Chiefs vs Bengals

The AFC Championship Game is here, and the winner moves on to represent the conference in Super Bowl LVII. Join us here for the game!

This is Cincy’s second-consecutive trip to the AFC Championship Game, as well as being the second-consecutive at Kansas City, where they won the AFC title a year ago. [cbssports.com](http://cbssports.com/) This is Kansas City’s fifth-consecutive AFC Championship Game, hosting the conference title each of the last four years, going 2-2 in those games, both losses coming in overtime.

These two teams met earlier this season, as well as in the conference championship game last year. Cincinnati won both of those contests, but the Chiefs are ...

[Ja'Marr Chase](/nfl/players/2966320/jamarr-chase/) [View Profile](/nfl/players/2966320/jamarr-chase/) (Two of the six games where he took longer were the AFC title game loss to Cincinnati last year, and the Even in the loss to Cincinnati earlier this season, Mahomes completed 16 of 27 passes for 223 yards (8.2 per attempt) and a touchdown, while also adding a score on the ground. The Bengals got a lot better at running the ball once they moved away from the way they wanted to run the ball at the beginning of the season. Honestly, I have no idea, and I think anyone (other than maybe the Chiefs' team doctors) who tells you they know with any degree of certainty is lying. Jacksonville's top receiving threat was [Christian Kirk](/nfl/players/2180820/christian-kirk/), so the Chiefs moved Sneed into the slot again. [Ja'Marr Chase](/nfl/players/2966320/jamarr-chase/) and [Tee Higgins](/nfl/players/2809208/tee-higgins/) give him two alpha No. The top threats for Cincinnati remain Chase and Higgins, not [Tyler Boyd](/nfl/players/2071582/tyler-boyd/), so it might make sense to get Sneed back to the perimeter and allow McDuffie to try to play physically against Boyd inside. How would the group in front of [Joe Burrow](/nfl/players/2179798/joe-burrow/) hold up while down three starters, and counting on the likes of [Jackson Carman](/nfl/players/2963278/jackson-carman/), [Hakeem Adeniji](/nfl/players/2261269/hakeem-adeniji/), and [Max Scharping](/nfl/players/2139404/max-scharping/)? [Buffalo Bills](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/BUF/buffalo-bills/) was the offensive line. Burrow's superpower is his ability to quickly decide where he is going with the ball and get it out of his hands when the situation calls for him to do so, but he also has the extended play ability that the league's other superstar quarterbacks bring to the table. The Chiefs actually pressured opposing quarterbacks at a higher rate (35.7%) during the regular season than did the Bills (33.7%).

The Kansas City Chiefs are set to face the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship Game. It's the second consecutive season these two teams have met in ...

Follow the AFC Championship Game as Patrick Mahomes takes on Joe Burrow for a chance to play in the Super Bowl: analysis & how to watch.

The Bengals have proven to be a worthy opponent this season. Zack Kerner of Kansas City, a season ticket holder since 2012, was there and said he was holding off on celebrating until the Chiefs won. Kyle smokes a cigar and cooks up a shrimp boil every game to make sure the team pulls through. The two went to their first Chiefs game together 12 years ago. With 2 minutes to get all the way down the field, they make it within 5 yards and settle for a field goal. A big pass to Marquez Valdes-Scantling earned the Chiefs 29 yards on their next drive. Facing a fourth down, the Chiefs get their first completed touchdown of the game with a pass from Mahomes to Kelce. A few incomplete passes follow, and the Chiefs punt. The Chiefs challenge and get a first down. Seconds later, a flag was thrown and a Bengals defender was penalized for a late-hit on Mahomes, setting up Harrison Butker for a 45-yard field goal to put the Chiefs up 23-20 with 3 seconds left. Patrick Mahomes, on a scramble to the sideline, got just enough for a first down before being hit out of bounds. This year, the longtime Chiefs fans decided to make the drive down to do it again.

It's a rematch of last year's AFC Championship as the Kansas City Chiefs host the Cincinnati Bengals from KC with a trip to Super Bowl LVII on the line.

