The Kansas City Chiefs and the Cincinnati Bengals renew their rivalry in Week 2, with both teams coming off with polar opposite performances.
The Chiefs got past the Baltimore Ravens, while Joe Burrow and the Bengals succumbed to the New England Patriots 16-10 at home.
But despite Cincinnati's poor start, Patrick Mahomes knows that these games always have a little bit extra spice to them with so much on the line at this early stage of the year.
"I think you see a raise in intensity," Mahomes said. "Just because you know that these games are going to matter at the end of the year. Obviously, it's early in the season, everybody's working through stuff, everybody's trying to get better, but you know that this could be a tie-breaker or whatever you want to call it at the end of the year to determine seeding [in] playoffs. So definitely a rise in intensity, especially in these games against other contenders."
In the last five meetings, the Bengals hold a 3-2 lead, and in the last four outings, when Burrow and Mahomes faced each other, the games were decided by a field goal.
So expect the same in this contest. As Mahomes alluded to, this game could have far-reaching implications come playoff time.
With the Chiefs beating the Ravens, they now own the tie-breaker over Lamar Jackson. If Kansas City can slay Burrow, then the Chiefs will have an advantage over two AFC contenders after just two weeks of the season.
So that is what Mahomes expected things to be a little spicy on Sunday, given that so much more than a win is on the line for both teams.
Bring your popcorn, folks.
