Cincinnati ? First, Peyton Manning beat the Chiefs. Then, Aaron Rodgers — the NFL’s top-ranked passer — took their defense apart, throwing for five touchdowns last Monday night in Green Bay.

Up next is the league’s second-rated passer, also on the road.

Andy Dalton and the Bengals (3-0) intend to prove they should be counted among the league’s elite, too.

“We feel good about where we’re at,” said Dalton, whose passer rating of 121 trails only Rodgers’ 135.4.

“There’s still some things we can do better. We feel like the only thing that can stop us is ourselves. So we’ve just got to keep pushing and be the best we can be.”

Dalton led the Bengals back twice in the fourth quarter to get a win in Baltimore last Sunday and give Cincinnati control of the AFC North. He threw an 80-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Green and a 7-yarder for the clinching score.

Kansas City (1-2) gets no reprieve from its week-by-week matchup against some of the NFL’s top passers. The Chiefs have to do much better this week or they’ll find themselves three games below .500 only a month into the season.

“It’s tough,” linebacker Derrick Johnson said. “They have a really explosive offense and Andy Dalton is one of the young, up-and-coming quarterbacks and has a pretty dynamic receiver that he’s throwing the ball to.

“That team is 3-0. That’s hard to do in this league, even though it’s early. Coming into their house, it’s going to be even harder to beat them. But we have to turn some things around here and that’s what we have to do.”

A win on Sunday would let the Bengals match the third-best start in franchise history. Twice, they’ve started 6-0.

Here are some things to watch at Paul Brown Stadium:

Chiefs pass defense: Top cornerback Sean Smith returns from a three-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Cornerback Phillip Gaines tore an ACL against the Packers, so the Chiefs need Smith to play well right away. He feels up to it.

“Just like riding a bike,” Smith said. “One pedal at a time.”

Running on empty: Kansas City needs to get Jamaal Charles comfortable early to prevent Cincinnati from using its blitz packages. The Bengals limited Baltimore to 36 yards on the ground and have the league’s fifth-ranked run defense.

KANSAS CITY (1-2) at CINCINNATI (3-0)

Noon today, CBS (WOW channels 5, 13, 205, 2013

OPENING LINE — Bengals by 3

RECORD VS. SPREAD — Chiefs 1-2, Bengals 3-0

SERIES RECORD — Bengals lead 14-13

LAST MEETING — Bengals beat Chiefs 28-6, Nov. 18, 2012

LAST WEEK — Chiefs lost to Packers 38-28; Bengals beat Ravens 28-24

AP PRO32 RANKING — Chiefs No. 13, Bengals No. 4 (tie)

CHIEFS OFFENSE — OVERALL (22), RUSH (T13), PASS (25).

CHIEFS DEFENSE — OVERALL (24), RUSH (14), PASS (28).

BENGALS OFFENSE — OVERALL (2), RUSH (8), PASS (6).

BENGALS DEFENSE — OVERALL (T12), RUSH (5), PASS (20).

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — Cincinnati has won last three games in series. … Chiefs haven’t started 1-3 since 2012. … RB Jamaal Charles’ career-high three TDs rushing against Packers moved him into third place on Chiefs career list. … QB Alex Smith was 20 of 30 for 201 yards, no touchdowns or interceptions, and passer rating of 85.6 in only game against Cincinnati. … Chiefs have allowed an NFL-high 14 sacks. … CB Sean Smith returns from three-game suspension for violating league’s substance-abuse policy. Phillip Gaines, who filled in for him, tore an ACL against Packers and is out for season.