Chiefs vs. Bengals: Four positive takeaways from a frustrating game
By Matt Conner
Let’s focus on the positive for at least a few points on an otherwise frustrating day for the Kansas City Chiefs.
We’re sensing a pattern here.
On Sunday afternoon, it was another game against the Cincinnati Bengals for the Kansas City Chiefs. Somehow it was yet another game that featured a semi-meltdown in the second half that led to another three-point loss to the Bengals—the third such game in the last year.
With so much at stake for the Chiefs against the Bengals, it’s frustrating that they could not put them away. The Chiefs leave Paul Brown Stadium with less margin in the AFC playoff picture, more injuries about which to be concerned, and the same questions they’ve had when it comes to facing the Bengals.
There’s a lot of negative aspects, however, to focus upon, but we thought we’d take a different turn in the wake of the team’s 27-24 loss to the Bengals. We thought we would zig when everyone else will zag and look at some optimistic points to keep our spirits up. After all, we all have to work on Monday morning and don’t want to enter the week too frustrated.
Let’s look at a few highlights from a frustrating game.
Jerick McKinnon worth mentioning
There are a dozen names that will be talked about on the Kansas City offense before most people will get to Jerick McKinnon most weeks. That’s understandable.
The Chiefs are deep and talented across every single position group on offense. That goes for their three tight ends, several wide receivers, and even a running back room with intriguing names down the depth chart. But Jerick McKinnon is worthy of mention among them and that’s certainly true of his efforts on Sunday against the Bengals.
The truth is that McKinnon has been hurt for the last couple of weeks as he’s dealt with a hamstring problem that’s kept him from practice most days. Still, when it comes to Sundays, he’s been not only active but productive and that was true once again at Paul Brown Stadium.
It was amazing early in the game to see the burst, the hands, the agility, and the toughness from McKinnon even on the first drive when he’s been questionable to play all week long. While he’ll never take home any hardware or even make most highlight reels, the truth is that McKinnon has been a vital offensive cog in key moments for the Chiefs this year and that was true on Sunday when he racked up 60 yards from scrimmage and 1 touchdown in limited snaps.