When the Chiefs take on the Bengals this Sunday at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, it’ll be the sixth meeting between the AFC rivals in 987 days.

That’s less than three calendar years, and it’s not only the frequent meetings that have made this one of the NFL’s best matchups in recent memory. They’ve also met in some high-stakes contests: two AFC Championship Games.

The Bengals won the first three meetings but the Chiefs have prevailed in the past two. However, Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow didn’t play in the last game, which the Chiefs won 25-17 on Dec. 31, 2023.

On the latest episode of the New Heights podcast, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce shared his thoughts on facing the Bengals, who lost 16-10 at home to the Patriots on Sunday.
“They’ll be fired up,” Kelce said of Cincinnati, “and the Patriots played really well, man.“

Kelce expects the Bengals to come out hot.

“The Bengals are going to be ready for us. We’re going to be dialed up and have a great game plan,” Kelce said. “I’ve already peeked at it with coaches today, and it’s going to be exciting to go up against one of the best teams in the league.

“I think they have a great defense. Their defensive coordinator (Lou Anarumo) always plays extremely tough. They’re very well coached. They got players all over the place, and great players all over the place. And sure enough, it’s one I would call rivals, now that we’ve actually won a few.”

Jason Kelce, the podcast co-host, said the Chiefs-Bengals rivalry has been intense for a few years. But Travis Kelce said it only became a rivalry after the Chiefs finally defeated Cincinnati.

The conversation veered when Jason Kelce unintentionally mentioned a song by Kelce’s girlfriend, Taylor Swift.

”There’s been bad blood between you two teams for four or five years,” Jason said.

Travis responded: “’Bad Blood.’ OK, I hear you.”

When they turned back to talking about the Bengals, Jason said he’s excited to watch Sunday.

“The Bengals, historically, the last two or three years have gotten off the slow starts,” he said. “I know last year they definitely did. It felt like the year before was similar, and obviously they got the whole Ja’Marr Chase thing going on, so they’ve had some turmoil. But I bet they’re going to be far improved from their Week 1 performance, especially with friend of the show and just absolute dog, Joe Burrow leading them.

“And he gets to be playing in Burrowhead, which we know is his preferred stadium of choice in the NFL, so it’ll be a fun match up to watch.”