GAMETIME:6:00 p.m. CT on Saturday, August 19
LOCATION:Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio
HOW TO WATCH:KCTV5
HOW TO LISTEN:101.1 The Fox
The Kansas City Chiefs take another step towards the regular season on Saturday night in the second week of preseason action.
The Chiefs broke training camp in St. Joseph on Wednesday after three weeks of grueling practices, but their work is far from over as they continue to prepare for the regular season in Saturday's contest.
Offensively, quarterback Alex Smith and the rest of the starters will play the first half, Head Coach Andy Reid said on Wednesday. Rookie quarterback Patrick Mahomes will play with the second team in the third quarter and Tyler Bray will take over with the third team in the fourth quarter.
Smith played just one series in Kansas City's preseason opener against San Francisco on Aug. 11 but took advantage of it, leading an eight-play touchdown drive. Smith completed four of six passes for 48 yards and chipped in 10 yards rushing in his limited work.
The first team will look to build on that success on Saturday as they get an extended opportunity to be on the field. The Chiefs rushing attack, which combined for just 13 carries in the preseason opener, will likely be a point of emphasis.
After the starters turn in their helmets and retire to the sideline, Mahomes will make his case to be Kansas City's second quarterback on the depth chart.
Mahomes was the Chiefs third quarterback in the preseason opener and played well, completing seven of nine passes for 49 yards and a touchdown. He began working with the second team in practice this week and will get a chance to face some stiffer competition in the third quarter on Saturday.
On the other side of the ball, the Bengals present a solid test for the Chiefs defense. Cincinnati has depth at quarterback with three-time Pro Bowler Andy Dalton and A.J. McCarron under center, and playmakers in wide receiver A.J. Green and tight end Tyler Eifert. Dalton, like Smith, played just one series in Cincinnati's preseason opener against Tampa Bay and will likely see more action on Saturday along with the rest of the Bengals regulars.
The Chiefs last faced the Bengals on October 4, 2015 in Cincinnati and lost, 36-21, despite kicker Cairo Santos' franchise-record seven field goals. The loss was part of a slow start to the 2015 season, but since that game, Kansas City is 22-6 in the regular season and 10-3 on the road. The Chiefs 22 wins in that span are the second-most in the NFL behind New England's 23.
The trip to southern Ohio will be a homecoming for tight end Travis Kelce, who played collegiately at the University of Cincinnati from 2009-12. Rookie running back Kareem Hunt also has Ohio roots, playing just up the road at the University of Toledo, where he's the school's all-time leading rusher. Hunt played at Paul Brown Stadium once while with the Rockets, rushing for 101 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries on Sept. 12, 2014 vs. UC.
Catch Kelce, Hunt and the rest of the Chiefs in action on Saturday night at 6 p.m. on KCTV5 as Kansas City continues to prepare for the regular season.
