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It’s funny how just a few hours can mold such a large perception of things. Going into last Sunday Womens Dre Kirkpatrick Jersey , there was cautious optimism that the Bengals would finally get the better of their bitter rivals after six consecutive losses. And, for 58-and-a-half minutes, it looked like Cincinnati’s version of David took down Pittsburgh’s Goliath. Little did we know that the spirit of Lucy Van Pelt was waiting in the Paul Brown Stadium tunnels to yank it away at the last second. Thanks a lot, Charlie Brown. Now, for the second straight week, Cincinnati gets set to face one of the best teams in the AFC Conference in the Kansas City Chiefs. They do so with a battered roster. Through it all, quarterback Andy Dalton has played some of the best football of his career in 2018. He’s on pace to break his own franchise record for touchdown passes in a single season from 2013, as well as the single-season passing yardage mark, which he also currently holds from that same season. Even in a loss last week, Dalton moved past Boomer Esiason to become the second-most prolific passer in team history. He should surpass the other great No. 14 at the top of the category in this team’s annals, Ken Anderson, sometime in 2019. Speaking of quarterbacks, do the Chiefs ever have one of those. After riding Alex Smith to four playoff appearances in five seasons, Andy Reid made the risky move to Patrick Mahomes to lead his team after moving up and drafting him 10th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. Mahomes has been nothing short of outstanding, throwing 18 touchdowns and just four interceptions through six games. In his first six professional football games, Mahomes never even felt the sting of a loss at the NFL level. But, oh, those New England Patriots. Mahomes nearly pulled off another huge victory over Tom Brady and Bill Belichick on their home field, but they weren’t ready to pass that torch of AFC dominance just yet. The fireworks display at Gillette Stadium did point out the electricity that is No. 15 for Kansas City.In the contest, Mahomes threw for 352 yards and four touchdowns. He also had two interceptions, but the second-year quarterback continues to prove that he is quickly rising to the league’s elite at the position. It also helps that he has an insanely talented trio of skill position players around him. Running back Kareem Hunt had an outstanding rookie campaign in 2017 and is following that up in a similar way in 2018. He’s averaging over 100 yards from scrimmage this year as a dual-threat player. As receiving outlets, the Chiefs employ two of the more productive players in the past few seasons at their respective positions. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill is one of the only men in the NFL with John Ross-like speed Darqueze Dennard Jersey , while Travis Kelce gouges defenses on a regular basis. To say that Teryl Austin’s beleaguered defensive unit will have its hands full this Sunday is an understatement. It’s been a feast-or-famine year for the group and Cincinnati needs the former to arrive at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday evening. Unfortunately for both Austin and offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, the groups they will field on Sunday may be playing with one arm tied behind their backs, so to speak. Giovani Bernard, Tyler Kroft, Billy Price, Darqueze Dennard and Nick Vigil haven’t practiced this week, while Vincent Rey, C.J. Uzomah and Shawn Williams all had limited participation in practice late this week. We can sit here and harp on the individual matchups and the nightmares that both Hill and Kelce provide the Bengals’ defense. We can also talk about the seemingly-inevitable shootout that will occur on NBC and the litany of stars the Bengals also employ throughout their roster. However, this one is about a number of other ancillary factors when it comes to the Cincinnati Bengals. In terms of venue and atmosphere, it’s going to be a tough one. Arrowhead Stadium holds the Guinness World Record for the single largest sporting venue in the United States. It’s also supposedly going to be a bit frigid (probably in the 40s), perhaps putting a pause on the impending quarterback duel. Also...should we even go there? Yeah, we will. Primetime, folks. Cincinnati put up the blinders to those bright lights in Week 2, as they more or less clobbered a pretty solid Baltimore Ravens team. But, with their collapse in yet another high-profile game last Sunday, questions on the viability of the team and in Marvin Lewis’ ability to win a playoff game, should they even get there again this year, continue to linger. Ironically, in Lewis’ first year as Bengals head coach, which coincided way back in the George W. Bush administration, his team was starving for validation as a 9-0 Chiefs came into Cincinnati in 2003. The Bengals were a scrappy 4-5, but were still in the living in the shadows of “The Lost Decade” that was the 90s. What ensued was the type of thing that made “Who Dey?!” chants return to Cincinnati and give annual hope to Bengals fans about a Lombardi Trophy over the past 16 years. Heroes named Peter Warrick and Jon Kitna rose to the occasion Randy Bullock Jersey White , as Lewis’ Bengals beat Kansas City, 24-19. If their announcement in the win itself wasn’t enough of a message, the subsequent birth of Chad Johnson’s (who guaranteed the victory beforehand) outspoken