The O line sorted itself out midway through the season, and Cincy went on to win their final eight games to finish the season at the top of the AFC North. Joe Burrow and the Bengals lost four of their first eight as the offensive line struggled to protect their face of the franchise. Tyreek Hill’s departure opened up the offense even more and Patrick Mahomes carried KC to a top seed in the conference and back to the Conference Championship for a fifth straight time. A field goal pulled the Bengals with in eight points, and Burrow found Ja’maar Chase on a short TD completion to end the third quarter. After throwing two quick TDs, Burrow took a back seat for the rest of the day as Joe Mixon and the ground game carried the Bengals to their second straight Super Bowl with a 27-10 win at Highmark Stadium. They start their drive from the 25 and Burrow finds Mixon with a 6 yard catch. Burrow led the Bengals into the end zone before he half-time break and the Cincy defense took control for the rest of the game, holding Mahomes and KC to just three second half points. Gay was slow to get up and will get some attention from the medical staff. They went to review but the call on the field stands. Burrow rolling out and threw it across his body to the middle of the field looking for Hurst. Burrow finds Higgins on the slant pattern for 11 yards and a first down. Mahomes rolls right and finds Hardman on the run for an 11 yard gain, and a first down.

The NFL playoffs continue Sunday with the Chiefs hosting the Bengals in the AFC Championship Game. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. ET with the game airing on CBS ...

The Bengals, meanwhile, are 5-1 against the spread during the postseason since 2021. This might be a welcome change for the Chiefs — or at least those who are inclined to bet on the Chiefs. Thanks in part to Patrick Mahomes' right ankle sprain, the Chiefs are 1-point underdogs against the Bengals, per BetMGM. Kelce caught a career-high 14 passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns in the 27-20 divisional-round victory against Jacksonville last weekend. “It wouldn’t put fear in them, that ‘Oh my god, we are walking into an environment that people don’t win in.’ It was going to be the opposite for our guys. The Vegas line was climbing, the Bengals were up to six-point underdogs. The Bills were 4-0 at home in the playoffs under head coach Sean McDermott. Mahomes didn’t make his usual number of superhuman plays and the offense wasn’t as explosive as normal, but he found ways to move the ball, manipulate the pocket with his limited mobility and make throws when it mattered. But throughout this season, including against the Jaguars on Saturday, Patrick Mahomes has shown his real greatest strength is his ability to continually adapt. After having the league's fifth-highest sack rate last season (8.9 percent), Joe Burrow has dropped to 18th this season (6.3 percent) thanks to improved pocket awareness — fewer of his pressured dropbacks turn into sacks — and faster processing. Cornerback Eli Apple leans against a wall in the visitor’s locker room of Highmark Stadium in Buffalo. [NFL](https://theathletic.com/nfl/) playoffs continue Sunday with the Chiefs hosting the Bengals in the AFC Championship Game.

The NFL playoffs continue Sunday with the Bengals battling the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. Here are the highlights!

