Chiefs-Bengals game recap: Highlights, analysis from Kansas City’s loss to AFC rival

The Kansas City Star
Jeff Dean/AP

The Chiefs are on the road in Week 13 to take on the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.

This is one of the more anticipated matchups for the Chiefs (9-2) this season.

Not only is the game a rematch of last season’s AFC Championship Game, which the Bengals won in overtime, it presents a showdown between two AFC powers with the postseason on the horizon.

Sunday’s game is the 31st time (regular season and playoffs) that these two teams have met, and the Bengals (7-4) own a 17-14 edge in the all-time series. Cincinnati took both games against the Chiefs last season in exciting contests.

Expect more of the same on Sunday between two of the NFL’s top offenses and two rosters filled with star power on both sides of the ball.

Final score: Bengals 27, Chiefs 24

Just minutes into the final quarter, the Bengals looked like they might tie it up with a throw into the end zone, but a flag called on the play negated the score. Cincinnati settled for a field goal to bring their score to 20.

The Bengals took the lead back on their next drive, beginning with a steal from Travis Kelce and finishing with a touchdown.

The Chiefs struggled on their next drive, eventually attempting a 55-yard field goal, which missed.

Patrick Mahomes’ flying touchdown

Should Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes go on to win his second Most Valuable Player award this season, you can bet this clip will be part of his highlights when he gets the award.

Facing a fourth-and-goal play from the Bengals’ 3-yard line in a tie game, the Chiefs went for it. Mahomes took the snap and looked to pass.

Seeing no one open, Mahomes dashed for the end zone but it was clear his path wouldn’t be unhindered. As he neared the end zone, Mahomes made the decision to leap and he scored the touchdown.

Third quarter: Chiefs 24, Bengals 17

Receiving first in the second half, the Chiefs started off strong, with a 20-yard pass from Mahomes to tight end Travis Kelce and a 47-yard throw to receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Isiah Pacheco scored soon after to get KC the lead for the first time this game.

After dropping a pass in the end zone, the Bengals kicked a field goal to tie the game.

The Chiefs’ next drive included another big catch by Valdes-Scantling and ended with a flying Mahomes touchdown to take back the lead.

About that Bengals “injury”....

During the second quarter of Sunday’s Chiefs-Bengals game in Cincinnati, Kansas City was about to run a play near the end zone. The Bengals tried to bring in a substitute but didn’t have time for the substitution.

Remarkably, Bengals safety Jessie Bates III went down with an injury at that very moment. Bates managed to get up and walk to the sideline, almost as if he’d been miraculously healed.

Broadcasters and fans alike were skeptical about the coincidence.

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First half: Bengals 14, Chiefs 10

The Bengals opened the second quarter with another strong drive. Wide receiver Tee Higgins scored the touchdown.

The Chiefs have been struggling to convert on their drives. KC has also received a few flags, negating key plays.

After a few dropped passes from Mahomes, the Chiefs managed to make some moves later in the quarter. A fourth-down reception from Juju Smith-Schuster was key to a Chiefs drive, but the receiver bumped his head in the process, soon after recovering from a concussion received last month.

The Chiefs’ Jerick McKinnon scored KC’s first touchdown of the game with 2 minutes remaining in the half. Kicker Harrison Butker gets the extra point.

Defensive end Carlos Dunlap stopped the Bengals’ next drive yards away from the end zone with sack of Trent Taylor.

Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase called for taunting

Given the back-and-forth between the Chiefs and Bengals this week in their respective locker rooms and on Twitter, it should be no surprise there was some chirping during Sunday’s game.

After the Bengals scored a touchdown in the second quarter, Cincinnati wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase was caught taunting the Chiefs.

First quarter: Bengals 7, Chiefs 3

Cincinnati got the first score of the game with an efficient drive lasting about 7 minutes of gametime. QB Joe Burrow scored the touchdown. On their first drive, the Chiefs offense settled for a field goal.

An interception and run by the Chiefs’ Juan Thornhill was negated by a flag on Trent McDuffie late in the quarter.

NFL predictions for Chiefs-Bengals

Ahead of the key game, national football writers were split on who will take the game. Of 58 analysts, 36 favored the Chiefs. See the prediction roundup from The Star’s Pete Grathoff.

Who’s inactive for Chiefs-Bengals?

The Chiefs are without a starting offensive lineman for Sunday’s game against the Bengals.

Left guard Joe Thuney (ankle) will miss his second straight game and is among the group of seven players the Chiefs designated as inactive in Week 13. They include: Wide receiver Kadarius Toney (hamstring), safety Deon Bush (elbow), quarterback Shane Buechele, defensive end Joshua Kaindoh, tackle Geron Christian and defensive end Malik Herring.

Here’s how both the Chiefs and Bengals might look to fill gaps from injuries Sunday.

How to watch the Chiefs game: Channel, radio, time

When: 3:25 p.m. CT Sunday

Where: Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati

TV channel: CBS (KCTV, Ch. 5 in Kansas City)

Radio: Chiefs Radio Network WDAF (106.5 FM)

Stream: The game can be seen on NFL+

Other news about the Chiefs-Bengals game

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