Chiefs: 3 ways NFL screwed Kansas City over with 2022 schedule
By John Buhler
2. Week 13: at Cincinnati Bengals (Sunday, Dec. 4)
Even if things do ease up a bit in the second half of their schedule, the Chiefs will still have plenty of games where they could be up against it. One game of note that could be especially challenging for them is on the road at the defending AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals. Not only do the Bengals project as a team here to stay, but this game comes after dates with both L.A. squads.
While the Chiefs might be able to rest easy during their Week 10 home game vs. the rebuilding Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City gets the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi in Week 11 and the Los Angeles Rams in Arrowhead in Week 12. In short, the Chiefs will be incredibly lucky if they take two of those three games, especially the ones on the road at Los Angeles and over in Cincinnati.
Could the Bengals pull back a bit this season? Yes, they could experience somewhat of a Super Bowl hangover. Regardless, Cincinnati had the upper hand over Kansas City in both meetings last year, including the AFC Championship game played out at Arrowhead. As long as Joe Burrow is the quarterback and he is upright, he remains the biggest adversary to Patrick Mahomes in the AFC.
All things equal, this early December game has the potential to decide who gets the No. 1 seed.