BREAKING: FS1 expert says Chiefs have taken a step back this off-season and one rival is ready to exploit weakness

The Kansas City Chiefs are preparing for an almighty defense of their Super Bowl title but could one choice level the playing field in the AFC?

Joe Burrow expressed that the Cincinnati Bengals are well-equipped to defeat the Chiefs. The AFC quarterback shared this insight during a live episode of the New Heights podcast, where he engaged in a mutual appreciation of each other’s teams with Chiefs player Travis Kelce.

Joe Burrow remains the Chiefs’ biggest threat when healthy

Joe Burrow, besides Tom Brady, stands as the sole quarterback to triumph over Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs during playoff matchups. When in good health facing the Chiefs, Burrow boasts a 3-1 winning record, a feat accomplished by only a handful of teams during the Mahomes era.

Across their encounters, the franchises have maintained an even overall record of 3-3. Furthermore, both teams have emerged victorious against each other in an AFC Championship showdown. Burrow’s durability poses a significant obstacle as he has missed games due to injuries, highlighting the importance of staying consistently healthy for him.

NFL expert says L’Jarius Sneed’s departure opens a weakness

During the discussion on Speak, the focus was on whether the Bengals have the right makeup to defeat the Chiefs.

According to former player Emmanuel Acho, they do, pointing to a key offseason decision that he believes has caused the Chiefs to regress slightly.

Acho elaborated on this, emphasizing the Bengals’ strength in their passing game and highlighting the absence of L’Jarius Sneed as a significant factor. With Sneed no longer in the picture, Acho argues that the Chiefs have weakened, particularly in their secondary.

He pointed out the Bengals’ formidable offensive weapons, including Ja’Marr Chase, Joe Burrow, and potentially Tee Higgins, whose contract negotiations are ongoing. Additionally, the acquisition of Gesicki, though not Acho’s favorite pass blocker, adds to the Bengals’ receiving capabilities.

Overall, Acho sees Sneed’s departure as creating an exploitable vulnerability for the Bengals against the Chiefs.

Furthermore, Sneed was traded to the Tennessee Titans in March, a move made in part to free up limited cap space for the Chiefs.

All-Pro Trent McDuffie is expected to be CB1 in 2024

“Nevertheless, it’s anticipated that Trent McDuffie, who earned First-Team All-Pro honors as a cornerback, will step into the CB1 role. McDuffie’s performance has helped cushion the impact of Sneed’s departure, and there’s potential for him to exceed expectations.

Given Brett Veach and the front office’s track record for drafting talent, they’re likely confident in their ability to find strong replacements. The Chiefs and Bengals are scheduled to face off at Arrowhead Stadium during the 2024 regular season.”