CINCINNATI — Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton has a novel title for the Kansas City Chiefs‘ stadium — “Burrowhead.”
Hilton coined the moniker for Arrowhead Stadium throughout the crew’s divisional spherical victory over the Buffalo Bills. Hilton mentioned he knew he would ruffle a number of feathers when he uttered the phrase into an NFL Movies digital camera final weekend, nevertheless it’s proof of the crew’s confidence heading into Sunday’s rematch with Kansas Metropolis within the AFC title recreation.
“That is simply our locker room, man,” Hilton mentioned Wednesday. “That is simply who we’re. We received an entire bunch of men that love taking part in with one another.”
The story behind the story is about as cut-and-dry as what it is referencing. Through the crew’s 27-10 win over the Payments final weekend, Hilton was strolling down the sideline, realized the Bengals have been headed to Kansas Metropolis for an additional AFC Championship Sport and noticed Joe Burrow, the profitable quarterback in final yr’s tilt for AFC supremacy. Final yr’s victory that despatched the Bengals to the Tremendous Bowl was the second of three consecutive victories towards Kansas Metropolis, the primary on the highway.
“It might need stirred a number of pots, however it’s what it’s,” Hilton mentioned.
Naturally, a minimum of one Kansas Metropolis participant took exception to that nickname. Tight finish Travis Kelce mentioned on his “New Heights” podcast that Bengals followers utilizing the “Burrowhead” title are placing a whole lot of bulletin board materials on the web forward of the upcoming showdown. Patrick Mahomes even chimed in one in every of Audacy’s radio associates relating to the topic.
“I imply trash discuss is simply kinda a part of the sport,” Mahomes advised 610 Sports activities Radio in Kansas Metropolis. “I do know our guys will likely be able to go and I am glad we get to play at Arrowhead and see what occurs.”
Hilton’s stadium nomenclature is indicative of how assured the Bengals have felt throughout a 10-game profitable streak that dates again to Week 9 of the common season. Forward of the crew’s Week 17 recreation towards the Payments that was deserted, operating again Joe Mixon mentioned that the Bengals needed to show they have been the “large canines” within the AFC. Huge receiver Tee Higgins echoed that sentiment after the Bengals beat Buffalo to return to the convention title recreation for the second straight yr and spoke of Cincinnati’s Tremendous Bowl pedigree.
“We went final yr with a lot of the guys within the locker room,” Higgins mentioned. “All of us knew we had the expertise and the coaches to return. We simply needed to put (collectively) the items of the puzzle.”
When requested concerning the crew’s confidence all year long, Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor mentioned there’s a stability that must be struck because the crew asserts its self-belief.
“After all, we wish our focus to be on our crew,” Taylor mentioned. “On the identical time, I would like our gamers to have that confidence that results in that edge. They are not afraid of anyone. They know that they’ve put within the work. They know the belong on the sphere with all people.”
And simply because Hilton has a enjoyable, dominating nickname for the venue Cincinnati will play on this weekend, he is aware of beating Kansas Metropolis will likely be difficult.
“We all know what’s at stake,” Hilton mentioned. “We all know what’s in entrance of us. We all know we’ll play an awesome crew on Sunday. However we’re prepared.”