Bengals lose to Chiefs; KC advances to Super Bowl for 3rd time in 4 years

KANSAS CITY, MO — The Cincinnati Bengals lost to the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday night in the AFC Championship game, 23-20. The Chiefs advance to the Super Bowl for the third time in four years.

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It marked the second straight year the two teams met in AFC Championship game, the first time the Bengals have achieved that in franchise history.

Kansas City will play the Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on February 12 at 6:30 p.m.

The Bengals punted on their first possession and the Chiefs drew first blood with a 43-yard field goal Harrison Butker to take a 3-0 lead with 8:50 left to play in the first quarter.

Cincinnati went three and out on their next series as Burrow was sacked twice. The Chiefs drove inside the Bengals 10-yard line. Isiah Pacheco’s nine-yard touchdown run was called back because of a holding penalty. Butker’s 24-yard field goal to start the second quarter put Kansas City, 6-0.

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The Bengals responded driving 63-yards on 13 plays with a 30-yard Evan McPherson to cut the deficit to 6-3.

The Chiefs drove to Cincinnati’s 14-yard line and face a fourth and one. Patrick Mahomes threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Travis Kelce to extend the lead to 13-3.

Right before halftime, the Bengals drove 90-yards on 12 plays and got a 23-yard field goal by McPherson as they trailed, 13-6, at halftime.

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The Chiefs went three and out to start the second half. Cincinnati drove 62-yards on eight plays that was capped by a 27-yard touchdown pass from Joe Burrow to Tee Higgins to tie the game at 13-13.

But Kansas City answered as Mahomes threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Marquez Valdes-Scantling to reclaim the lead, 20-13.

Cincinnati went three-and-out on their next series but Mahomes fumbled and Sam Hubbard recovered. The Bengals trailed, 20-13, after three quarters.

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The Bengals went for it on fourth and six to start the fourth quarter. Burrow threw a 35-yard pass to Ja’Marr Chase to set up first and goal from the Chiefs six-yard line. Two plays later, Samaje Perine ran two-yards for a touchdown to tie it at 20-20 early in the fourth.

After the Chiefs punt, Burrow threw an interception to Joshua Williams and Kansas City took over at their 14-yard line. But the Bengals defense stopped the Chiefs on 3rd and 12 and forced a punt. The Bengals took over at their five-yard line with 2:30 remaining.

The Bengals drove to their 35-yard line but Burrow was sacked by Chris Jones with 39 seconds left forcing Cincinnati to punt.

Kansas City got a 29-yard punt return by Skyy Moore to give the Chiefs the ball at their 47-yard line with 30 seconds left.

Mahomes threw a six-yard completion to Pacheco moving the ball to the Bengals 47-yard line with 21 seconds remaining. Mahomes ran nine yards on third and four but Joseph Ossai was called for a late hit out of bounds with eight seconds left.

Harrison Butker made a 45-yard field goal with three seconds left.

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Kansas City will play Philadelphia in the Super Bowl on February 12 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona at 6:30 p.m.

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AFC Championship - Cincinnati Bengals v Kansas City Chiefs KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 29: Joshua Williams #23 of the Kansas City Chiefs intercepts a pass against the Cincinnati Bengals during the fourth quarter in the AFC Championship Game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on January 29, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

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