Bengals Topple Chiefs In OT To Reach Super Bowl

KANSAS CITY, MO — Evan McPherson hit a walk-off field goal for the second straight week, and the Cincinnati Bengals are headed to the Super Bowl for the first time since Boomer Esiason was under center.

McPherson kicked a 31-yard, game-winning field goal in overtime as the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 27-24 in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday afternoon to punch their ticket to the Super Bowl. It's the Bengals' first appearance in the game since Super Bowl XXIII in 1989.

Cincinnati came back from 18 points down — an AFC title game record — and took a 24-21 lead with 6:04 left in the fourth quarter. The Chiefs whittled the clock down on their final drive, but the Bengals sacked Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes to force a field goal and overtime.

Cincinnati safety Vonn Bell intercepted Mahomes off a tipped pass from safety Jessie Bates on the first drive of overtime. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow directed the offense on a nine-play, 42-yard drive to set up McPherson's kick.

It was the Chiefs' second straight overtime game after they defeated the Buffalo Bills 42-36 in the AFC Divisional playoffs last week without the Bills ever having possession in the overtime period.

"Usually when you lose the coin flip to those guys, you're going home, but our defense played well," Burrow told CBS in a postgame interview. "Big win for us."

McPherson, who hit a 52-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Bengals over the Tennessee Titans in the divisional round, hit field goals of 31, 32, 32 and 52 yards against the Chiefs and has started his career 8 for 8 in the playoffs.

Down 21-3, Burrow tossed a short pass to running back Samaje Perine, who ran for a 41-yard touchdown late in the first half. The Bengals continued to chip away in the second half and held the Chiefs to three points after halftime. Burrow threw another touchdown to Ja'Marr Chase, and McPherson gave the Bengals their first lead with his 52-yard field goal.

Super Bowl LVI will be held Feb. 13 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.