An 0-2 start led many folks to believe the Cincinnati Bengals’ run to Super Bowl LVI last season was nothing but a fluke.
Boy, were they wrong.
Since Cincinnati’s Week 2 loss to Dallas, the Bengals have reeled off eight wins during their past 10 games, which included Sunday’s 27-24 victory over the AFC’s previous No. 1 seed, Kansas City.
Zac Taylor’s squad squandered a 14-3 lead only to rally in the second half and score 10 unanswered points to defeat the Chiefs (9-3) for the third time in the same calendar year.
Joe Burrow moved up in the MVP race, outdueling Patrick Mahomes once again.
Burrow connected on 25-of-31 pass attempts for 286 yards, and two touchdowns. He also ran for 46 yards, and a score.
Mahomes struggled at times during the game, finishing with 223 passing yards and a touchdown while completing 16-of-27 pass attempts. He also ran for nine yards and a score.
Samaje Perine ran for 106 yards on 21 Carrie’s while tally seven receptions for 49 yards.
Ja’Marr Chase led Cincinnati (8-4) with seven catches, and 97 yards while Tyler Boyd had four catches for 60 yards. Tee Higgins finished with three catches, 35 yards, and one touchdown.
Defensively, Von Bell Les Cincinnati with five tackles while Sam Hubbard had a sack.
The Bengals are currently the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoff race after Miami, San Diego, and New England each took a loss this week.
After watching Cincinnati jump out to a 14-3 lead, the Chiefs battled back and made a game of it with Cincinnati.
Kansas City took a 24-17 lead after Mahomes scored on a three -yard touchdown run that resulted in him leaping into the end zone for the score with 3:56 remaining in the third quarter.
Cincinnati responded by cutting its deficit to 24-20 after a 41-yard field goal by Evan McPherson at the 14:52 mark of the fourth quarter.
Kansas City then turned into its own worst enemy by fumbling the ball and turning it over on its next ensuing possession.
Cincinnati followed with an 11-yard, 63-yard drive that was capped off by Joe Burrow’s eight-yard touchdown pass to Chris Evans with 9 minutes remaining in regulation, as the Bengals regained a 27-24 lead.
The Chiefs attempted to tie the game at 27 apiece with 3:24 left in the game but misfired on a 55-yard field goal attempt.
Cincinnati put the game way on its ensuing drive as Burrow hit Tee Higgins with a 14-yard pass on third and 11 that allowed the Bengals to get a first down, and run the remainder of the clock out.
