The Sports Xchange

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals were thwarted in their attempt to start the 2014 season 4-0 when an inspired Tom Brady and New England Patriots team blasted them 43-17 in Foxboro.

This year feels different for the Bengals in many respects.

On Sunday, they’ll face a struggling Kansas City Chiefs team in the friendly confines of Paul Brown Stadium.

And they’ll do so behind quarterback Andy Dalton, who is completing 66.3 percent of his passes with eight touchdowns and one interception through three games.

He has thrown for 866 yards with a passer rating of 121.

“I feel more comfortable,” Dalton said. “It’s just the beginning. We’ve put ourselves in a good spot right now.”

On Sunday, Dalton will face a 3-4 Chiefs defense similar to others the Bengals have faced this season.

“They’re really good up front,” said Dalton. “(Outside linebacker) Justin Houston is one of the best pass rushers in this league. They do a good job on the back end. Guys have to make contested catches against them because of the man coverage they do. Another week another test for us.”

The Bengals are looking to start 4-0 for the first time since the 2005 squad that seemed destined for a Super Bowl run before quarterback Carson Palmer’s devastating leg injury on the first pass play of the postseason.

Cincinnati has started a season 4-0 just three times in its history.

“We’re not satisfied where we’re at,” Dalton said. “We can’t let anything slip. The way we’re being coached … our mindset is in the right place. It’s only three games into the season.”

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Dalton’s performance in last week’s 28-24 win at the Baltimore Ravens was how he reacted when things didn’t go right.

He underthrew a fade route resulting in an interception in the end zone and didn’t protect the ball while being sacked, with his ensuing fumble returned 41 yards for a touchdown by linebacker C.J. Mosley.

How did Dalton respond? With a laser to wide receiver A.J. Green for an 80-yard touchdown.

“That’s one of Andy Dalton’s best qualities is decisiveness and his ability to feel the spacing on the field,” Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said this week. “He’s got to make sure the ball’s go to the right spots. He’s done a good job of that.”

Meanwhile the Chiefs defense is coming off a game in which it was obliterated by Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who passed for 333 yards and three touchdowns.

Dalton isn’t the type of quarterback to put up those type of numbers on a regular basis, but with a healthy tight end Tyler Eifert, wide receivers Green and Marvin Jones and a staunch rushing attack, look for the Bengals to establish a balance attack against Kansas City.

“They’ve had some young guys playing,” said Dalton. “They’ve done some good things. It’ll be a good test. We’ll be ready for it.”

SERIES HISTORY: The Bengals lead the series 14-13, with the most recent meeting a 28-6 Bengals victory at Kansas City in 2011, with Dalton throwing for 230 yards and two touchdowns. The Chiefs have not traveled to Cincinnati since 2009, when they lost 17-10 with Bengals running back Cedric Benson rushing for 133 yards.

GAME PLAN: Bengals QB Andy Dalton has enjoyed a strong start to this season mostly due to the fact that he has remained upright. Dalton has passed for 868 yards and eight touchdowns with just one interception while being sacked only twice. Kansas City outside linebacker Justin Houston has three of the Chiefs’ nine sacks this season, but they only got to Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers once last week, resulting in 333 passing yards and five touchdowns.

Cincinnati must figure out a way to keep the Chiefs’ edge rushers quiet. Tight end Tyler Eifert could figure prominently as Kansas City’s secondary that welcomes back CB Sean Smith from suspension this week will bring tight man coverage. Cincinnati’s defensive front could feast on a rookie center and a Chiefs offensive line which has given up 14 sacks in three weeks.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

–Chiefs CB Sean Smith vs. A.J. Green. Kansas City was picked apart by Aaron Rodgers in its loss at Green Bay on Monday night. But on Sunday they welcome back Smith, who is coming off a three-game suspension for a DUI. He had a career-high 16 passes defensed last season yet will be challenged by Green, who had one of the finest games of his career in the win over Baltimore.

–Chiefs rookie C Mitch Morse vs. Cincinnati’s defensive line. Morse is a rookie second-round pick on a Chiefs offensive line that has allowed 14 sacks already this season. Morse will figure prominently in trying to keep Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap under wraps.