Final thoughts

You know what, I think I’ve exhausted all of my thoughts, which is very rare for me. The Cincinnati Bengals are AFC champions and are heading to the Super Bowl. There they will be facing the winners of the NFC Championship Game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams, which is scheduled to kick off shortly. As it so happens, our own David Lengel will be covering that game live. Thanks to everyone who followed this liveblog of the Bengals’ improbable victory, especially all of those who contributed, and make sure to check out our game report, linked below. Ciao!

Joe Burrow’s last word: “It’s something I’m really proud of, being from Ohio… this is something I’ve always wanted: playing in the Super Bowl.”

The weirdest thing about this is that he’s completely calm while he says it. Maybe that’s the key to his success under unimaginable pressure.

“We have a special team,” Bengals head coach Zac Taylor says. Every head coach says something like this, but for once this doesn’t sound like a cliche.

“We’re not done yet,” he adds and I believe him.

That was a rough loss for the Chiefs but, unless you’re a Kansas City fan, it’s probably very hard to not feel happy for long-suffering Bengals fans right now.

And now it’s time for the trophy presentation!

The last time the Chiefs made the Super Bowl was 2021. The last time the Bengals made the Super Bowl was… 1989. To pull this off, the Bengals had to come back from an 18-point deficit, which ties a championship game record, on the road.

Tony Romo’s predictive skills never fail.

Words are failing me here, which is very bad because having words to type is 100% my job.

The Bengals pull off one of the all-time greatest comebacks in AFC championship game history and will now face the winners of the NFC championship game in the Super Bowl!

This is why we watch sports.

Bengals 27-24 Chiefs, FINAL

It’s all about ball security for the Bengals here. Mixon picks up an extra two yards here to bring the Bengals to the 10-yard line. On 2^nd & 8, Burrow takes a three yard loss, but that still sets up a 33-yard field goal and if you think that McPherson is going to miss it, you’re out of your mind!

It’s right down the middle! The Bengals are going to the Super Bowl?

THE BENGALS ARE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL!

Bengals 24-24 Chiefs, 10:52, OT

Oh, wow, this is happening. Mixon picks up seven yards to take them to the Chiefs 25. It’s a 2^nd & 3 situation, Mixon gets the ball all the way to the Chiefs’ 13 yard line. Kansas City takes a timeout here, but what could Andy Reid possibly say here?

Bengals 24-24 Chiefs, 12:51, OT

On the Bengals 45, Burrow throws to Higgins for a nine-yard gain. 2^nd & 1, Mixon picks up four yards. 1^st & 10 at the Kansas City 40, Mixon picks up yet another two yards. 2^nd & 8 at the Kansas City 40, Burrow finds Higgins for an eight-yard gain to the Kansas City 32. It feels like they’re close to field goal range already.

Bengals 24-24 Chiefs, 14:46, OT

The Chiefs start at their own 25 after another touchback. On 1^st & 10, Mahomes throws incomplete. On 2^nd & 10, Mahomes nearly throws a game-ending interception to Eli Apple. Oh dear, that could be painful if the Bengals can’t get a stop on 3^rd & 10.

Except this time, Mahomes does throw an interception! This one is caught by Bell at the Kansas City 45.

If the Chiefs win this game without the Bengals getting a chance to touch the ball in overtime, there is no chance that the NFL will not change the OT rules in this offseason. There will be riots if they don’t.

Coin toss

Well, that might be it for the Bengals. The Chiefs win the coin toss and can win it if they score a touchdown on their opening drive

For the second straight playoff game.

Bengals 24-24 Chiefs, end of regulation

3^rd & goal. Mahomes at the nine. He has a ridiculous amount of time to make a decision but the Bengals defense finally gets to him. Hubbard sacks him for a 15-yard loss and a fumble, which Kansas City recovers. That could have ended the game right there if the Bengals had recovered.

It’s all on Butker to force overtime here… and he does when his 44-yard field goal is good! The Chiefs have forced overtime yet again!

