American Football Conference Championship Game cheering guide

Good morning!
Yesterday, we took a look at the NFC Championship game in regards to potential playoff bandwagoning. Today, we’ll take a peek at the AFC. Same as yesterday, I’m looking for a team that hasn’t won it all, hasn’t had much success in recent years, or a team that looks like they are having fun and playing like they having nothing to lose.

AFC Championship Game: Bengals at chiefs

Sunday 6:30pm ET in Kansas City

The Visiting Team: The Cincinnati Bengals

After starting 0-2 and failing to eclipse the .500 mark until November 6th, the Bengals had 7 consecutive victories to win the AFC North, and they bounced the Ravens and Bills in successive playoff weeks.

Fun fact: the Bengals have defeated the Chiefs in their last 3 match-ups including a week 13 game in Kansas City by a 27-24 score.

Bengals Offense:

The Bengals offense is lead by QB Joe Burrow, who threw for 4240 yards, 35 touchdowns to 12 interceptions and finished 7th in scoring. Their top WR was another LSU alum, Ja’Marr Chase, who caught 87 receptions for 1,046 yards and 9 touchdowns. However, Tee Higgins wasn’t far behind with 74 catches, 1029 yards and 7 touchdowns. Joe Mixon was their primary RB with 814 yards rushing yards and 7 touchdowns. He also caught 60 passes for 2 touchdowns.

Bengals Defense:

The Bengals defense finished 6th in points against, their top tackler was LB Logan Wilson; 123 tackles, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble and 2.5 sacks. Edge Trey Hendrickson added 8 sacks and Edge Sam Hubbard added 6 sacks.

PROS:

They aren’t the Eagles.
Well balanced team coached by Zac Taylor.
This team lead by Joe Burrow is loose and having fun, they spoiled the league’s “neutral site” garbage.

Cons:

They aren’t the Vikings.

The Home Team: The Kansas City Chiefs

HC Andy Reid guided his team to a 14-3 season with losses to the Colts?, Bills, and as mentioned above, the Bengals.

Fun Fact: Every year since 2018, this team has been to the AFC Championship game, essentially this is the starting point of their season.

Chiefs Offense:

Patrick Mahomes completed 435/648 for 5250 yards, 41 touchdowns to go with 12 interceptions and rushed for 358 yards and 4 touchdowns. 1st Team All Pro. If you wanted to build a team starting with a QB, this is the guy. Isiah Pacheco is the Chiefs primary running back, he rushed for 830 yards and 5 touchdowns, but he split time with old friend and former Viking Jerick McKinnon, who landed in Kansas City after he left the 49ers. McKinnon rushed for 291 yards and 1 touchdown, but caught 56 passes good for 512 yards and 9 touchdowns. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention All Pro TE Travis Kelce, 110 receptions, 1338 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Chiefs Defense:

I used the word “boat race” when I discussed the Eagles yesterday because of their offense and defense, the same isn’t true of the Chiefs defense. They finished the season 16th in points against and are lead by All Pro DT Chris Jones. The defense obviously isn’t the strength of this team as they are just below league average in points against, but when you have Patrick Mahomes at QB the defense only has to do just enough to win.

Pros:

They aren’t the Eagles.
Patrick Mahomes does things on the football field no one has ever done, and keeps doing new things.
Andy Reid got the boot out of Philly and found success in Kansas City, good for him.

Cons:

They aren’t the Vikings.
Jackson Mahomes is possibly the most annoying human on the face of the earth. Every time the Chiefs play in the AFC title game or Super Bowl, they show him on TV doing a Tik-Tok dance…he has a very punchable face and I hate him.
I’m getting Chiefs fatigue, I’d rather see another team represent the AFC.

Consensus for the AFC Championship Game:

GO BENGALS!