The Cincinnati Bengals are going to the Super Bowl after an overtime stunner against the former AFC champion Chiefs. The Chiefs were dominant in the first half as they entered halftime 21-3. The Bengals looked overmatched and were left searching for answers. But in the second half, the Bengals tightened up, dug deep, and shut down the Chiefs. Joe Burrow and the Bengals would score 21 unanswered points and took a late fourth-quarter lead in Arrowhead.
The Chiefs tied the game, took it to overtime, and won the coin toss again. Their first drive, however, couldn’t have ended much worse. Facing a third down, Patrick Mahomes went deep to Tyreek Hill, who was essentially nonexistent second half, and had his pass intercepted off a deflection. Jessie Bates, one of the game’s best safeties, made the play of the game for the Bengals. The Bengals drove down the field and gave their rookie kicker, Evan McPherson, an easy game-winner.
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are going home, while Joe Burrow has established himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the game. Barring health, the Bengals have their franchise quarterback for the next ten years.
A Quick Turnaround
Up until the 2021 season, the Bengals had five straight losing seasons, finishing either third or last in their division. Prior to drafting Burrow, the Bengals were 2-14 and looked devoid of talent. They drafted Burrow with the first-overall pick in 2020 with the hopes of finding the next face of the franchise. After a promising start to his rookie year, disaster struck when Burrow suffered a season-ending knee injury. The Bengals ended the season 4-11 and turned their attention to Burrow’s rehab, free agency, and the upcoming NFL Draft.
After a busy free agency, drafting Burrow’s LSU teammate, Ja’Marr Chase, and getting Burrow back healthy, the Bengals were thought to be in prime position to finish third in their division. Though the Bengals acquired some solid players in the off-season, they heavily neglected their offensive line. Most assumed that Burrow would, once again, be running for his life trying to avoid another injury. Given the talent and trajectory of the Browns and Ravens, most assumed the Bengals were a year or two away from making noise. Fortunately for the Bengals, injuries plagued the Browns and Ravens for much of the season, allowing them to shock the world by winning the AFC North.
The Bengals hosted the Las Vegas Raiders in their first home playoff game since the 2015 season. After beating the Raiders, the Bengals traveled to Tennessee to take on the #1 seeded Titans. In the fourth quarter, the Bengals defense picked off Ryan Tannehill for the third time giving Joe Burrow a short field. He drove the Bengals into field goal range, and Evan McPherson hit another walk-off game-winner to upset the Titans. With one game separating them from their first Super Bowl berth since 1988, the Bengals traveled to Arrowhead to face the reigning AFC Champions.
Of course… you know what happened next.
It’s Only Year Two
The Bengals are a win away from their first Super Bowl Championship, and they’re only in year two of the Joe Burrow era. The turnaround this franchise has made is one of the best, if not, the greatest turnaround we’ve ever seen. The Bengals hadn’t won a playoff game since 1991, and thanks to Joe Burrow, they’ve won three in two seasons. Joe Burrow has lived up to his #1 overall pick status, and the Bengals have made smart decisions in free agency and the NFL draft. Zac Taylor appears to be a good coach, but only time will tell how for real he actually is. If the Bengals win the Super Bowl, they may have their coach/quarterback combo for years to come.
Whether the Bengals win the Super Bowl or not, they’re sure to be a force in the AFC for years to come. The team still needs to fix their offensive line and bolster their defense, but as long as they have Joe Burrow upright and healthy, this team will never stop fighting. The AFC North has been put on notice. The Cincinnati Bengals have arrived.
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