That is the second straight 12 months Kansas Metropolis has met Cincinnati within the A.F.C. championship recreation at Arrowhead Stadium. Final 12 months, the Bengals earned a visit to the Tremendous Bowl with a 27-24 extra time victory. They have been down by 11 factors at halftime, however held the Chiefs to solely 3 factors for the remainder of the sport. The Bengals gained on a 31-yard walk-off area objective by Evan McPherson.
In Week 13, the Bengals hosted Kansas Metropolis and have been forward 14-10 at halftime. The Kansas Metropolis offense scored twice within the third quarter, however once more sputtered late within the recreation, permitting Cincinnati to mount one other profitable comeback. With a fumble by Travis Kelce and a landing on the very subsequent possession, the Bengals retook the lead.
Kansas Metropolis kicker Harrison Butker had the possibility to tie the sport with 3:24 left. His 55-yard area objective try was extensive proper.
Kansas Metropolis offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy anticipates a right down to the wire end. Whereas the Bengals protection has simply 33 sacks, together with within the playoffs, rating twenty ninth within the N.F.L., they do strain quarterbacks into hasty choices. The Bengals have allowed the bottom completion share (58.1) and passer score (79.9) within the N.F.L. this season, together with within the playoffs.
“This protection, these guys do an excellent job of simply ending. It begins up entrance, you have a look at these two defensive ends, they get after it,” Bieniemy stated. “These guys are relentless. If you wish to beat this crew, you’ve bought to out-effort them. You’ve bought to out-strain them. You’ve bought to be enjoying to the echo of the final whistle. In order that’s the kind of recreation that is going to be. Put your hand within the dust, knuckle up, 60-minute dogfight.”