Kansas City Chiefs vs. Bengals will feature this strength-on-strength matchup

Earlier this week, Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie watched tape of last season’s AFC Championship Game against the Cincinnati Bengals and was reminded about overcoming obstacles.

In the first series, L’Jaruis Sneed left the game with an injury. That left the Chiefs to defend the Bengals’ laudable passing game with three rookie corners: McDuffie, Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams, plus rookie safety Bryan Cook.

“Seeing all of us out there and the confidence and next man up,” McDuffie said, “that’s a real thing.”

It might have to be the case again for the Chiefs — and the Bengals — when they meet on Sunday at Arrowhead. In a game that matches Cincinnati’s superb wide receivers against what’s been an excellent KC pass defense, two feature players have missed practice time this week.

Sneed, who is building All-Pro credentials with his work on opponents’ top targets, should go up against Ja’Marr Chase. He’s one of the NFL’s top wide receivers.

But Sneed suffered a calf strain in the Chiefs’ loss to the Las Vegas Raiders last week. Chase didn’t play against the Pittsburgh Steelers after suffering a shoulder injury the previous week.

The game’s importance might bring out the urgency in both. The Chiefs, 9-6, lead the AFC West but lost an opportunity to clinch the division with last week’s loss. With two games remaining, the Chiefs need to win (or tie) at least one to clinch, or have the Broncos and Raiders lose one of their final two.

The Bengals, 8-7, are outside the playoff picture with a game against the Cleveland Browns after this week.

Sneed, seeking his first Pro Bowl appearance, has not allowed a touchdown or a 100-yard receiving game in his role as the primary man covering top receivers. He entered last week as the NFL’s most targeted cornerback.

“When I look at what he’s doing going against every number one receiver and locking them down, it’s like Darrelle Revis,” McDuffie said. “Just put him on an island and let that man work.”

Chiefs secondary coach Dave Merritt said Sneed is among the best corners he’s seen reacting to a reception.

“He gets (ticked) off, he’s ready to go,” Merritt said. “He’s ready to (go) back and challenge you again to show everybody that, ‘Nah, that’s not going to happen again.’”

Whoever handles Chase, assuming he plays, will have their hands full. He tops the Bengals with 93 receptions and 82.6 yards per game with seven touchdowns.

Chase said he wasn’t impressed with the Chiefs’ secondary when talking to reporters in Cincinnati on Thursday.

Asked what stands out about that group...

“If I’m being honest, nothing,” Chase said. “They just know how to play us, know the leverages, know what places we’re in, know what we’re going to do (with) certain movements.

“They throw a double-double (double teams) at us to stop the two best players on our side. That’s all they do. It’s not like they have a Jalen Ramsey on their squad.”

For the past five games, Jake Browning has been the Bengals’ quarterback and not the injured Joe Burrow. Chase had one of his biggest games, with 11 receptions for 149 yards and a touchdown in a victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

It’s not just Sneed and Chase. McDuffie has taken a huge step this season. Bengals wide receivers Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd have come up big against the Chiefs.

“The strength of our defense is our DBs, and the strength of their offense is their wide receivers,” Chiefs safety Justin Reid said. “So it’s definitely going to be a fun matchup.”