An abysmal showing in the second game of the season shouldn’t get Bengals fans down

As the football sailed through the uprights in Arrowhead Stadium as time expired giving the Kansas City Chiefs another last second victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, the hearts of Who-Dey Nation collectively broke. Music can be an antidote for misery. Cue this edition’s playlist. 

“You’re bringin’ on the heartbreak. Bringin’ on the heartache. Can’t you see?” 

“Bringin’ on the Heartbreak” by Def Leppard 

Chief vs. Bengals has become the NFL’s most competitive rivalry in recent years. No team plays the two-time defending world champion as competitively as Cincinnati. These teams have clashed six times over the past three seasons, and four of the six games have been decided on the game’s final play. The series is split 3-3 with a combined total score of 153-150. Unfortunately for Cincinnati, it’s been the Chiefs that have won the last three meetings. 

Late in the game Sunday, the Bengals had the Chiefs on the ropes. Kansas City was staring down a 4th & 16 from their own 35-yard line with 48 seconds remaining. One defensive stop by Cincinnati and the Bengals leave town with the upset. 

The Bengals sent only 3 pass rushers to pressure Patrick Mahomes, dropping eight defenders back in pass coverage to prevent the long first down conversion. Mahomes chucked the football deep, about 30 yards to Rashee Rice. Rookie 7th round draft selection for the Bengals, Daijahn Anthony, made a play on the ball from behind the receiver. 

Reminiscent of the 2022 AFC Championship Game against these teams, the officials threw the yellow flag signaling a penalty against Cincinnati and putting Kansas City in position for the game winning field goal. It seemed like soul-crushing deja vu: the Chiefs saved by officiating and given the opportunity to be in position to win the football game courtesy of a penalty flag. 

Bengals quarterback, Joe Burrow, was demonstrably upset on the sideline following the penalty call. He ripped off his helmet and threw it on the ground, looking as angry as he’s ever been. “It was as frustrating (a loss) as I’ve had,” Burrow said. “This one’s gonna sting.” 

“You’re unbelievable.” 

“Unbelievable” by EMF 

Trey Hendrickson might have been the best player on the field Sunday. He was a one-man wrecking crew, terrorizing the Chiefs all afternoon by consistently applying pressure and altering the game like few defenders can. The Bengals accounted for two sacks and two tackles for loss, and Hendrickson was responsible for all of them. 

Trey embarrassed the Chiefs rookie offensive tackle for most of the afternoon, the rookie needing to resort to clotheslining Hendrickson at various points to save his quarterback. Hendrickson was responsible for drawing multiple penalties against the Chiefs, the last of which overturned a first down conversion setting up the infamous 4th & 16 situation that put the Bengals on the brink of victory. 

The time is here: Trey Hendrickson needs to be talked about among the league’s premier pass rushers. He’s unbelievable. 

Cam Taylor-Britt made the most unbelievable interception…perhaps ever? The Chiefs sent speedster receiver, Xavier Worthy (the fastest player in the history of the NFL combine), on a go route down the left sideline. 

Mahomes, thinking his receiver had the speed advantage, let the ball fly. CTB opened his body towards the pass and snared it with one hand, cradling the ball into his body as he fell backwards to the ground. CTB’s acrobatic play immediately drew comparisons to Odell Beckham Jr.’s legendary one-handed catch from years past. Unbelievable indeed. 

“In the sha-ha, shallow.” 

“Shallow” by Lady Gaga 

Interior defensive line was a concern this offseason, and the Bengals attempted to address that area through both the draft and free agency.  

Unfortunately, both rookies have been unavailable to the Bengals early this season with Kris Jenkins injured and McKinnley Jackson on Inactive Reserve. The Bengals hoped that depth at the position would allow them to rotate players in the interior to keep them fresh; however, with both Jenkins and Jackson unavailable, the Bengals needed to lean more heavily on B.J. Hill and free agent addition Sheldon Rankins for a higher snap count. 

Against the Chiefs, the Bengals lost both Hill and Rankins to injury over the course of the game making the already depleted position even more of a concern for the Bengals moving forward.  The Bengals rush defense has been a liability through two games with both the New England Patriots (170 yards rushing) and Chiefs (149 yards) routinely picking up big yards up the middle of the defense. Cincinnati’s depth at this critical position is in the shallow, and they need to get healthy and creative in the interior quickly. 

“Here I go again on my own. Going down the only road I’ve ever known.” 

“Here I Go Again” by Whitesnake 

Here the Bengals go again. For the third consecutive season and fifth year out of the last six, the Bengals have started their season 0-2. 

Recognizing this was an opportunity to improve upon, the Bengals went harder in practice at training camp than prior years and played their starters briefly in the preseason. Despite those changes to the process, the result is the same. 

The Chiefs game’s outcome was always likely given the road challenge of playing the defending world champions, but it was the lackluster opening effort against the New England Patriots that was tough to swallow.  

At home and playing against a rebuilt roster with a rookie head coach, the Bengals did everything possible to allow the underdog Patriots to pull the upset. Key turnovers led to 10 points by the Patriots and took a touchdown off the board for the Bengals. The Chiefs loss would have been somewhat easier to swallow had it not been for the loss to the Patriots.   

Said Head Coach Zac Taylor of the 0-2 start: “We’ve been here before, unfortunately, and so we know what this feels like. We know it’s a long season. We know we can get ourselves out of it.”  

The Bengals have been down this road before and know how to right the ship. Time for them to get going again. 

“Don’t stop believin’, hold on to that feelin’” 

“Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey 

The effort against Kansas City should give Bengals fans reason to keep believing. In many ways, Cincinnati outplayed the world champions, out gaining them in yards and winning the turnover battle. They were one questionable penalty away from winning the Chiefs game. 

Also reassuring was Joe Burrow returning to form after a difficult opening game against the Patriots. Burrow threw for 258 yards and two touchdowns. Coming off the wrist injury, he looked like the Burrow of yore. 

Burrow also demonstrated a tremendous amount of outward emotion throughout the game — showing he possesses an added amount of competitive fire that should fuel the rest of his season ahead. Defensive coordinator Lou Anaromu displayed his ability to frustrate and confuse the world’s greatest quarterback. Perplexing Mahomes is a unique superpower to possess and one that could come in handy for the Bengals down the road. Ja’Marr Chase said afterwards he was “pretty sure” the Bengals would see the Chiefs again this season — meaning in the postseason.  

The season is still young, and there is still a lot of football left to be played. Our Bengals have been here before. Don’t stop believin’ Bengals fans.   

Who-Dey?! 

Jon Bunch is an avid life-long Bengals fanatic. Raised in the 740. West Pointer, Army and Iraq War veteran. Passionate evangelist of the Who-Dey spirit. @WhoDeyBunch