Bengals 24-21 Chiefs, :39, 4^th quarter

2^nd & goal. Mahomes takes a five-yard sack here, that’s on Sam Hubbard, pushing them to the Cincinnati 9. The Bengals take a timeout.

Bengals 24-21 Chiefs, 1:26, 4^th quarter

It’s 1^st & goal at the Cincinnati 5. The clock is a huge factor here, the Chiefs don’t want to leave the Bengals any time here. So, Mahomes hands off to McKinnon for the gain of a single yard.

The Bengals take a timeout here.

Bengals 24-21 Chiefs, 1:30, 4^th quarter

1^st & 10 on the Cincinnati 15, Mahomes takes it himself and rushes for 4 yards. 2^nd & 6. Mahomes runs and runs and runs and… gets an additional four yards when it’s all said and done. 3^rd & 2 at the Bengals 7. Mahomes finds Kelce for… exactly two yards. And the Chiefs take a timeout.

Roger Kirkby:

Those savvy Vegas guys don’t throw money away, for the chief’s to win by 8 looks way off in the distance, and they ain’t winning right now. Go Bengals defence.

Well, the Chiefs are knocking on the door now.

Bengals 24-21 Chiefs, 2:00, 4^th quarter

After being silent the entire second half, the Chiefs offense has woken up at the worst possible time for Cincinnati. On 1^st & 10 at the Bengals’ 38, Hardman gets nine yards. On the next play, McKinnon runs the ball to the Bengals’ 15 yard line and takes us to the two-minute warning.

Bengals 24-21 Chiefs, 3:29, 4^th quarter

2^nd & 2 at their own 43, McKinnon picks up 1 yard. Now we have the biggest third-down situation of the game. Mahomes throws to Kelce and the best tight end in the league gives them an 18-yard gain that takes them into the Bengals 38.

Bengals 24-21 Chiefs, 4:55, 4^th quarter

Another kickoff, another touchback. The Chiefs are at their own 25 again. Mahomes throws a pass to Hardman, which gives them a five yard gain. 2^nd & 10, Mahomes finds Kelce to make up the ten-yard difference. 1^st & 10 at their own 35, Mahomes goes into shotgun mode and finds Kelce for an eight yard gain.

Burrow came into this game expressing his annoyance that people considered the Bengals’ underdogs. All the confidence in the world, this guy has, and can you blame him?

Bengals 24-21 Chiefs, 6:04, 4^th quarter

Finally some good news for Kansas City on this drive: a false start penalty pushes the Bengals back five yards. It’s now 1^st & 15 at the Chiefs’ 39. Burrow’s first pass attempt is incomplete. Second down. Burrow finds Chase for a five yard gain, which at least erases the penalty. It’s 3^rd & 10 at the Chiefs 34. Burrow’s next throw is incomplete, but they’re in field goal range.

McPherson’s 52-yard field goal is… JUST good. The Bengals have the lead on another clutch McPherson kick! Fans at Arrowhead are stunned and they should be.

Bengals 21-21 Chiefs, 8:22, 4^th quarter

1^st & 10 at the Cincinnati 45… and here come the flags. It’s an offside penalty on the defense, which will give the Bengals an additional five yards here. So, it’s 1^st 7 5 at the 50-yard line. Burrow throws to Higgins who puts on a yards-after-the-catch clinic and extended into a 16-yard play. The Bengals are now at the Kansas City 34.

Bengals 21-21 Chiefs, 8:42, 4^th quarter

It’s 1^st & 10, somehow, at the Bengals 31. Mixon picks up a yard. 2^nd & 9, Burrow finds Boyd to cut it to a 3^rd & 7 situation. At his own 34, Burrow scrambles yet again and gets a first down yet again! The eleven yard run takes him to the Cincinnati 45.

On the next play, the Bengals take a timeout.