[Jerick McKinnon](https://www.foxsports.com/nfl/jerick-mckinnon-player). But with Joe Burrow, anything is possible](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/bengals-werent-expected-to-be-here-but-with-joe-burrow-anything-is-possible) [Inside Patrick Mahomes' ankle injury, outlook for AFC title game](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/inside-patrick-mahomes-ankle-injury-outlook-for-afc-title-game) [Joe Burrow's path to unseating Patrick Mahomes as NFL's QB1](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/joe-burrows-complicated-path-to-unseating-patrick-mahomes-as-nfls-top-qb) [Lessons NFL team-builders can learn from Eagles, 49ers, Bengals, Chiefs](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/lessons-nfl-team-builders-can-learn-from-eagles-49ers-bengals-chiefs) [NFL odds: Betting edges on 49ers-Eagles, Bengals-Chiefs](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/nfl-odds-betting-edges-on-49ers-eagles-bengals-chiefs) [AFC Championship Game odds: How to bet Bengals-Chiefs](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/afc-championship-game-odds-how-to-bet-bengals-chiefs) [2023 NFL coaching tracker: News, rumors, interviews](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/nfl-coaching-tracker-news-rumors-interviews) [ National Football League](/stories/nfl/nfl-coaching-tracker-news-rumors-interviews) [Willie Gay](https://www.foxsports.com/nfl/willie-gay-player) came up with the second on second down to make it third-and-18. Eagles highlights: Philly dominates in NFC Championship Game](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/49ers-vs-eagles-live-updates-nfc-championship-game-on-fox) [AFC's best clash for trip to Super Bowl: Analyzing Bengals-Chiefs showdown](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/afcs-best-clash-for-trip-to-super-bowl-analyzing-bengals-chiefs-showdown) [Bengals weren't expected to be here. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports App), where they'll face the [Philadelphia Eagles](https://www.foxsports.com/nfl/philadelphia-eagles-team), which took down the [San Francisco 49ers](https://www.foxsports.com/nfl/san-francisco-49ers-team), [31-7](https://www.foxsports.com/nfl/nfc-conference-championships-san-francisco-49ers-vs-philadelphia-eagles-jan-29-2023-game-boxscore-10031), in the NFC title game earlier on FOX. [Isiah Pacheco](https://www.foxsports.com/nfl/isaih-pacheco-player) made his way into the end zone a few plays later, but the touchdown was wiped off the board due to a holding penalty. The Chiefs opted to go for it on fourth-and-short and the decision paid off. [Super Bowl LVII](https://foxsports.com/nfl/super-bowl/) in Arizona (Feb. The Chiefs were moving the ball down the field again on their second drive of the game. The Chiefs were able to get three points on the drive though, as It didn't appear to bother him on Kansas City's opening drive, however, as he made a grab and fought for 16 yards on the Chiefs' third play of the game. However, he wasn't able to secure the grab as he hit the ground, making it an incomplete pass.

The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Cincinnati Bengals, 23-20, in the AFC Championship Game Sunday to advance to Super Bowl LVII, where they will take on ...

Jones proved to be a problem for the Bengals early and often, recording a sack in the first quarter by beating replacement right guard [Max Scharping](https://www.nfl.com/players/max-scharping/), and recording six QB pressures in four quarters, the most in a playoff game in his career. Those are just three of the many that we'll tackle in the weeks ahead, but the strengths of both of these teams -- and both of these quarterbacks -- make for quite a showdown in the NFL's final game of the 2022 season. [Chris Jones](https://www.nfl.com/players/chris-jones/)delivers a signature performance. [Joe Burrow](https://www.nfl.com/players/joe-burrow/)in their Divisional Round meeting. It will be the first Super Bowl with two Black starting quarterbacks -- Mahomes and Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo moved Jones out wide for a one-on-one matchup with right tackle [Hakeem Adeniji](https://www.nfl.com/players/hakeem-adeniji/), and Jones powered through the outside shoulder of Adeniji, taking down Burrow to force a punt. They did just that, rattling off 10 straight wins and rediscovering their peak form on both sides of the ball, morphing into an explosive offense and enjoying the contributions of their defense down the stretch. Mahomes' third-down touchdown pass to [Marquez Valdes-Scantling](https://www.nfl.com/players/marquez-valdes-scantling/)stood as his best play of the half until the penultimate offensive play for the Chiefs, when a slightly hobbled Mahomes scrambled on third-and-4, turning the corner to pick up the first down before he was shoved late, drawing an unnecessary roughness penalty that gave the Chiefs the yardage necessary to attempt the game-winning field goal. He and the Chiefs are headed back to the Super Bowl with a hard-earned win led by a rare talent who once again proved he's among the very best in the sport. 28 in first round](https://www.nfl.com/news/2023-nfl-draft-order-2022-nfl-season) [Patrick Mahomes](https://www.nfl.com/players/patrick-mahomes/)paints another masterpiece. Cincinnati was feeling very good about its chances entering the weekend, so much that the city's mayor delivered some bulletin board material with a Friday proclamation that included multiple jabs at a team the Bengals have dominated in the last year. Mahomes completed 29 of 43 passes for 326 yards and two touchdowns, keeping the Chiefs' offense afloat in a second half in which they ran aground.

