If you watched the Chiefs-Bengals game on Sunday afternoon, you’d actually be surprised the final score was 34-31. Judging by the porous defense, mismanagement of the final minutes by coach Andy Reid, and controversial officiating, many felt it would have been way in favor of the now-AFC North champion Bengals.
Just in the final two minutes alone, enough drama took place to warrant an Emmy Award.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor on two different occasions went for it on fourth-and-goal from the Kansas City 1-yard line with less than a minute to play. Joe Mixon was stopped inches short of the goal line on a pass from quarterback Joe Burrow on the first try, but offsetting penalties gave the Bengals another chance.
Something that seemed to be the theme of the day
Burrow’s pass intended for Tyler Boyd was incomplete on the next try, but L’Jarius Sneed was called for illegal use of hands. It was one of 10 penalties called on the Chiefs for 83 yards, and perhaps the most controversial penalty that set Twitter ablaze.
That penalty allowed the Bengals to take a knee and spike the ball, and kick the game-winning field goal with two seconds left. And the Bengals won their first division title since 2015. And while the officiating was questionable, what wasn’t was the lack of defense throughout the game. Burrow went 30-of-39 for 446 yards and four touchdowns, with rookie Ja’Marr Chase catching 11 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns. Chase’s touchdowns covered 72, 18 and 69 yards and left everyone in the Chiefs’ secondary in the dust.
Offensively, it was business as usual for Kansas City. Patrick Mahomes was 26-of-35 for 259 yards and two touchdowns, and Darrel Williams ran for 88 yards and two touchdowns. But now, with the loss to the Bengals, Kansas City no longer controls their own destiny. The Tennessee Titans currently hold the #1 seed at 11-5, and Kansas City is going to need more help in order to reclaim that top spot.
Buckle up, folks.
Week 18 is on the horizon.