Despite the Chiefs’ 18 point lead in the first half, the Cincinnati Bengals were able to recover and defeat the Chiefs with a final score of 27-24.
After a successful regular and post-season run for the Kansas City Chiefs, the streak ended with the results of the AFC Championship game. The stakes were at their highest as the winner would advance to the Super Bowl. The Bengals were able to pull out a late game victory to secure their place in the Superbowl. Since 1989, the Bengals have been on a championship drought, but it is thanks to star quarterback Joe Burrow and his offensive line that this drought came to an end.
When asked how he feels about going to the Super Bowl, Burrow said, “I wouldn’t call it surreal, I would say it’s exciting. I think if you would’ve told me before the season that we’d be going to the Super Bowl I would’ve called you crazy but we played a whole season, and nothing surprises me now.”
When asked what this means to the team, given the team’s history in the playoffs, Burrow said, “I think if you would’ve told me coming into the league that we’d be here this year, obviously it’d be a shock. But now, I’m not surprised. Playing this whole year I knew we’d have a chance to be here. Today was a great win for the organization, for ownership, and the city and for me as well.”
Burrow is still relatively young for a quarterback to be performing so well. This is his first full season in the NFL as he endured an ACL injury last year, and it is shocking to see how such a young player can keep his composure and win against top teams like the Kansas City Chiefs. During Burrow’s senior year at Lousiana State University, he led his team to win the championship game against Clemson and therefore won the Heisman trophy, the most prestigious award any college football player could receive. From seeing his top performances in his college years, it was likely to see him bring those same efforts in the NFL. This AFC Championship game only proved his unique talents and abilities.
The first quarter ended with a final score of 7-3, with the Chiefs in the lead. The momentum and home-field advantage belonged to the Chiefs. The second quarter, however, is when we saw the Chiefs use that momentum and end the first half with a score of 21-10. This 11 point lead was actually an 18 point lead until the Bengals scored a touchdown in the final minute of the quarter. The third quarter picked up and the Bengals were able to tie the score 21-21. This is when the game looked uncertain for the Chiefs. The momentum and hype we saw in the first half were virtually gone. In the fourth quarter, both teams scored field goals which ultimately sent the game into overtime.
The Chiefs won the coin toss and elected to receive the ball. The overtime rule states that whichever team scores a touchdown on the first drive wins the game, so the Arrowhead stadium exploded in excitement after the toss. Everyone thought Patrick Mahomes would bring the team another victory after the overtime win against the Bills. However, this excitement was met with disappointment and silence after the ball was intercepted by the Bengals’ defense in the second play of the overtime. The Bengals team cheered heavily as they knew this was their chance to win. After a few drives getting closer to the field goal range, Bengals’ kicker Evan McPherson kicked the ball from 31 yards and won them the game. Arrowhead stadium was devastated as the Bengals had defeated the reigning Kansas City Chiefs.
