The Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs have built a burgeoning rivalry sparked by spirited postseason games each of the past two seasons.
This past January, the rivalry reached new heights with Bengals fans declaring Arrowhead Stadium "Burrowhead" before the AFC Championship Game, which Chiefs, like Travis Kelce, didn't take too kindly toward.
The Bengals rendered a level of revenge for the loss, swiping Pro Bowl offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. in free agency after he spent two seasons with the Chiefs.
"I loved it," wide receiver Tyler Boyd said on Tuesday of the signing, via Joe Danneman of FOX 19. "You know, we have a nice little rivalry with the Chiefs, and to see him come over, you know, it's like, yeah, we one-upped y'all. But at the end of the day, he's a great player."
Boyd's quote aligns with Kelce's comments earlier this offseason that it hurt his "soul" to see Brown join their AFC rivals.
The Chiefs attempted to re-sign Brown but didn't meet the left tackle's contract desires. Eventually, K.C. pivoted to sign Jawaan Taylor to a big-money contract and recently added veteran LT Donovan Smith.
The Bengals swiped Brown from Kansas City to help what's become a yearly project of upgrading the offensive line. The plan is to keep Brown at left tackle while moving former first-round pick Jonah Williams to the right side.
"He's probably one of the best at his position," Boyd said of Brown. "Just adding him to what we got already, you know, it's going to allow Joe (Burrow) to have more time, and it's going to give us the will to put up those points. I'm just happy to have him."
Brown has been a solid, if unspectacular, left tackle, earning four straight Pro Bowl nods. It's a clear upgrade for the Bengals that should give Burrow better protection, especially in those crucible moments against their AFC rivals.