The Kansas City Chiefs will host the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday with a trip to Super Bowl LVII on the line.

The total is set at over/under 47.5. [CBS](https://www.cbs.com/) [2-point home favorites](https://nesn.com/bets/matchups/nfl/38535583/), according to the consensus odds on the [NESNBets.com live odds page](https://nesn.com/bets/liveodds/nfl/).

Two teams can punch their tickets to the Super Bowl on February 12. Will it be the Eagles or 49ers, and will they face the Chiefs or Bengals?

Their confrontation last postseason, in which Burrow led Cincinnati to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1988, saw how the 26-year-old quarterback has changed the face of a historically losing franchise. The last time these two outstanding players met was this season, at the beginning of December, with a 27-24 home win for the Bengals. Arrowhead Stadium will host a Championship game for the fifth consecutive year, the same number of seasons that Patrick Mahomes has been a starter for the Chiefs. The Eagles tend to win by attrition, and they will be a stiff wall against San Francisco. The duel between these two amazing quarterbacks of these teams is steadily becoming an NFL classic. San Francisco wants revenge for last year’s Championship loss to the Rams in a tight game. It was the toughest defense Brock Purdy had faced in his career, and you can expect a very similar approach today at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Players like Nick Bosa and Fred Warner are essential in Kyle Shanahan’s team, able to step it up when the attack falters, as it did last weekend, when San Francisco struggled to beat the problematic Dallas Cowboys. Brock Purdy has won all eight games that he has played in, including seven starts, en route to a 12 game win streak for the 49ers. San Francisco’s quarterback, last year’s Mr Irrelevant, so named by virtue of being the last person chosen in the Draft, found himself starting after injuries to Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo and has yet to taste defeat in the NFL. ET) will crown the champion of the National Conference, while the king of the American Conference will come out of the game between the [Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals](https://en.as.com/nfl/cincinnati-bengals-vs-kansas-city-chiefs-live-online-stats-scores-and-highlights-afc-championship-n/) (6:30 p.m. Four teams are slugging it out for only two passes to the Super Bowl.

At halftime of the AFC title game, the Kansas City Chiefs lead the Cincinnati Bengals by a score of 13-6. Patrick Mahomes -- playing just eight days after ...

And he just picked up a huge return to get the Chiefs close to FGF range. He broke a tackle and took off for a huge play last week against Jacksonville, and just did the same here. Cook tipped it up in the air and Williams (who is filling in for Sneed) came down with it. And obviously, the Chiefs have both of their timeouts to conserve time and try to get the ball back. Chiefs will get the ball for one last go at it. And Chris Jones picks up the sack! And now the Chiefs are in clear field-goal range. Mahomes scrambles for the first down and then gets hit late out of bounds. Mahomes and the Chiefs offense responded to that Cincy score with an 11-play, 77-yard touchdown drive of their own to retake the lead. Mahomes scrambled up the right side of the field for five yards and was hit out of bounds, which drew an unnecessary roughness penalty to put them within Butker's range and send them to the Super Bowl. From here, the Chiefs will travel to Arizona, where they'll face the Philadelphia Eagles, who defeated the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship earlier Sunday. Harrison Butker was able to kick the 45-yard game-winning field goal after Patrick Mahomes and the offense moved the ball 39 yards down the field with less than 30 second left in regulation.

Here are a few things we learned about the Kansas City Chiefs in the first half of their AFC Championship Game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

If the Chiefs want to win this game, the pressure is going to have to continue throughout the remainder of the game. In Week 13, the Chiefs struggled to get to Bengals QB Joe Burrow, but that hasn’t been the case this week. If you don’t want a repeat of those previous losses, you need to capitalize on the opportunities you’re given. Missed opportunities and mistakes have been a huge theme in the Chiefs’ last three losses to the Bengals. There have been some BIG missed opportunities and mistakes by Kansas City in the first half. They’ll get the ball to start the third quarter and they need to keep their foot on the gas.