The KC Chiefs’ secondary is of primary concern against Bengals in AFC Championship Game

The Chiefs play host to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday in the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium

It’s the 30th time these teams will meet. The Bengals own a 16-14 all-time edge, a mark that includes a 34-31 win on Jan. 2.

“They beat us,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said of the Week 17 game in Cincinnati. “It wasn’t a fluke; they beat us. So they’re a good football team ...”

While Sunday’s showdown represents the first playoff contest between the Chiefs and Bengals, the stakes are sky-high: The winner advances to Super Bowl LVI.

The rematch sets up well for another exciting game. From the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce to the Bengals’ Joe Burrow and Joe Mixon, neither side’s lacking in Pro Bowl-caliber star power.

Here are four key areas to monitor for the Chiefs with a Super Bowl berth on the line.

STOP CHASE

What? You thought sensational young receiver Ja’Marr Chase was somehow omitted a few sentences earlier? Hardly, and the Chiefs surely shouldn’t forget where the rookie is located at any point in the game, either.

Chase destroyed the Chiefs in Week 17, totaling 11 catches for 266 yards and three touchdowns on 12 targets — a rather healthy 24.2 yards per catch. The Chiefs had no answer Chase, whose touchdowns covered 72, 69 and 18 yards.

He also snared a 30-yard catch down the right sideline with the Bengals facing a third-and-27 situation. The play eventually led to the Bengals’ game-winning field goal.

What makes Chase so special?

“He knows how to set up routes, especially for a young guy, then he’s strong when he gets the ball in his hands,” Reid said. “He’s got great core strength and lower body strength, and quick feet to go with it. So, he’s the complete package.”

Chase led the Bengals with 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns on 81 catches during the regular season. He was Burrow’s go-to receiver, garnering a team-high 128 targets. The next closest was receiver Tee Higgins, who was targeted 110.

The Chiefs have to do better in coverage against Chase, whose 1,455 receiving yards were the most by a rookie in the modern Super Bowl era of the NFL. He obliterated single coverage last time, often against cornerback Charvarius Ward. He also took advantage of soft spots in KC’s zone coverage, especially on his 69-yard score down the left sideline.

Whether that means bracketing with a safety over the top, or relying on Ward to defend Chase one on one again, this is critical. The Chiefs allowed Buffalo’s Gabriel Davis to go wild with eight catches for 201 yards and four touchdowns last week.

Yes, the Chiefs emerged victorious and advanced to the AFC Championship Game. But they’re playing with fire here.

RISE UP, SACK NATION

The Chiefs’ pass rushers must feel giddy after watching tape of the Bengals’ 19-16 win over the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Divisional Round.

Cincinnati’s offensive line had numerous issues as the Titans sacked Burrow an incredible nine times and recorded 13 quarterback hits.

Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones, whose nine sacks in 2021 led the team, totaled two takedowns against Burrow in Week 17. As a team, the Chiefs recorded four sacks and 10 quarterback hits that day and still lost.

This time around, Kansas City would do well to get after a highly suspect Bengals front five and apply consistent, timely pressure on Burrow to prevent him from locating targets down the field. Burrow can make a defense pay if given time to work.

LET IT FLY

Mahomes had an efficient game against the Bengals in Week 17, completing 26 of 59 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns. His connected with 10 receivers, Tyreek Hill leading the way with six catches for 40 yards.

Such production pales in comparison to what Mahomes did last weekend: 378 yards passing and three touchdowns against the Bills. Through two postseason games, he’s thrown for for 782 total and eight touchdowns — and run for a TD.

Cincinnati intercepted Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill three times last week, but Mahomes is in a different universe in terms of skill. Mahomes and the Chiefs shouldn’t hesitate to attack the Bengals’ pass defense, which finished the regular season ranked 26th (248.4 yards allowed per game).

This is an ideal matchup for Mahomes, who is averaging 391 yards per game in the postseason.

STAY LASER-FOCUSED

The Chiefs are coming off one of the NFL’s best games ever, overcoming incredible odds in the final 13 seconds of regulation to force overtime and then emerge victorious in the extra period.

It’s an exhilarating time, but also a potentially dangerous one. The Chiefs were likely drained emotionally after such a tremendous win, but the last thing they want to do on Sunday is show up flat against the Bengals.

The good news: Reid is widely regarded as one of the more detailed-oriented head coaches in the league. His leadership this past week has been essential in ensuring the Chiefs are properly prepared.

“They were excited about that game, but they said, ‘We’ve still got another game here that we’ve got to get ready for,’” Reid said of his players. “So enjoy the moment, but we’ve got to move on.”

“They were all speaking that when they came in here. They knew that this thing moves fast and you’re on to the next one pretty quick.”