The Cincinnati Bengals lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the closing moments of the AFC title game on Sunday, 23-20.
Cincinnati’s offense couldn’t overcome the injuries to the offensive line when it mattered most and the defense had one too many lapses — including the brutal roughing-the-passer penalty that effectively ended the game.
Given the trash talk and overboard headlines surrounding a budding rivalry in which the Bengals entered 3-0 lately — never mind the trip to the Super Bowl at stake — this one was always destined to garner some huge reactions by the time the game ended.
Here’s a look at the most notable reactions and takeaways from onlookers on social media after the game went final.
Joe Burrow vs Patrick Mahomes.
Many more to come. 🍿 pic.twitter.com/f8ibRoodKT
— Cincinnati 💔 (@CincyProblems) January 30, 2023
People will point to the penalty, but the game was lost on the poor decision to punt the ball down the middle of the field. You can’t punt the ball down the middle and allow KC to set up a Day install punt return. Poor decision and execution
— Bucky Brooks (@BuckyBrooks) January 30, 2023
Take it easy on Joseph Ossai. I understand the frustration but the guy fought his ass off tonight.
— Blake Jewell (@BlakeJewellNFL) January 30, 2023
Chiefs players did nothing wrong so congrats to them on winning the game. My beef is with the refs.
— DarthNoobSaibot (@DarthNoobSaibot) January 30, 2023
Great year! I don’t think anyone is beating Philly this year, they are freaking scary!
— The Bengal Smurfette (@TrinaAnn411) January 30, 2023
#Bengals patchwork offensive line deserves credit for what they accomplished in the playoffs. But those injuries couldn't have happened at a worst time. Group was really coming together.
— Jeff Wallner (@JeffWallner) January 30, 2023
You can’t call the late hit on Mahomes after you ignored the late hit on Burrow a few mins earlier. Those refs were horrible. They weren’t even fishy-bad more completely-incompetent-bad. Great work @NFL.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) January 30, 2023
Great game. Ossai played his ass off all day. He isn’t the reason they lost. One mistake doesn’t cost a team the game.
— Michael Lombardi (@mlombardiNFL) January 30, 2023
We had one good game today! pic.twitter.com/aCh2o4G97v
— Computer Cowboy (@benbbaldwin) January 30, 2023
They got us. Finally got us.
— ZIM (@zimwhodey) January 30, 2023
Hold @NFLOfficiating accountable like the players.
Enough said.
— Patrick Carey (@PatCareySports) January 30, 2023
Nobody wanted to see that flag decide the game. But that's a personal foul every play of every game all season. Just a terrible decision by Ossai.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) January 30, 2023
We will be back. pic.twitter.com/WppALPWibK
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) January 30, 2023
We can talk about the officiating, sure. NFL officiating is incompetent in every game.
But the Bengals got beat in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Mahomes played great. Pacheco played great. Spags called a heck of a game defensively.
Sometimes, it just goes that way.
— Andrew Russell (@Andrew_Russell7) January 30, 2023
#Bengals fall to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship, 23-20. pic.twitter.com/ZWzl7xvfji
— Kareem Elgazzar (@ElgazzarBLVD) January 30, 2023
Bengals OL injuries really caught up to them this game vs an elite talent like Chris Jones and they got him aligned in favorable matchups constantly.
It was a great season, they'll be back ready to compete next season.
— Andrew Russell (@Andrew_Russell7) January 30, 2023
In the end, the Bengals OL injuries were too much to overcome. Sucks to keep going into postseasons with 2 healthy starters.
— Vance Meek (@vancemeek) January 30, 2023