Bengals 21-21 Chiefs, 11:01, 4^th quarter

The Bengals have already secured a moral victory: can they pull off a real victory? They start at their own 20 where Mixon picks up 4 yards. 2^nd & 6, Burrow throws one way too low. The Chiefs have a 3^rd & 6 situation and a chance to shut this down, but instead their defense can’t get to Burrow who decides to keep the ball and take it himself for a seven yard gain that takes them to their own 31 and gives them a first down.

Bengals 21-21 Chiefs, 12:36, 4^th quarter

Edwards-Helaire picks up 4 yards to get to the Bengals 49, setting up a 2^nd & 6 situation. Mahomes throws his next pass just over Edwards-Helaire in a rare poor throw. This is a big third down situation here. Let’s face it: ever situation is key here.

Mahomes gets sacked again! It’s an eight-yard loss courtesy of Trey Hendrickson, the Bengals defense effectively erases the interception and forces Kansas City to punt once more. Townsend’s punt, yet again, falls into the end zone for a touchback.

Bengals 21-21 Chiefs, 14:01, 4^th quarter

And the Bengals drive promptly ends! Burrow tries to throw to Chase, but instead L’Jarius Sneed picks it off at the Kansas City 47! They get the ball right back! Unbelievable!

Bengals 21-21 Chiefs, 14:14, 4^th quarter

Mahomes has plenty of time with the ball and ends up scrambling… for a nine-yard loss! That’s his first sack of the game. The Bengals stop the Chiefs yet again: they haven’t scored this entire half. Here comes the punt team. Townsend’s punt is returned by Taylor to the Bengals 34, where they will start their drive.

I can’t beileve I’m saying this, but this game has gone from a potential blowout to a worthy follow-up to Bills-Chiefs.

I am not complaining.

Bengals 21-21 Chiefs, end of the 3^rd quarter

McPherson’s kickoff goes for a touchback. The Chiefs will start from their own 25. Mahomes throws incomplete to McKinnon. 2^nd & 10, Mahomes finds Kelce for a seven yard gain to their own 32. It will be 3^rd & 3 when the fourth quarter begins.

What a game we have going here!

Bengals 21-21 Chiefs, :14, 3^rd quarter

The Bengals are at the Kansas City 27 with a fresh set of down. This is trouble for the Chiefs. Mixon takes it to the 22 on first down. 2^nd & 5 at the Kansas City 22, the Burrow-to-Chase pipeline gives them 17 yards and takes them to the Kansas City 5!

1^st & goal, Mixon gets to the 2. 2^nd & goal, Burrow can’t connect with Chase. He doesn’t miss the next time, he finds Burrow in the end zone for a touchdown! After a successful two-point conversion (Burrow-to-Taylor) we have a tie game!

If I didn’t have to keep live blogging, I’d collapse right here and now.

Bengals 13-21 Chiefs, 2:23, 3^rd quarter

OH WOW. Game changing moment here! Trey Hill picks off Mahomes, his first interception in a championship game, at the Kansas City 29 and takes it an additional three yards! Bengals ball!

Bengals 13-21 Chiefs, 2:58, 3^rd quarter

McPherson’s kick hits the Bengals end zone for a touchback. The Chiefs lead has been cut by three-points but they have to like where they are right now. McKinnon gets the ball and runs for seven yards to the Kansas City 32.

Bengals 13-21 Chiefs, 3:46, 3^rd quarter

1^st & 10 at the Chiefs 26, Burrow finds Mixon for 18 yards to put them at the Kansas City 8. Things are getting dicey here for the Chiefs, but this is right when their defense steps up. Melvin Ingram sacks Burrow for the first time of the game: it’s a loss of seven yards. On 2^nd & goal, Burrow throws incomplete, pressured again by Ingram. Burrow’s next pass to Perine only gets them two yards so they have to settle for a field goal.

McPherson’s 31-yarder is good but that feels like a lost opportunity for Cincinnati.