ways would be loud enough for all to hear. There are certain coaches who have been kryptonite for Lewis over the years. Anyone wearing black and yellow, Bill Belichick and Tony Dungy, to name a few. However, Lewis has had some success versus Andy Reid over the years. But...So, take from these, what you will. Even with the above-mentioned story from 2003, Lewis’ Bengals haven’t always been the most resounding squad when the chips are down and they aren’t expected to win. Maybe that’s because beating high-quality teams just hasn’t been something the 16-year Bengals head coach can put down on the resume with a straight face. These are the games that build confidence and, sometimes, championship seasons with a win. This isn’t a “must-win” for the Bengals and their playoff lives, per se, but will go a long way in the AFC picture about halfway through the year and in giving legitimacy to this supposedly-transformed Cincinnati team from those of 2016-2017. If the Bengals can somehow get a win among factors including the weather, the venue, injuries they’re facing and the talented opposition under bright lights, it will be a signature moment for Lewis and his team. As you can see from the information above, they’ll need to buck almost every major primetime trend to come out successful Sunday night. There is one disclaimer about the 2018 Bengals as we head into this one, though. This team has shown a unique resolve and ability to comeback from a number of situations so far this year, so don’t give up on them if things look bleak in the second or third quarter.But, if they can’t find a way to a victory, then fans will again be talking about how they are simply on another ride in the Lewis/Mike Brown purgatory carousel. Bengals 26, Chiefs 31AC — Not coin-operated. Would the Bengals take a quarterback over a linebacker? Or a linebacker over a top-5 player?"WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections #BITESIZEFilm RoomRoster Transactions and ContractsOrange & Black InsiderSalary Cap And CBABreaking NewsKeep track of the 2019 Bengals draft脳NFL DraftMock DraftsMel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay have Bengals going in different directions in dueling mock draftNew Womens Preston Brown Jersey ,93commentsWould the Bengals take a quarterback over a linebacker? Or a linebacker over a top-5 player?EDTShareTweetShareShareMel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay have Bengals going in different directions in dueling mock draftJeff Curry-USA TODAY SportsIt seems like the closer the 2019 NFL Draft gets, the less we actually know about what will happen. A couple picks inside the top five seem to be stone cold locks, but it’s difficult to gaze through the annual smoke storm that comes around this time of year.For ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay, both of their latest mock drafts come together in the form of a dueling two-round session and completely agree on how the first seven picks will turn out to be. Beyond that lies contradicting selections that shake up the rest of the remaining 64 selections.The Bengals happen to one of the teams that Kiper and McShay differ on in both rounds. But before they were on the clock, the following players were off both boards:Kyler MurrayNick BosaJosh AllenQuinnen WilliamsDevin WhiteDwayne HaskinsJawaan TaylorT.J. HockensonYou know who was the last quarterback taken outside of the top three picks in the first round not by a team that traded up for him? E.J. Manuel. The Bills actually traded down eight spots in the 2013 NFL Draft and ended up snagging Manuel, who was also the first quarterback taken that year.This is not an indictment on Lock, but more of a reality check. First round quarterbacks never fall into the hands of teams who didn’t finish at the top of the draft order, and it won’t likely happen to Lock either, or Haskins for that matter, who ended up with the Giants at sixth overall in both mocks.But, Kiper chose Lock over the likes of Devin Bush, Brian Burns and Christian Wilkins because of positional value, while McShay decided to address the Bengals’ biggest need in Bush and passing on a superior talent in Ed Oliver in the process. Oliver went ninth overall to the Bills in Kiper’s mock.Kiper attacked the linebacker position for the Bengals in the second round while McShay moved on to another glaring need. If the Bengals go quarterback or any other position that’s not linebacker in round one, you can bet they won’t wait long to eventually fill the need. Wilson is probably not going to hear his name called in the first 32 picks, but the Alabama pedigree and his perceived upside at just 21 years of age will entice franchises before long.Interestingly enough, Wilson remained on the board by the end of McShay’s mock, and likely for good reason. His lack of elite production and athleticism testing are major concerns for his long-term outlook, and other linebackers have done much more in terms of boosting their stock.McShay’s pick in McGary is a logical one. McGary confirmed his elite athleticism at the NFL combine after flashing dominance at the Senior Bowl the month prior. There’s even buzz about him coming off the board late in the first round. If he’s there at pick No. 42, you have to assume he’ll be a part of the conversation. The Bengals need depth at offensive tackle like no other position, and can be expected to address that depth as early as day two of the draft.Which scenario would you prefer the Bengals emulate?