They’d received six video games mixed within the earlier two seasons.
They’d completed final within the AFC North three straight years.
In mid-December, they had been 7-6 and had simply misplaced back-to-back house video games.
Now, the Cincinnati Bengals are going to be enjoying the Rams in Tremendous Bowl LVI, a spot the franchise has not been since January of 1989.
“For those who had advised me earlier than the season that we might be going to the Tremendous Bowl, I in all probability would have known as you loopy,” quarterback Joe Burrow mentioned. “However then we performed a complete season and nothing surprises me now. I do know the type of guys we now have and the staff we now have.”
The Bengals moved on Sunday by bouncing again, rebounding from an 18-point second-quarter deficit to defeat Kansas Metropolis 27-24 in extra time.
Kicker Evan McPherson improved to 12 for 12 within the postseason with a 31-yard subject aim to win it.
The loss ended the Chiefs’ bid for a 3rd consecutive journey to the Tremendous Bowl and got here regardless of dynamic quarterback Patrick Mahomes getting the ball first within the additional session.
Within the divisional spherical, Kansas Metropolis received the second coin toss and Mahomes instantly directed a 75-yard landing drive to complete the sport towards Buffalo and renew debate concerning the NFL’s extra time procedures.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow scrambles out of the pocket beneath stress from Kansas Metropolis Chiefs defensive deal with Jarran Reed through the first half.
(Eric Homosexual / Related Press)
This time, nevertheless, Mahomes was stopped when Bengals security Vonn Bell intercepted a deflected cross close to midfield.
Burrow and working again Joe Mixon led the offense to the Kansas Metropolis 10-yard line earlier than McPherson was summoned.
“I had all the boldness on the earth that after we bought that turnover we had been going to march down and have essentially the most dependable kicker within the NFL ice it off if we didn’t rating [a touchdown],” defensive finish Sam Hubbard mentioned. “As soon as we bought that first cease, I knew it was in Joe’s fingers and we had been good.”
In contrast together with his teammates, Hubbard has an particularly pointed view of what a Tremendous Bowl journey means for this franchise and its followers. He was born in Cincinnati and drafted within the third spherical by the Bengals in 2018 after enjoying at Ohio State.
Hubbard endured three consecutive dropping seasons — together with an 0-11 begin in 2019 — and watched in November 2020 as Burrow, the No. 1 decide in that 12 months’s NFL draft, crumpled with a season-ending knee harm.
“We’re going to the Tremendous Bowl, and it sounds loopy to say that,” Hubbard mentioned. “While you say that, it’s laborious to imagine. I like this staff. I like this metropolis. We’ve bought another to get all of it.”
Halfway by the second quarter, the thought of Cincinnati advancing did, in truth, sound loopy.
The Chiefs constructed a 21-3 lead by scoring touchdowns on their first three possessions, sending Arrowhead Stadium right into a rocking frenzy and introducing the opportunity of a ho-hum second half.
At that stage, Mahomes had accomplished 13 of 14 makes an attempt for 154 yards, with landing throws going to Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce and Mecole Hardman. He had a passer score of 152.1, barely six factors in need of perfection.
However the Bengals started their comeback by scoring on their subsequent collection, with reserve working again Samaje Perine turning a five-yard cross from Burrow right into a 41-yard landing by juking previous cornerback Charvarius Ward.
That also left Mahomes time for an additional possession, with the Chiefs taking up at their 19-yard line with 61 seconds left earlier than halftime.
Kansas Metropolis superior all the way in which to the Bengals’ one after Cincinnati cornerback Eli Apple was known as for cross interference in the long run zone.
With 5 seconds remaining and out of timeouts, Mahomes accomplished a cross within the left flat to Hill, who was unable to attain as Apple tackled him for no acquire, the clock reaching zero.
Kansas Metropolis coach Andy Reid took the blame for failing to attain, saying, “I in all probability gave him the mistaken play.”
Mahomes defined that he was imagined to throw the ball away if one thing wasn’t accessible rapidly, including, “I bought a bit grasping there.”
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes dives after working the ball forward of Bengals defensive finish Trey Hendrickson. Mahomes had an ideal first half and a subpar second.
(Charlie Riedel / Related Press)
No matter who was at fault, the affect was not deniable.
“That was an enormous play,” Burrow mentioned. “I believe that was actually the turning level of the sport.”
Cincinnati’s protection stored the Chiefs from scoring on their subsequent 5 possessions as properly. That lull allowed the Bengals to roar again to take a 24-21 lead with 6:04 remaining.
The sport’s sample was much like 4 weeks earlier, when the Bengals erased an 11-point halftime deficit and defeated the Chiefs in Cincinnati on the ultimate play of regulation.
Harrison Butker’s 44-yard subject aim as time expired Sunday necessitated extra time, with the Bengals once more prevailing.
“Particular staff that’s able to doing particular issues,” Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor mentioned. “We believed from the get-got, whether or not folks believed us or not. We’re not stunned. That is the place we’re meant to be.”
Burrow completed 23 for 38 for 250 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Tee Higgins caught six passes for 103 yards.
Mahomes was 26 for 39 for 275 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions. He threw for less than 55 yards after halftime.
“It’s been coming this entire 12 months,” McPherson mentioned. “We type of pushed the underdog narrative to the aspect and confirmed all people that the Bengals are right here to remain. We imply enterprise.”
— by way of www.latimes.com
The Chenab Times News Desk