Bengals 10-21 Chiefs, 5:02, 3^rd quarter

Mixon gets stopped for no gain on the next play. 2^nd & 10, still at the Kansas City 32. On the next play, the Chiefs pick a lousy time to pick up their first penalty of the game. Burrow’s throw was incomplete but they get six yards and first down out of it regardless.

Bengals 10-21 Chiefs, 6:25, 3^rd quarter

On the next play, Mixon gets the ball but can’t advance it. The officials throw a flag, but it’s accidental (at least it’s not a whistle this time).

After being relatively quiet today, Ja’Marr Chase gets in on the action in the next play. Burrow finds Chase for a 22 yard gain that puts them at the Chiefs 32 yard line. They are starting to threaten here.

Bengals 10-21 Chiefs, 7:26, 3^rd quarter

On 1^st & 10, Mixon runs the ball to the Cincinnati 40 in a five-yard gain. 2^nd & 5, Burrow finds Drew Sample for what is nearly a first down. On 3^rd & 1, it’s Quarterback Sneak Time as Burrow barrels his way through for a first down that takes them to their own 46.

Bengals 10-21 Chiefs, 8:48, 3^rd quarter

We’re at the Chiefs 20. Edwards-Helaire gets four yards. 2^nd & 6 at the 24: Mahomes throws a long one to nowhere. It’s a huge third down for the Bengals defense and… the Bengals force yet another punt! Halftime adjustments can be a heck of a thing.

Townsend’s 42 yard punt will put the Bengals at their own 35. Can they take advantage?

Bengals 10-21 Chiefs, 10:16, 3^rd quarter

Don’t laugh but that punt could pay dividends here, field position wise. Mahomes throws to Edwards-Helaire who runs for four yards. On their own 11, the Chiefs pick up a first down as Hardman picks up 10 yards before being pushed out of bounds by Von Bell, who could have been flagged for a penalty.

Bengals 10-21 Chiefs, 11:08, 3^rd quarter

It’s 2^nd & 14 at the Kansas City 43 and oof Burrow can’t find tight end Drew Sample. On 3^rd & 14, Burrow throws incomplete to Higgins. That will be two straight possessions now without a scoring change, believe it or not. Huber’s punt will put the Chiefs at their own 7 yard line to start their next possession.

Bengals 10-21 Chiefs, 11:13, 3^rd quarter

There’s the second-half start this Bengals offense needed. Burrow matches Mahomes with a bomb of a throw to Higgins to the Kansas City 39-yard line. That’s a 44 yard pass. Mixon picks up two yards on the first down to the 37.

Then, unfortunately, the Bengals get hit with a five-yard delay of game penalty.

Bengals 10-21 Chiefs, 12:58, 3^rd quarter

Tommy Townsend, who probably thought he had a day off, comes in to punt, a 57-yarder that is returned eleven yards by Trent Taylor to the Bengals 17.

Bengals 10-21 Chiefs, 13:03, 3^rd quarter

On 1^st & 10, McKinnon picks up six yards to the 27. On 2^nd & 4, Mahomes throws to Pringle for aa six yard gain and a first gain. With a fresh set of downs, McKinnon takes the ball to the Kansas City 37. 2^nd & 6, Mahomes throws incomplete… twice in a row?

Oh wow, the Chiefs are actually going to punt here from their 37.

Bengals 10-21 Chiefs, 14:55, 3^rd quarter

Byron Pringle takes McPherson’s kickoff from the end zone to the Kansas City 27, where the Chiefs will start their opening drive of the second half.

Massive comedy here as the Halftime Show completely drowns out the Halftime Analysis crew who are forced to scream at the camera and at each other to get out their points.

Best halftime of the postseason.

Email from Mike Priest:

As a “viewer” stuck in New Zealand…more data please.

While on long commercial breaks…set the field up.. last touch down had no idea wher Cincinnati was playing from …then suddenly a 40+ yard run.

Thanks.

Carry on,
Mike Priest

Fair enough. In my defense, Mahomes and Burrow are going so fast that it’s something of a challenge for me to get all the details out without falling way behind myself! I’ll make a better effort in the second half.

