Chiefs underdogs heading to Cincinnati

The Kansas City Chiefs are underdogs for the third consecutive time on the road this season. On Sunday, Kansas City is a four-point underdog against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium, according to BOVADA.

This is a pretty low line considering the Bengals are undefeated and the Chiefs looked like a D-II football team on Monday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers. Considering the home team is always given a field goal by Vegas, the line is saying that Kansas City and Cincinnati are basically equals.

The Chiefs have not played at Cincinnati in some time. The last occasion when the two teams got together was in 2012, when the Bengals came into Arrowhead Stadium and beat Kansas City during its dismal 2-14 season.

Cincinnati is one of the more consistent teams of the decade, making the playoffs in each of the last four seasons. The problem has been in January, when quarterback Andy Dalton has gone from pretty solid to terrible. Dalton has been terrific this season, throwing eight touchdowns against one interception through the first three weeks. The fifth-year pro has a pair of talented receivers with A.J. Green and Marvin Jones, along with tight end Tyler Eifert.

However, the engine of Cincinnati’s offense is the backfield duo of Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill. Hill put forth an 1,00-yard season as a rookie in 2014, but thus far has gained only 123 yards on 3.0 yards per carry. Bernard has been explosive, though, garnering 5.7 yards per carry with 235 rushing yards.

Defensively, the Bengals do not have much of a pass rush. Defensive linemen Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins have combined for 4.5 sacks, while the rest of the team has 1.5. Of course, the Chiefs’ offensive line has been a total sieve, allowing 13 sacks in three games, the most in the NFL.