As the Kansas City Chiefs scrambled to win the AFC title, Patrick Mahomes had to rely on his badly damaged right ankle instead of his powerful right arm.
The All-Pro quarterback hit a third-down play near midfield in another heartbreaking game with the Bengal from Cincinnati despite missing three wide receivers due to injuries and being ravaged.
Mahomes struggled to get the needed goal and was about to step outside the line when he felt Joseph Ossai’s hands fly him against the bench. All Kansas City needed was the mad dash and 15-yard penalty for a late hit.
With three seconds left, Harrison Butker took the field confidently, kicked a 45-yard field goal over the crossbar into the chill, howling wind and won the game 23-20 to send the Chiefs back to the Super Bowl for the third time in four years. Mahomes said with a smile:
‘I don’t think we have any cigars. but we’ll be ready to go into the Super Bowl.
https://twitter.com/CobyValentine/status/1619895693308727301
It was a victory for the winners of the AFC West, who had suffered three straight losses against their newly discovered rivals, including a three-point loss over Cincinnati’s overtime in the previous year’s championship game. Three points separated each of those losses.
You can also check out the article below if you want to read related to the Bengals’ other fixtures:
The Chiefs now return to the crucial game. Their opponent is the Eagles, the former team of head coach Andy Reid, in the first Super Bowl game between Black quarterbacks, including Mahomes and Jalen Hurts of the Eagles.
Additionally, it will feature a brother-to-brother showdown between Philadelphia center Jason Kelce and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Mahomes said:
“I watched them all year. It will be a great challenge for us. But I’m going to celebrate that first.”
Mahomes threw for 326 yards and two touchdowns despite his ankle injury against Jacksonville in the division round and the loss of three wide receivers near the end.
Despite having a sore back, Travis Kelce had seven catches for 78 yards and a touchdown, but Marquez Valdes-Scantling had 116 yards and the first touchdown of the game. Reid said:
“It’s a tough couple. My heart goes out to them, man, they’re tough guys. They worked so hard this week. Pat and Kelce were both a little beat up. They persevered and great things happened.”
In addition, the Chiefs were able to silence the Bengals, some of whom began to refer to their stadium as “Burgenkop” in honor of Joe Burrow, who had never lost to Kansas City. Aftab Pureval, the mayor of Cincinnati, joined in the insults. Kelce said:
“I have some words of wisdom for that mayor of Cincinnati. Know your role and shut up, you jabroni!
Cincinnati mayor on Friday: "We need a paternity test because Joe Burrow might be Patrick Mahomes' daddy."
Travis Kelce today: "I've got some wise words for that Cincinnati mayor – know your role and shut your hole, jabroni!!!!"
— Aaron Torres Sports Podcast (@AaronTorresPod) January 30, 2023
For the Bengalis, Burrow finished with a 270-yard pass, a touchdown, and two interceptions, despite being sacked five times and faltering towards the end. Tee Higgins made six catches for 83 yards and the touchdown.
“We’re not going to stick to one play. There were plenty of moves we left on the pitch today that could have put us in a better position. The character of this football team is never going to change. We have the right people in the dressing room, the right men leading this team and this organization.”
Taylor added:
“I know this is a team that our city and our fans can be proud of. They represent themselves in the right way and we are going to fight, scratch and claw to be in this position again next year.”
The Bengal’s offensive line was in poor shape, missing two starters through injuries and another hampered by a bad knee. The Chiefs were able to do early what the Buffalo Bills couldn’t in last week’s division round. Burrow was sacked three times in the first quarter alone, but the Bengals offense gained zero yards.
With his ankle ailing, Mahomes seemed fine as he led Kansas City to a field goal on the first possession. When the Chiefs regained control of the ball, Mahomes did it again, but only after Kadarius Toney failed to catch a smart pass for a possible touchdown; the incompleteness was confirmed after review.
Cincinnati started to move in the second quarter, but also had to accept Evan McPherson’s field goal. So much for two of the best offensive teams in the league. Late in the second quarter, the Chiefs finally reached the end zone when Mahomes connected Kelce with a fourth downpass for a touchdown.
Jessie Bates III only weakly covered Kelce. The Bengals went on a 90-yard drive in the waning seconds, but were only able to add a field goal to close the gap to 13-6. It turned out that their attack was underway. Another timeless moment developed.
Burrow led the Bengals downfield after the Chiefs went three-and-out to open the second half, bursting through a gaping hole in the defense for a third-down convert before hitting Higgins from 27 yards out to tie the score at 13 all.
Despite suddenly being without three wide receivers due to injuries and starting to limp, Mahomes pressed on. He responded to Burrow with a touchdown drive of his own and finished with a pass to Valdes-Scantling in third to retake the lead.
Later in the third quarter, the Chiefs had a chance to extend their lead, but Mahomes somehow lost possession before throwing a pass, and the Bengals pounced on the turnover. Six plays later, Samaje Perine ran into the end zone to make it 20 on an impressive fourth throw from Burrow to Ja’Marr Chase.
You can find out more about Patrick Mahomes via the links below:
When Burrow’s deep pass to third down Higgins was deflected in the air and intercepted by rookie cornerback Josh Williams, the Chiefs got a chance. Mahomes led the Chiefs down center field, but after two fruitless runs and an incomplete throw to third off Jerick McKinnon, the Chiefs were forced to punt into the Bengal area.
With 39 seconds remaining, the Kansas City defense managed to hold, and Chris Jones’ vital sack forced a punt, which dubious returner Skyy Moore returned for 29 yards. That gave the offense and Mahomes another chance. Taylor said:
“It was a tough road to get here. To win 10 in a row was quite an incredible achievement. We came up short. We wanted to play longer, but we are very proud of these guys.”
Bengals: Early in the second half, WR Tyler Boyd left the game due to a quadriceps injury. Losses for the Chiefs include WR’s Toney (ankle), Mecole Hardman (pelvis) and JuJu Smith-Schuster, as well as CB L’Jarius Sneed (concussion), LB Willie Gay Jr. (knee).
In four seasons, the Chiefs will play in their third Super Bowl. Coming from behind to beat the San Francisco 49ers in 2020, they ended a 50-year title drought. However, they fell to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the following season.
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