AFC Championship: Bengals Matchups and Trends

Fresh off a dominating 27-10 Divisional Round victory against the Buffalo Bills, the Cincinnati Bengals get set to battle the Kansas City Chiefs in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game, with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.

This will be a rematch of last year’s conference title in which Joe Burrow and company upset the Chiefs 27-24 on a game-winning field goal in overtime by kicker Evan McPherson. Winners of the past three meetings, let’s highlight a few key matchups and ATS trends for Cincy as it looks to secure a second straight Super Bowl appearance.

AFC Championship Matchups

Ja’Marr Chase has 87 receptions in 13 games (6.7 per game) this season, the sixth-best of qualified wide receivers. The Chiefs have allowed 24.0 receptions per game this season, tied for the fourth-worst in the NFL.

Joe Burrow has averaged 21.1 fantasy points per game this season, the fourth-best of qualified quarterbacks. The Chiefs have allowed an average of 19.7 fantasy points per game to opposing QBs this season, the third-worst in the NFL.

Kansas City running back Isiah Pacheco has averaged 48.8 rushing yards per game this season, the fifth-worst of qualified running backs. The Bengals have allowed an average of just 102.6 rushing yards per game this season, the fifth-best in the NFL.

AFC Championship ATS Trends

• The Bengals are 7-2 (.778) against the spread on the road this season, tied for second-best in the NFL (League Avg: .496).
• The Bengals are 13-4 (.765) against the spread on the road since the 2021 season, the best in the NFL (League Avg: .508).
• The Bengals are 3-1 (.600) against the spread vs. top ten pass defenses this season, tied for the tenth-best (League Avg: .529).
• The Bengals were 3-1 (.750) against the spread vs. top ten run defenses last season, tied for fourth-best (League Avg: .488).