Chiefs-Bengals preview: Battle of the Johnsons

By Clayton Wendler  |   Thursday, September 07, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

Kansas City Chiefs
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When the Kansas City Chiefs pass: Trent Green torched Cincinnati's 26th-ranked secondary for 344 yards a year ago. But this game is being played on Sunday, not a year ago. Green will have to make do without All-Pro left tackle Willie Roaf and right tackle John Welbourn, his protectors from the last two seasons. In their places are Kyle Turley (fresh from the couch) and third-year man Kevin Sampson. Turley played surprisingly well this preseason, but Sampson struggled at times. The Bengals will probably bring pressure until the Chiefs show their patchwork line can provide adequate protection. Look for Marvin Lewis to send David Pollack blitzing right behind veteran defensive end Bryan Robinson (who is moving outside after playing defensive tackle last year). Justin Smith is no pushover on the right side, either.

Fortunately, the Chiefs do retain the same trio of pass catchers that helped Green throw for 4,000 yards last year. Eddie Kennison had a huge game against Deltha O'Neal in last year's season finale. The Chiefs are expecting big things from speedster Samie Parker on the other side, and tight end Tony Gonzalez will test Cincinnati down the middle of the field. Look for the Chiefs to come out throwing play-action passes to give their new offensive tackles some help. Rookie Jonathan Joseph is starting at corner in place of O'Neal, so the Chiefs may target his side of the field.

Edge: Even.



When the Cincinnati Bengals pass: Carson Palmer is ready. He looked like his old self during the preseason. Cincinnati fields one of the strongest WR corps in the league with Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chris Henry, and Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski is sure to test the Chiefs deep, early and often. Kansas City has an experienced cornerback tandem in Patrick Surtain and Ty Law, but the Chiefs are installing a new defensive scheme that puts pressure on their safeties. The onus will be on Greg Wesley and Sammy Knight to keep deep containment on Cincinnati's wide receivers.

The Bengals also field one of the top pass-protecting offensive lines in recent history, and Chiefs rookie defensive end Tamba Hali will have a tough assignment in his first NFL game going up against All-Pro right tackle Willie Anderson. The smart money says the Chiefs won't get much pressure on Palmer (no one really has for the better part of two seasons thus far) without blitzing. Kansas City does get a break in the middle of the field as Cincinnati's best tight end, Reggie Kelly, is not much of a receiving threat. Law will help, but until they prove otherwise, the Chiefs' secondary is still the 30th ranked unit.

Edge: Bengals.


When the Kansas City Chiefs run: Like Green, running back Larry Johnson also torched the Bengals last year, racking up a whopping 201 yards and three touchdowns on just 26 carries. The Bengals ranked just 20th against the run last season, but took steps to improve their defensive tackles this offseason. Lewis picked up veteran Sam Adams in free agency and drafted Domata Peko this past April. Both have been part of a solid rotation this preseason that stopped the run effectively. Cincinnati also upgraded its starting safeties. Madieu Williams returns after missing most of 2005 with an injury, and former Super Bowl MVP Dexter Jackson arrives from Tampa Bay.

On the downside, Cincinnati will have to get along without middle linebacker Odell Thurman, serving a four-game suspension for substance abuse. Moving over from the outside to take his spot is veteran Brian Simmons, who has not played in the middle since 2002. The Chiefs return the best interior offensive line in the league with Pro Bowl guards Brian Waters and Will Shields, and underrated center Casey Wiegmann. Ronnie Cruz takes over the fullback duties for the departed Tony Richardson. Look for the Chiefs to run right at the Bengals early on, just as they did in last year's season finale. Cincinnati looked improved against the run during the exhibition season, but Adams is on the downside of his career and Thurman's absence won't improve the situation. Kansas City has destroyed its opponents with the running game in the last four season openers, averaging 172.5 yards per game.

Edge: Chiefs.


When the Cincinnati Bengals run: Pro Bowler Rudi Johnson returns for his sixth season in tiger stripes, looking for his third straight 1,400-yard campaign. The Chiefs ranked seventh against the run last year, and stuffed Johnson at Arrowhead, holding him to just 18 yards on 10 carries. Like the Bengals, the Chiefs also acquired a new pair of defensive tackles this offseason in James Reed and Ron Edwards. Both have appeared to be upgrades over Lional Dalton and Ryan Sims, last year's starters. But this is one of the most potent offensive lines in the league, as we've said before. You can bet that Cincinnati will want to come out and establish a ground game so Palmer doesn't present himself as a target too many times.

Look for the Bengals to run right at the undersized Hali. Fortunately for the Chiefs, they still field a solid linebacking corps, led by Kawika Mitchell in the middle and Derrick Johnson on the outside. Veteran safety Sammy Knight is an outstanding run supporter in the secondary, but don't look for Kansas City to play a lot of eight and nine-man fronts with Palmer throwing the ball. The Chiefs will likely need their front seven to shut down Johnson if Cincinnati's offense is to be held in check. Adding the threat of play action to Cincinnati's already well-stocked arsenal would likely prove to be too much for Gunther Cunningham's unit to handle.

Edge: Even.


Special teams: Both the Chiefs and Bengals have solid kicking tandems. Dante Hall gives the Chiefs a big edge in the return game. Cincinnati added the lightning-fast Antonio Chatman during the offseason, but he will miss the contest with a strained groin.

Edge: Even.


Intangibles: The Kansas City Chiefs are extremely difficult to beat in a home opener. The team will come out ultra-aggressive, wanting to win the first game for new head coach Herman Edwards. At the same time, the Bengals embarrassing loss in Kansas City at the end of 2005 was a sign of their playoff failure to come the following week. Marvin Lewis will surely remind them of that fact.

Edge: Even.



Prediction: The Chiefs' new defensive scheme is a double-edged sword, but Kansas City could prove to have one too many tricks up its sleeve for Cincinnati to handle.

Chiefs 31, Bengals 24.


Comments? Suggestions? Criticism? Contact C.E. Wendler at cwendler@realfootball365.com

Get more on the Kansas City Chiefs at RealFootball365.com
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