Kansas City Chiefs 31-34 Cincinnati Bengals: Ja’Marr Chase sets rookie record to sink Chiefs as Bengals secure division title | NFL News
Cameron Hogwood
Interviews, Comment & Analysis @ch_skysports
Ja’Marr Chase scored three touchdowns and registered an NFL rookie record 266 receiving yards to lift the Bengals to a dramatic comeback win against the Chiefs, who miss out on the chance to lock down the No. 1 seed in the AFC
Last Updated: 02/01/22 10:10pm
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Highlights of the week 17 clash between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs
Highlights of the week 17 clash between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs
Evan McPherson kicked a 20-yard field goal as time expired as the Cincinnati Bengals overcame a 14-point deficit to clinch the AFC North title with a 34-31 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Story of the Game
Ja’Marr Chase scored three touchdowns, including 72 and 69 yarders, while finishing with an NFL rookie record 266 receiving yards as an unrelenting thorn in the Chiefs, who squandered the opportunity to lock down the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
The No. 5 overall pick hauled in a crucial 30-yard sideline catch on third-and-27 to keep Cincinnati’s decisive drive alive, before the Bengals were denied at the one-yard line on seven straight plays in the final two minutes only to be rescued by a penalty that gifted them a new set of downs and set up McPherson’s eventual winner after an unsuccessful fourth-and-one call.
A win elsewhere for the Tennessee Titans over the Miami Dolphins means they can snatch the No. 1 spot in the conference away from Andy Reid’s side with victory over the Houston Texans in Week 18 having beaten Kansas City earlier in the season.
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Cincinnati Bengals rookie Evan McPherson kicks a game-winning field goal and makes the Bengals the AFC North Division Champions
Joe Burrow finished 30 of 39 for 446 yards and four touchdowns on the night, while counterpart Patrick Mahomes went 26 of 35 for two touchdowns as Kansas City’s eight-game win streak came to an end.
The Bengals took the lead for the first time in the contest with 11.44 remaining when Burrow floated a five-yard touchdown to Tyler Boyd to make it 31-28.
Chase’s 69-yard score had marked the only points of the third quarter, pulling the Bengals within four of the Chiefs after trailing 14-0 and then 21-7 before the break.
Mahomes capped the first of four successive first-half touchdown drives for the Chiefs with a 29-yard dagger to Demarcus Robinson after Blake Bell had converted on fourth-and-one, before Travis Kelce’s three-yard reception on the sneak doubled Kansas City’s lead.
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Watch every catch made by Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase from his 266-yard game in Week 17 of the 2021 season
In a year when defenses have adopted two-deep coverages as a means to thwarting the likes of Chase downfield, Burrow’s old LSU teammate reminded all of his yards-after-catch explosiveness with a stunning 72-yard catch-and-run to halve the deficit.
Eli Apple was punished for dropping a would-be interception when Darrel Williams punched in another from one-yard out after Mahomes had found Mecole Hardman down the sideline for 53 yards.
But back came Chase, grabbing an 18-yard touchdown over Chavarius Ward, who endured a miserable day against the rookie, having come off second best in a near-identical matchup two plays earlier.
Williams’ second one-yard rushing score extended the Chiefs’ cushion before McPherson’s 46-yard field goal pulled three back for the Bengals to leave them trailing 28-17 at the break.
The Bengals out-scored the Chiefs 17-3 in the second half, Kansas City having seen Byron Pringle’s kickoff return for a touchdown scratched off prior to the interval due to a penalty against Zayne Anderson.
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Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase runs through the Chiefs defence for this 72-yard touchdown
Stats Leaders
Chiefs
- Passing: Patrick Mahomes, 26/35, 259 yards, 2 TDs
- Rushing: Darrel Williams, 14 carries, 88 yards, 2 TDs
- Receiving: Mecole Hardman, one catch, 53 yards
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Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Demarcus Robinson collects a 29-yard Mahomes TD pass to open the scoring against the Bengals
Bengals
- Passing: Joe Burrow, 30/39, 446 yards, 4 TDs
- Rushing: Joe Mixon, 12 carries, 46 yards
- Receiving: Ja’Marr Chase, 11 catches, 266 yards, 3 TDs
Scoring Summary
Scoring summary
| FIRST QUARTER | |
|---|---|
| Chiefs 7-0 Bengals | Patrick Mahomes 29-yard TD pass to Demarcus Robinson (extra point) |
| Chiefs 14-0 Bengals | Patrick Mahomes three-yard TD pass to Travis Kelce (extra point) |
| Chiefs 14-7 Bengals | Joe Burrow 72-yard TD pass to Ja’Marr Chase (extra point) |
| SECOND QUARTER | |
| Chiefs 21-7 Bengals | Darrel Williams one-yard rushing TD (extra point) |
| Chiefs 21-14 Bengals | Joe Burrow 18-yard TD pass to Ja’Marr Chase (extra point) |
| Chiefs 28-14 Bengals | Darrel Williams one-yard rushing TD (extra point) |
| Chiefs 28-17 Bengals | Evan McPherson 46-yard field goal |
| THIRD QUARTER | |
| Chiefs 28-24 Bengals | Joe Burrow 69-yard TD pass to Ja’Marr Chase (extra point) |
| FOURTH QUARTER | |
| Chiefs 28-31 Bengals | Joe Burrow five-yard TD pass to Tyler Boyd (extra point) |
| Chiefs 31-31 Bengals | Harrison Butker 34-yard field goal |
| Chiefs 31-34 Bengals | Evan McPherson 20-yard field goal |
What’s Next?
The Chiefs (11-5) complete the regular season on the road against the Denver Broncos, while the Bengals (10-6) visit the Cleveland Browns.
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