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Tory BarronESPN Writer
Second-year quarterback Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals clinched a Super Bowl berth in exciting fashion on Sunday. The Bengals overcame an 18-point deficit en route to a 27-24 overtime win on the leg of rookie kicker Evan McPherson, whom you may remember from his breakout turn in the divisional round.
While Super Bowl LIV MVP Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs had experience on their side, Burrow was only the fifth player in the last 30 seasons to enter a conference championship game while leading the NFL. both in completion percentage and yards per attempt (including playoffs). . So yeah, we already knew he was pretty good at this football thing.
We also knew Burrow wouldn’t get very far without the help of his favorite target and former LSU teammate, Ja’Marr Chase.
Which is why seeing Burrow and Chase’s parents celebrating their sons’ victory over some victory cigars was particularly poignant.
Jimmy Chase 🤝 Jimmy Burrow
Smoke them if you have them 💨 pic.twitter.com/eKVkJ7TOKV
— LSU football (@LSUfootball) January 31, 2022
Jimmy Burrow and Jimmy Chase weren’t the only ones excited about the Bengals’ big win. From LeBron James to Josh Allen to Trevor Lawrence, here’s what the sports world had to say about Joey B. leading the Bengals to a long-awaited third Super Bowl appearance.
-LeBron James (@KingJames) January 30, 2022
21-3 and come back and win…. #YouDidItJoe
— Candace Parker (@Candace_Parker) January 30, 2022
What a great game! Congratulations @flares
—Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) January 30, 2022
joey super bowl pic.twitter.com/yTn7bLMx2J
— LSU football (@LSUfootball) January 30, 2022
Let’s go!!! @tehiggins5 @jackthejiant
— Trevor Lawrence (@Trevorlawrencee) January 30, 2022
Pain.
—Josh Allen (@JoshAllenQB) January 30, 2022
We’ve also got you covered with a look at how all the action unfolded as Cincinnati won its first AFC title since the 1988 season:
Old Testament
It took 21 unanswered points and some extra football, but the Bengals are heading to the Super Bowl.
Even missing the coin toss in overtime couldn’t stop Cincinnati from claiming its first AFC title since the 1988 playoffs. After a Vonn Bell interception, Evan McPherson held up perfect in the postseason to secure the Who win. Dey Nation.
EVAN MCPHERSON SEND CINCY TO THE SUPER BOWL. #NFLPlayoffs #RuleTheJungle pic.twitter.com/lcWku1eYpt
— NFL (@NFL) January 30, 2022
Q4
Evan McPherson isn’t your average rookie kicker: He’s the one who has made the most postseason field goals by a rookie kicker in NFL history. With his field goal in the first quarter, McPherson passed Stephen Gostkowski (eight in 2006) for the record.
His 52-yard throw gives the Bengals a 24-21 lead in the fourth quarter.
MCPHERSON MONEY. 52 YARDS.
The @flares have the initiative! #NFLPlayoffs
📺: #CINvsKC on CBS
📱: https://t.co/dKNUFkxkbU pic.twitter.com/t5Jlb0O8Ch— NFL (@NFL) January 30, 2022
Q3
Bengals defensive tackle BJ Hill’s big-guy interception was the catalyst for a familiar connection in the end zone: Burrow to Ja’Marr Chase. A 2 point conversion later and suddenly we have a tied game.
GET EARLY TO CHASE. LANDING. #RuleTheJungle #NFLPlayoffs
📺: #CINvsKC on CBS
📱: https://t.co/dKNUFkxkbU pic.twitter.com/4oTvYaHBdM— NFL (@NFL) January 30, 2022
Chase now holds the record for the most receiving yards by a rookie in a playoff career in NFL history.
Huge play. The first turnover of the game, the second interception Mahomes has thrown at home in the playoffs, comes courtesy of Hill.
INTERCEPTION. CINCY BALL. #NFLPlayoffs #RuleTheJungle
📺: #CINvsKC on CBS
📱: https://t.co/dKNUFkxkbU pic.twitter.com/lb8k4PQ7xc— NFL (@NFL) January 30, 2022
Q2
Come for the Bengals RB Samaje Perine’s 41-yard touchdown run and stay for Ja’Marr Chase with the top block. Cincinnati marches 70 yards down the field to make it a 21-10 game before the half.
SAMAJE PERINO. 41 YARDS. #RuleTheJungle #NFLPlayoffs
📺: #CINvsKC on CBS
📱: https://t.co/dKNUFkxkbU pic.twitter.com/81OqBLVARm— NFL (@NFL) January 30, 2022
Three touchdowns, three different receivers. Mahomes is, in fact, in her bag. The quarterback caps off Kansas City’s third offensive drive (yes, he’s scored on every drive his team has) with a pass to Mecole Hardman, who finds the end zone to make the game 21-3.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, Mahomes has never lost by taking a lead of 15 or more points (37-0, including the playoffs).
While we’re on the subject of relevant stats, it’s also worth mentioning that according to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Chiefs are the first team to score touchdowns in their first three drives, whether in a conference championship game or in a Super Bowl since the 1994 season. (San Francisco 49ers, Super Bowl XXIX).
First Hill. Then Kelce. Now Hardmann.
Three touchdowns in the first half for @PatrickMahomes! #NFLPlayoffs
📺: #CINvsKC on CBS
📱: https://t.co/dKNUFkxkbU pic.twitter.com/6ezrwdyHag— NFL (@NFL) January 30, 2022
Mahomes goes to Mahomes. It’s unclear which is more predictable at this point: Mahomes showing unparalleled fighting ability, or the QB finding Travis Kelce in the end zone. Either way, the Chiefs started the second quarter with another touchdown to make it a 14-3 game.
WHO ELSE BUT KELCE⁉️
📺: #CINvsKC on CBS pic.twitter.com/MWwHaYcf9N
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 30, 2022
Q1
Mahomes wasted no time getting the Chiefs on the board. The 26-year-old found one of his favorite targets, Tyreek Hill, in the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown. The catch marks Cheetah’s fifth career postseason touchdown reception.
I CAN’T KEEP UP WITH THAT SPEED OF CHEETAH 🐆
📺: #CINvsKC on CBS pic.twitter.com/5dFkZMT05i
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 30, 2022
And this will not be a shutout. Cincinnati gets a field goal from the hero of the Bengals’ divisional round win, supremely confident kicker Evan McPherson, with less than a minute left in the first quarter to make it a 7-3 game.
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