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Bengals Beat Chiefs, Advance to Super Bowl LVI
For the first time since 2019, The Kansas City Chiefs will not be representing the AFC in the Super Bowl.
The Cincinnati Bengals outlasted the Chiefs in overtime, 27-24, in the AFC Championship game Sunday afternoon at Arrowhead Stadium, and advanced to their first Super Bowl in 33 years.
Sophomore quarterback Joe Burrow continued his impressive postseason, completing 23 of 38 passes for 250 yards and two Touchdowns. He also threw one interception.
“It’s a special team that’s capable of doing special things,” said Bengals coach Zac Taylor. “We’ve said that from the get-go, whether people believed us or not. We believed. So we’re not surprised.”
Cincinnati (13-7) overcame an 18 point deficit and took a 24-21 lead when Evan McPherson’s 52-yard field goal sailed through the uprights with 6:04 left.
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The Chiefs (14-6) proceeded to storm down the field in a scene reminiscent of their divisional round game against the Buffalo Bills, and for a moment looked like they might pull off another game-winning drive. Consecutive sacks by Defensive End Sam Hubbard, however, forced Kansas City to settle for a game-tying 44-yard field goal by kicker Harrison Butker as time expired.
After winning the overtime coin toss for the second consecutive week, Kansas City looked poised to advance to their third straight Super Bowl. The Bengals, though, had different plans. Safety Vonn Bell intercepted Patrick Mahomes’ third pass of the drive, and gave the offense the opportunity to score and send the Bengals to their first championship game since a 20-16 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIII.
“Usually when you lose the coin flip to those guys, you’re going home,” said Burrow. “Our defense really stepped up and made plays in the second half. And on offense we made plays when we had to. I thought the offensive line played really well all day. We started running the ball there at the end and that’s exciting.”
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Cincinnati’s offense totaled 359 yards, and were led by wide receiver Tee Higgins (six catches, 103 yards) and running back Joe Mixon (21 carries, 88 yards)
The loss figures to haunt Mahomes and the Chiefs throughout the offseason.
“When you’re up 21-3 at any point in the game, you can’t lose it,” Mahomes said. “I put that on myself.”
He finished with 26 completions in 39 attempts, totaling 275 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Cincinnati will face the Los Angeles Rams, who defeated the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC championship game, in the Super Bowl.
Super Bowl LVI takes place Sunday, February 13 at 6:30 p.m. ET, and will be broadcast live on NBC from SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
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