The rivalry between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals was one that snuck up on everyone. It started back in 2021 when the Bengals beat the Chiefs in the regular season and then stunned them at home in the AFC Championship Game to reach Super Bowl 56.
The following year, the Bengals beat K.C. in the regular season again, and, as fate would have it, the two met up in the AFC title game for the second straight year. Fortunately, fate was on Kansas City's side that time, and the Chiefs won the game, advancing to (and winning) Super Bowl 57.
That was pretty much the last time the rivalry really meant anything, if we're being honest. Entering that game, the Bengals talked a lot—and I mean a lot—of smack. They nicknamed Arrowhead Stadium "Burrowhead" and just could not keep their mouths shut, as they were so confident they were about to waltz into Arrowhead Stadium and end Kansas City's season for the second straight year.
That didn't happen, though, and karma bit the Bengals hard after that. They have not qualified for the playoffs ever since.
Chiefs-Bengals rivalry has fizzled since back-to-back AFC title battles
In 2023, Burrow was injured when the Bengals came to K.C., so the matchup didn't feel the same. The Chiefs won that one. They also won an early matchup between the two teams in 2024. The Chiefs and Bengals didn't play in 2025 due to Kansas City playing a first-place schedule and Cincinnati playing a third-place schedule.
In 2024, the Bengals needed the Chiefs to win in Week 18 in order to make the playoffs, and K.C. rewarded them by resting all of their starters and getting shut out by the Broncos. Bengals fans were not happy, to say the least.
While the two won't see each other until Week 14, Ja'Marr Chase is already throwing gas on the fire. During a recent episode of Chasing No. 1 (Chase's podcast), the Bengals WR1 was asked which NFL team he hates the most.
Some might have thought that since the Bengals' and Chiefs' matchups haven't meant as much in recent years, maybe Chase finally changed his mind and decided to hate a division rival. But no. His answer is still the Kansas City Chiefs.
"I think everybody know[s] K.C. But the reason why is because they knocked us out so many times," Chase said. "But overall, they're a great team, you know what I'm saying? You just know when you play them, it's going to be a dogfight the whole game."
Ja'Marr Chase is finally giving Chiefs respect
While on the one hand, yes, Chase is still admitting he hates the Chiefs more than any other team, it's hard to ignore the fact that he was complimentary of them for once. In the past, Chase has dunked on Kansas City and Patrick Mahomes and wouldn't dream of giving them any sort of respect. So, hey, there's been some growth!
Perhaps the additional two Super Bowl victories the Chiefs have added since the last time these teams met in the playoffs are what finally made Chase climb aboard the K.C. Respect Train. Who knows, though?
Chase also said that he believes the Chiefs bring out the best in the Bengals. "It's always close games, good games at the end of the day." He's not wrong about that. Whenever these two teams meet up, people can count on the game likely going down to the wire, and the Week 14 showdown should be no different.
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