The more things change, the more they stay the same.

On Sunday night, the Kansas City Chiefs ran a physical, ball-control offense, used unusual players at the goal line – and made some uncharacteristic mistakes. The Cincinnati Bengals took advantage of the matchups by throwing almost exclusively to three of their tight ends – and their best pass rusher dominated Kansas City’s one-on-one tackles.

It is incredible how these recent encounters between Kansas City and Cincinnati always (So, almost In most cases (always) the game comes down to a field goal. The Chiefs did a lot to keep the Bengals alive in this game – but at the end of the day, they secured the win.

Here are a few that stood out as the Chiefs moved to 2-0 with a 26-25 win at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

winner

Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Defensive Back Chamarri Conner: He’s been criticized for missed tackles — and he had a few of them early in this game. (Though, to be fair, he was also credited with six tackles — including one for a loss.) But Conner made two of the most important plays for both teams. He recovered a fumble for a touchdown — and then blitzed for a sack that put Kansas City’s offense back on the field with a chance to win the game.

Running back Isiah Pacheco: The Bengals asked the Chiefs to run the ball, and he made them feel it. Pacheco rushed for 111 yards, a solid performance that helped the Chiefs’ running game shorten the matchup.

Wide Receiver Rashee Rice: The second-year player caught five balls for 75 yards – including his explosive 44-yard touchdown early in the game. But with the outcome uncertain in the fourth quarter, twice made game-saving plays. First, he caught a long pass on a fourth-and-6 attempt – but the play was taken back when Wanya Morris was penalized for it. Then it was Rice who battled down the field on the ensuing fourth-and-16 attempt and received the decisive pass interference penalty that gave his team its last chance to win.

Address Wanya Morris: Big guys who score touchdowns are automatic winners. Morris not only scored the first touchdown of his career, but it was a clean, Hands Catch. Still, the hand-to-the-face penalty in the fourth quarter might have knocked him off the winners list – that is, if the penalty had ultimately cost his team the game. So it will be a memorable Happy Day for Morris.

Cornerback Trent McDuffie: The All-Pro faced a difficult task – facing Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase for most of the afternoon – and he rose to the challenge. McDuffie’s coverage and solid tackling make him a machine on the field. Chase had just four catches for 35 yards on the day. I suspect most of those were against another defender.

Cornerback Joshua Williams: He made two big plays on special teams. First, he blocked Matt Araiza’s punt at the one-yard line to help end the first half. Then, Williams made an open-field tackle on Araiza’s final punt that pinned Cincinnati at the nine-yard line.

Kicker Harrison Butker: For a moment, it looked like he might have another chance to break the NFL record with a 68-yard attempt, but the Chiefs opted to punt instead. So we had to settle for another game-winning kick from the league’s best kicker. That one – from 51 yards out as time expired – sealed the win. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that it would be good.

loser

Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Left tackle Kingsley Suamataia: Many of the Chiefs’ tackles have had trouble with Bengals defensive lineman Trey Hendrickson — and now the rookie starter understands why that is. He was responsible for a handful of key pressures, two sacks and a holding penalty that negated a huge 51-yard play by tight end Travis Kelce. On the ensuing third-and-20, Suamataia took a seat when Morris came in. Coaches will have marked plenty of spots for the rookie to study on film — but it won’t all be on him. Hendrickson also gave Morris trouble in cleanup — and there were a couple of missed throws as well, leaving the starting left tackle without help. But that certainly won’t boost the former BYU tackle’s confidence.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes: Although he and his teammates gave it their all at the crucial moment, it was not a great day for the best player in the world. His two interceptions were a major factor in the game being so close. (He actually threw the second ball.) twicewhen a previous pick was revoked due to a penalty). Mahomes finished the day with 151 passing yards. He recorded two sacks and was responsible for two of Kansas City’s three turnovers.

Head coach Andy Reid: It feels wrong to put the best QB/coach combination in the league on the losers list – especially in a game the Chiefs won. But Reid made odd decisions in this game. On the plus side, he used Morris (and linebacker Leo Chenal) creatively near the goal line. I also liked how he stuck with rookie running back Carson Steele after the fumble. But a 19-yard field goal on fourth down and goal from the 1-yard line, the 68-yard field goal attempt that wasn’t one, 1 of 8 third down attempts, a conservative drive before punting – and finally allowing the Bengals to play through four of the final six minutes? In a game with razor-thin margins, those decisions were odd – and could have been costly.