These players could affect the outcome of Sunday’s Chiefs-Bengals game in Cincinnati

The Chiefs’ collapse in the AFC Championship Game to the Cincinnati Bengals, who overcame an 18-point deficit and won in overtime, was so stunning that it’s almost easy to forget that something similar happened just a few weeks earlier.

In a Week 17 game at Cincinnati, the Chiefs led by 14 points three different times, including at 28-14. But back came the Bengals for a 34-31 victory.

Common to both games: a meek Chiefs offense in the second half. Patrick Mahomes had 50 passing yards after halftime in the regular-season game, 55 and two interceptions after halftime in the playoffs. The Bengals played more zone in the first game, but it didn’t matter. Mahomes was equally ineffective in both.

For the Bengals, each game had defining moments. The Joe Burrow-to-Ja’Marr Chase connection accounted for 266 yards in the first game. Burrow’s ability to elude Chris Jones, who twice couldn’t bring down Burrow for drive-stopping sacks, was a killer for the Chiefs in the playoff showdown.

Jones said in the past few days that the playoff loss carried into the Chiefs’ offseason: “It was a driving force,” he said. “A lot of plays I left on the field.”

The Cincy sweep marked the second time since Mahomes became the starter five years ago that the Chiefs have lost twice to the same team in a season. Oddly, this hasn’t happened against an AFC West opponent. The other instance came in 2018, when the Chiefs lost to the New England Patriots in the regular season and in the AFC title game — also at home, and also in overtime.

Here are some players besides Mahomes and Burrow to watch on Sunday:

Chiefs wide receiver Justin Watson

In his first six games, Watson had three receptions. In the last five, he’s had nine, becoming more of a go-to target for Mahomes. Also, Watson is next man up on punt returns (don’t look for him to be more than a fair-catch artist).

Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie

McDuffie also could get a shot at returning punts. But the Chiefs need him and others in the secondary to step up their coverage skills. According to Pro Football Focus, the Chiefs allow a 108.9 passer rating when the ball is in the air. That’s 30th in the NFL, and ripe for the picking by Burrow and company,

Bengals tight end Hayden Hurst

The Bengals don’t throw to their tight end as much as other teams, but Hurst, the fifth-year pro with previous stops in Baltimore and Atlanta, is on his way to a career year. He has 46 receptions and two touchdowns and made a great catch on a 29-yard strike from Burrow in last week’s victory over the Titans.

Bengals tackle D.J. Reader

Reader missed several games with a knee injury but he returned in time to help the Bengals put the clamps on Tennessee running back Derrick Henry last week. Henry finished with 38 yards and 2.2 yards per carry. Reader also was credited with two passes defended in his first in two seasons.