Halftime thoughts

CBS has to be happy about that Apple tackle, it keeps the Chiefs off the board and it puts the Bengals in a much more manageable position than they would be otherwise. An eleven point deficit against this high-flying offense isn’t an ideal situation, but it’s not impossible for this Bengals team, provided their defense can step up. They need to stop a Chiefs drive without an assist from the game clock.

Bengals 10-21 Chiefs, end of the 2^nd quarter

Oh wow! Thanks to a clutch Eli Apple tackle that keeps Hill out of the end zone, the Bengals get a key stop as time runs out!

Bengals 10-21 Chiefs, :09, 2^nd quarter

Mahomes just airs one out and draws a defensive pass interference call that puts them in a 1^st & goal situation. The Bengals call a timeout and try to figure out what exactly they could possibly do here.

Bengals 10-21 Chiefs, :13, 2^nd quarter

The Bengals defense seems to have no answers for Mahomes. Honestly, there might not *be* any answers for Mahomes. He throws to Kelce for a nine-yard gain to the Cincinnati 25. There are 13 seconds left on the clock. Bills fans can tell you how this story ends.

Bengals 10-21 Chiefs, :41, 2^nd quarter

McPherson’s kickoff puts the Chiefs at their own 19. On 1^st & 10, Mahomes throws incomplete to Hardman. 2^nd & 10. Mahomes makes another MASSIVE throw, this one’s to Hill and it’s a 33 yard completion to the Cincinnati 48. They are already cooking. Mahomes finds Hill again, this time for a 14 yard game to the 34. And we have a Chiefs timeout.

1:05, 2^nd quarter

Well that’s not great for the Bengals: Mixon gets taken down for a two yard loss. It’s 2^nd & 12, and going backward is exactly the thing I warned them against on Friday.

OH! Never mind… Perine goes off for a 41 yard run into the end zone! That’s the first Bengals touchdown of the game! Plus, the extra point is good! If they can keep the Chiefs from scoring in the next minute, we’re going to have a ballgame heading into the second half!

Of course, that’s an eternity for Mahomes.

Commercial Commentary Corner: I have no idea why I’m the only person of my now-graying generation who hates “Jackass” but let me tell you that this modern day revival is bringing back all sorts of high school memories of feeling out-of-place.

Bengals 3-21 Chiefs, 2:00, 2^nd quarter

On 1^st & 10, Burrow essentially gives up and throws it to the ground. On 2^nd & 10, however, Burrow hits Higgins for an 18-yard gain. I’ll say this: he doesn’t seem too rattled by the score.

They’re at the Chiefs 39 at the two-minute warning. They desperately need to score a touchdown before the half if they want to stay in this thing.

Bengals 3-21 Chiefs, 3:36, 2^nd quarter

On 1^st & 10, Burrow finds Chase for a six-yard gain but Mixon gets stuffed for a rare one-yard loss on the next play. It’s yet another 3^rd & 5 for the Bengals, but this time Burrow can find Higgins for an eight-yard gain.

Bengals 3-21 Chiefs, 5:01, 2^nd quarter

What a brutal few hours for the city of Cincinnati: first WKRP’s Dr. Johnny Fever dies and now the start of this game.

The good news for the Bengals is that if they figure out a way to win this game it will be one of the NFL’s all-time great comebacks.

Butker’s kickoff is returned by Chris Evans to the Cincinnati 30.

5:04, 2^nd quarter

On 1^st & 10, Edwards-Helaire gets another four yards. 2^nd & 6, Burrow throws to McKinnon at the Cincinnati 15. A big 3^rd & 1 here: can the Bengals at least force the Chiefs to settle for a field goal?

No. They very much cannot. Mahomes finds Kelce for a 12 yard gain. It’s first and goal at the Bengals 3 and… we’ve seen this movie before. In the end zone, Mahomes finds Hardman and makes it look easy man. That’s the Chiefs’ third straight touchdown!

No you don’t even have to ask about the extra point.