Patrick Mahomes led the Kansas City Chiefs to a dramatic win over the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship Game to set up a meeting with the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl.
In a pulsating contest, Mahomes overcame adversity in his ankle injury to lead the Chiefs past the Bengals with a 23-20 win at Arrowhead Stadium. Mahomes entered the game without a win in three meetings with Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow, but the MVP frontrunner ensured he ended the streak by leading the Chiefs on a final drive that culminated in a Harrison Butker field goal to win with three seconds remaining.
Mahomes threw for 326 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Chiefs to the Super Bowl as he eyes a second ring of his already remarkable career. The 27-year-old has led Kansas City to five successive home AFC Championship Games and has now converted three of them into trips to the Super Bowl.
Much of the pre-match discussion fixated on the ankle of Mahomes after he suffered a high-ankle sprain in the Divisional Round win over the Jacksonville Jaguars last week. His condition appeared to be better than originally feared and the 27-year-old begun well at Arrowhead Stadium.
In the first half, Mahomes completed 13-of-19 passes for 165 yards and threw a touchdown strike to star tight end Travis Kelce, who overcame an injury himself to play. Mahomes - the MVP frontrunner - led the Chiefs to a 13-6 half time lead while Bengals quarterback Burrow endured a frustrating first half as he was sacked four times in a brutal opening period. However, he ultimately tallied 147 yards and 15-of-22 passes completed, although he did toss an interception.
The second half saw the script flip; the Bengals were on top while the Chiefs initially struggled to move the sticks. Early in the third quarter, Burrow threw a perfect 27-yard touchdown pass to Tee Higgins to tie the clash at 13-13.
Mahomes’ ankle began to rear its head as he started to limp in the Chiefs backfield, but he continued to drive. Mahomes led Kansas City’s offence into the end zone as he fired a touchdown pass through a tight window to Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
With the score 20-13, the Chiefs drove downfield only for Mahomes to make an uncharacteristic error when he fumbled as he cocked his arm back in the throwing motion. Bengals defensive ace Sam Hubbard recovered and it didn’t take long for Cincinnati to take their chance as Burrow launched a deep pass to Ja’Marr Chase who made a sensational catch over his defender. Burrow then handed the ball off to Samaje Perine, whose third rushing touchdown of the season levelled the AFC Championship at 20 apiece.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Burrow looked for Tee Higgins on a deep ball but the pass was deflected and ultimately intercepted by Chiefs cornerback Josh Williams. The resolute Bengals defence would hold strong before a Chris Jones sack ended the Bengals' drive - and gave Mahomes his chance to snatch the dramatic win after a 27-yard punt return from Skyy Moore.
As for their upcoming opponent, the Eagles booked their first trip to the Super Bowl since 2018 as they crushed the San Francisco 49ers 31-7 in a one-sided NFC Championship Game. The 49ers suffered a number of key injuries with rookie quarterback Brock Purdy hurting his elbow as he fumbled while his replacement - fourth-string quarterback Josh Johnson - suffered a concussion and left the game himself.
Purdy subsequently returned and played through his injury but the 49ers offence was severely hamstrung as the seventh round pick couldn’t throw the ball effectively. It meant the Eagles coasted to victory on the back of four rushing touchdowns, with running back Miles Sanders snagging two.
The Eagles will face the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona on February 12.
