3 Bengals That Need to Come Up Big to Upset the Chiefs

A last-second field goal against the Tennessee Titans advanced the Cincinnati Bengals past the Divisional Round, earning an AFC Championship date with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Unfortunately, oddsmakers don't have much faith in the Bengals beating the Chiefs. FanDuel Sportsbook is currently listing Kansas City as the 7-point home favorite.

Keeping that in mind, the Bengals did beat the Chiefs 34-31 in Week 17, so another upset isn't out of the question. It just means that certain Cincinnati players need to step up if they want to play in Super Bowl 56.

Here's a look at three Bengals who need to come up big to upset the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.

Bengals vs Chiefs AFC Championship

1. Joe Burrow, QB

It isn't much of a secret that the Bengals wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Joe Burrow's play. The sophomore quarterback has thrown for 1,563 passing yards and 10 touchdowns to one interception over his last four games and that's the type of play his team will need against the juggernaut Chiefs. He had 446 yards and four TDs against Kansas City in Week 17 and he'll need to lead by example again. Kansas City's defense might be better than it was at the start of the season, but the Buffalo Bills did put up four passing TDs against them in the Divisional Round.

2. Mike Hilton, CB

Fifth-year cornerback Mike Hilton will likely draw the assignment of covering Tyreek Hill on Sunday. The Bengals did a great job at shutting Hill down in Week 17, holding him to six receptions on 10 targets for just 40 yards. Considering how the veteran wideout torched the Bills for 150 yards and a TD, Hilton will need to play the best game of his life. He has five passes defended and two interceptions in his last four games and he must keep that play up to force the Chiefs to target their lesser passing options.

3. Ja'Marr Chase, WR

Rookie wideout Ja'Marr Chase wowed fans with a historic performance against the Chiefs in Week 17, hauling in 11-of-12 targets for 266 receiving yards and a trio of touchdowns. The likelihood of that happening again is low, but that's not to say that he can't have another big game. Buffalo's Gabriel Davis just had a 200-yard, four-TD performance against Kansas City. With how often Burrow looks Chase's way (18 targets in two playoff games), it isn't unfathomable that the latter could have another huge performance. If he does, the Bengals have a legitimate shot at winning this game.

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Devon Platana is not a FanDuel employee. The views expressed in his articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.