The Cincinnati Bengals are going to the Super Bowl! Cincinnati erased an 18-point deficit to take down Kansas City 27-24 in overtime on the road.
It looked like it may be a rout early on, with the Chiefs looking unstoppable on offense en route to a 21-3 lead after three Kansas City possessions.
Complete domination from Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs' offense so far. 🏈🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/3AyHPh6u3C
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) January 30, 2022
But the Bengals made two huge plays over the final 70 seconds of the first half, with a 41-yard touchdown reception from Samaje Perine, followed by a goal-line stop at the one-yard line as the clock ran out (on a very questionable decision by Patrick Mahomes; this throw should go quickly to the end zone to either get another play, or to just take the field goal to go up 14 points).
Samaje Perine with a 41-yard touchdown for the Bengals! 🏈 pic.twitter.com/hKWdobUiSm
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) January 30, 2022
Huge stop by the Bengals' defense to close out the half. pic.twitter.com/wSNtDP2UVh
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) January 30, 2022
In the second half, the Chiefs’ offense all of a sudden became stoppable. Mahomes was even intercepted by 311-pound defensive tackle B.J. Hill. That led to a Bengals touchdown — Joe Burrow to Ja’Marr Chase — and a two-point conversion that tied the game 21-21.
The Burrow-Chase connection is lethal for the Bengals. 🏈🔥 pic.twitter.com/Vz0hTZcpuI
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) January 30, 2022
The Bengals — incredibly — have erased an 18-point deficit to tie the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. 🏈 pic.twitter.com/HmArVNW5tn
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) January 30, 2022
And with just over six minutes remaining, the Bengals took a 24-21 lead on an Evan McPherson 52-yard field goal.
Evan McPherson nails a 52-yarder and the Bengals lead! 🏈 pic.twitter.com/FUwsHOlmT8
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) January 30, 2022
The Chiefs were driving with the chance to win the game, but Cincinnati made big plays defensively in the red zone to move Kansas City back to a 44-yard field goal try, which Harrison Butker made to send the game to overtime.
Harrison Butker sends the AFC Championship Game to overtime! 🏈 pic.twitter.com/ENimvr491B
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) January 30, 2022
Kansas City then won the overtime coin flip, giving them a chance to repeat last week’s heroics with a game-winning touchdown on the first drive. However, the Bengals defense came through on 3rd-and-10 with an interception by Vonn Bell on 3rd-and-10.
The Bengals pick off Patrick Mahomes again! pic.twitter.com/dBuYRL3Rfk
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) January 30, 2022
The Bengals moved the ball well on the ensuing drive, and McPherson — who went 4-for-4 continued his remarkable rookie season with a walk-off 31-yard field goal.
THE CINCINNATI BENGALS ARE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL! pic.twitter.com/QvjJH4SPRi
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) January 30, 2022
AND ONCE AGAIN…THAT'S WHY YOU DRAFT A KICKER!
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) January 30, 2022
What an amazing comeback and complete turnaround from early in the game.
The Bengals win the conference championship for the third time in franchise history (the first time since 1988), and now they hope to win their first Super Bowl title when they face either the Los Angeles Rams or San Francisco 49ers in two weeks.
Here’s more reaction and factoids on the Bengals’ incredible win:
Everybody laughed at me, pull up the receipts i called this in the preseason, all my bets hit for a reason regarding the Bengals, so happy for the fans of Cincinnati & the Brown family #WhoDey 🐅
— Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) January 30, 2022
I’ve told my son his whole life we’d both go to our first SB together… and ONLY if the Bengals or Browns play in it.
I can’t f%^#*n wait! 😭😭😭😭#WhoDey pic.twitter.com/iqbQOwiAXU
— Andrew Hawkins (@Hawk) January 30, 2022
The Bengals 18-point comeback is tied for the 2nd-largest road comeback win in NFL postseason history.
Teams are now 4-163 all-time when trailing by 18+ in road playoff games. pic.twitter.com/zEe4xQLVcf
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 30, 2022
The Chiefs led 21-3 but are now tied with the Bengals heading into the fourth.
Teams with an 18-point lead are 115-1 this season (regular season and postseason). The only team to win after trailing by 18 points was the Ravens against the Colts in Week 5.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 30, 2022
Patrick Mahomes When Leading by 14+ Points
W-L
vs Joe Burrow 0-2
vs all others 39-2The Bengals are now 3-0 in the AFC Championship, and are Super Bowl bound for the 1st time since 1988. pic.twitter.com/xvM2sLc7cM
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 30, 2022
Cincy D = ⭐️
Chiefs-Bengals Week 17: Mahomes held to 50 yards in the second half
AFC Championship: Mahomes held to 55 yards in the second half
— Sarah Spain (@SarahSpain) January 30, 2022
The Bengals rebuild under Zac Taylor:
2019: 2-14
2020: 4-11-1
2021: Super Bowl appearance pic.twitter.com/dp3NfFET7a— StatMuse (@statmuse) January 30, 2022
Evan McPherson of the @Bengals has made all 12 of his field-goal attempts this postseason.
That ties Adam Vinatieri in 2006 for the most consecutive field goals made without missing in a single postseason.
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) January 30, 2022
First No. 1 pick ever to start a Super Bowl in his first two seasons.
Joe Burrow is a FRANCHISE changer. pic.twitter.com/FUoihro6FE
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) January 30, 2022
We shoulda known as soon as Joe Burrow rolled up like this pic.twitter.com/bki15cm7N1
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) January 30, 2022
Words that have never been tweeted: the @bengals are in the Super Bowl.
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) January 30, 2022
What a momemt. Joe Mixon FaceTiming his mom to tell her he’s going to the Super Bowl. #Bengals pic.twitter.com/EJm4gbG98Q
— Brandon Saho (@BrandonSaho) January 30, 2022
Let this be a lesson to every NFL team — the Bengals got cooler uniforms and immediately won the AFC.
Do with this information what you will
— Marcel Louis-Jacques (@Marcel_LJ) January 30, 2022
Never tell me there’s no value in tanking. If the Dolphins had done what Stephen Ross wanted to do in 2019, they’d have Joe Burrow.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) January 30, 2022