KANSAS CITY, Mo — Joe Burrow and the Bengals struggled for most of the first half Sunday in the AFC Championship Game, but the second-year quarterback orchestrated a memorable second half in Kansas City before Cincinnati eventually secured its third Super Bowl berth with a 27-24 overtime win over the Chiefs.
An interception of Patrick Mahomes in overtime set Cincinnati up with its first possession and plenty of momentum for Burrow and his skilled set of receivers with more than 14 minutes to play in the extra session.
Needing only to score a field goal to win, the Bengals mixed the pass with the run, churning out first downs in front of a stunned Kansas City crowd. Evan McPherson connected from 31 yards out 5:24 into overtime to seal the victory. It was the rookie kicker’s fourth field goal of the game.
Cincinnati will meet either the San Francisco 49ers or Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl. In the franchise’s first two Super Bowl appearances, the Bengals lost to the 49ers twice.
Burrow will head to the Super Bowl in his second season, having orchestrated three straight postseason wins. The Bengals, overall, won just four games last year.
