati proper sort out Trent Brown shall be a legal responsibility that Steve Spagnuolo will exploit. Isiah Pacheco is healthier than he was final 12 months. He’ll be up towards a Bengals’ run protection that gave up 120 yards towards Rhamondre Stephenson in Week 1. It’s all simply an excessive amount of — and I believe the one cause some would possibly predict this to be shut is the opponent’s title. In actuality, Kansas Metropolis wins comfortably.

Chiefs 27, Bengals 14

What do you assume?

4 contributors — Nate Christensen, John Dixon, Jared Sapp and Pete Sweeney — every had solely six factors of error on their Week 1 predictions, which ranged from 24-20 to 30-20. The opposite 4 staffers tied with eight factors of error on their picks.

To calculate a prediction’s factors of error, the variations between the prediction and the precise rating in level unfold, residence group factors and away group factors are added collectively. For example, let’s say a prediction requires the Chiefs to win 17-10, however they win 16-10. There could be two factors of error: the purpose unfold was off by one level, the Chiefs’ rating missed by one level and the opponent’s rating was predicted appropriately. But when the Chiefs had misplaced the sport 17-10, there could be 21 factors of error: the purpose unfold was off by 14 (the distinction between +7 and -7), the Chiefs’ rating missed by 7 and the opponent’s rating was off by 7.