Harrison Butker‘s 51-yard field goal sealed the Chiefs’ 26-25 win over the Bengals, and the emotions were palpable. Joe Burrow bit his lip. Zac Taylor gave a sarcastic grin, and the Bengals stood in disbelief. Meanwhile, KC swarmed Butker, and Patrick Mahomes pointed to his kicker in appreciation. Even Taylor Swift was going wild in the stands. Yet, one ex-NFL coach isn’t buying the hype, claiming the two-time defending champs were outplayed by Cincinnati in every sense.

Speaking on ESPN’s Get Up, on September 16th, Rex Ryan did not let it pass when one of the show hosts expressed his hopes aloud of a potential match between the two in January, in the playoffs. He said you want it, the fans want it, but Kansas City doesn’t want that. Hmm. Well, why? You may ask. Here’s his answer. “They got outplayed. Say what you want. I said yesterday: ‘Cincinnati’s styles make fights’. This team is not afraid of Patrick Mahomes and the company.”

Even former QB Dan Orlovsky chimed in, saying, “I completely agree. Cincinnati outplayed Kansas City.” For those who watched, it was a classic case of feeling like the right team didn’t win. A lot of Pigskin fanatics felt that the Bengals deserved that victory. So, let’s see why that’s the popular notion after the Sunday Night clash.

From the get-go, it was clear that the Chiefs had their hands full. Starting Left Tackle Kingsley Suamataia got overwhelmed by Trey Hendrickson, who turned the second half into his personal highlight reel. Reid had to pull the rookie tackle off the field; it was clear this wasn’t his day.

The Bengals looked like they had the game in the bag until a fumble by Burrow handed the Chiefs a golden opportunity. Even with a chance to close it out, the Bengals couldn’t avoid those costly mistakes. Missed opportunities and defensive slip-ups let Kansas City snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Who’s to blame? Maybe a little of everything—self-inflicted wounds and a few missed chances.

Despite the defeat, Joe Burrow put up impressive numbers, going 23 of 36 for 258 yards and two touchdowns, saying he felt the best he has since his wrist surgery last November. Ask Who Dey and they will tell you he definitely gave Patrick Mahomes a run for his money. Not every evening you get to hear that, but this was different.

On the other hand, Mahomes managed just 151 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Talk about a defense on lock. And while we are at it, we have got to say that if nothing, then Cincy’s defense deserved something out of the game. And Rex Ryan was right on it explaining why.

Lou Anarumo locked Patrick Mahomes in a defensive masterclass by the Bengals

“Lou Anarumo is better [D-Coordinator] than anybody else in the league,” Rex Ryan exclaimed. The former HC added that if you think the Chiefs want a rematch with this defense, think again. And let’s be honest—no one would blame them for hoping not to face this defensive juggernaut again.

Anarumo’s defense really showed up and showed out, didn’t they? They were back to their 2021-2022 form, making every play count. Sure, Taylor-Britt might have had a rough start, but his one-handed pick was pure magic. Later, DJ Turner’s pick, though wiped off by penalty, proved the Bengals were on fire.

But it did not stop there! Akeem Davis-Gaither, who seems to have a knack for picking off MVPs, snagged one off Patrick Mahomes—his second career pick off an MVP, by the way. First? Lamar Jackson. Well, that’s some resume. Now, seeing all the surrounding action, Sheldon Rankins wasn’t going to be left out. So he joined in, forcing a crucial fumble and boosting the Bengals’ defensive swagger.

Meanwhile, amidst all this, Trey Hendrickson stood out as a beast. He took down Patrick Mahomes twice and made rookie tackle Kingsley Suamataia’s life a living nightmare.

So, here’s the real deal: Anarumo’s defense is not to be taken lightly. Earned its stripes against Patrick Mahomes and co. with grit. But the question is: Do you think this defensive dynamo could power the Bengals to a deep playoff run? Let us know!