Chiefs vs. Bengals score: Live updates, highlights, analysis as ...

30 Jan 2023

CBSSports.com

Kansas City hosts Cincinnati in a rematch of the 2022 AFC title game

Jan 29, 2023 at 10:09 pm ET • 1 min read

At halftime of the AFC title game, the Kansas City Chiefs lead the Cincinnati Bengals by a score of 13-6.

Patrick Mahomes -- playing just eight days after suffering a high-ankle sprain against the Jaguars in the divisional round -- was marvelous during the opening half, completing 13 of 19 passes for 165 yards and a touchdown. Kansas City scored on three of its four first-half possessions, but took until its third drive to cross the goal line. The scoring play came on a fourth-and-1 try from the Cincinnati 14-yard line, which ended with Mahomes rolling out to his right and finding Travis Kelce on a back-shoulder throw off of a corner route.

Meanwhile, Cincinnati's offense struggled for much of the first half before finally getting something going on the final possession. The Bengals had zero total yards at the end of the first quarter; and after being sacked only once behind his patchwork offensive line last week against the Bills, Joe Burrow was dropped four times in the first half Sunday night. Pressure also forced him to throw an interception with a few minutes remaining in the second quarter. He threw another one just after the two-minute warning, but the play was overturned due to a pass interference call. That penalty led to the Bengals driving deep into Kansas City territory before settling for their second field goal of the half.

Can the Chiefs hold on and advance to face the Eagles in Super Bowl LVII in Arizona, or will the Bengals stage a second-half comeback and make their second consecutive trip to the league's championship game? We're about to find out. As this epic matchup continues, be sure to check out our live blog for Sunday's conference title game. Below, you'll find expert analysis and real-time highlights of all the best plays.

How to watch

Date: Sunday, Jan. 29 | Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Location: Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, MO)
TV: CBS | Stream: Paramount+ (click here)

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The Bengals will have the No. 29 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. (Technically the 28th selection because the Dolphins forfeited their pick due to the tampering investigation.)

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This will be Kansas City's third Super Bowl appearance in the past five seasons. They beat the 49ers and then lost to the Bucs, and lost to the Bengals in the AFC title game last year. Now, they're back in the Super Bowl after beating the team that knocked them out a year ago.

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The Chiefs are going back to the Super Bowl, where Andy Reid will face his former team.

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Butker, at the end of a season where he had the lowest field-goal percentage of his career, nails the kick to put the Chiefs up 23-20 with 3 seconds left.

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That's Ossai with the late hit. Brutal after playing such a good game. Wow. And he's hurt.

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Oh my... Mahomes scrambles for the first down and then gets hit late out of bounds. And now the Chiefs are in clear field-goal range. Wow.

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Joseph Ossai with the pressure on Mahomes again. And a hit to force an incompletion. Play only took four seconds, though.

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Skyy Moore redemption? He struggled all year as a punt returner, with multiple fumbles. And he just picked up a huge return to get the Chiefs close to FGF range.

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And Chris Jones picks up the sack! Comes around the edge against Hakeem Adeniji. Second career postseason sack. Chiefs will get the ball for one last go at it.

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Well now this is a very big third down. Kansas City has two timeouts, Cincinnati has one. If the Bengals don't convert, KC will get another chance with at least one timeout.

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Looks like it was Trent McDuffie just running with the vertical route instead of playing his zone. Bengals still need about 30 yards or so to get into range for a kick.

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Wow. Blown coverage from somebody or multiple somebodies in the Kansas City secondary and Hayden Hurst ends up WIDE open and picks up the first down.

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There's the flag for grounding on Burrow, and it also looks like he was injured on the play. Not ideal.

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That... should be intentional grounding on Burrow. He threw the ball to nobody to avoid the sack.

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Some context on the Chiefs' decision to punt:

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Bengals probably need about 50-55 yards from this spot to give McPherson a shot at a field goal. Of course, a touchdown would be better. And obviously, the Chiefs have both of their timeouts to conserve time and try to get the ball back.

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It's fourth-and-12. Probably a bit too long for the field goal. Chiefs sending out the punt team. Burrow and Co. will have two timeouts, plus the two-minute warning. Ball on the 7-yard line with 2:30 remaining.

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Joseph Ossai has had himself a nice game. Up to 5 tackles now, and has done a good job pursuing Mahomes when he's tried to break contain.

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Pacheco! What a play. He broke a tackle and took off for a huge play last week against Jacksonville, and just did the same here.

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Mike Hilton gets called for PI on the speed out to MVS. Looks like he might have gotten there just a tad early.

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Bryan Cook had been having a rough game but he just made a HUGE play. Pressure on Burrow off the left side of the line might have affected the throw and made it a little bit short. Cook tipped it up in the air and Williams (who is filling in for Sneed) came down with it.

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Looked like there might have been some contact from Williams on Chase down the field, but no call. Ball ended up hitting Chase in the helmet.

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What a run by Burrow. Incredible balance to stay off the ground and pick up the first down.

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Chris Jones was getting held by each of the two remaining starters on Cincinnati's offensive line there. Ted Karras is the one who gets called for it.

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Mahomes had MVS over the middle but threw it behind him. Missed opportunity for a big play and now the Bengals will (finally) get the ball back.

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Hey look it's third-and-9 again.

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BJ Hill drops Mahomes for a sack... but Eli Apple gets called for a hold and the Chiefs get a first down out of one of the more ridiculous sequences you will ever see.

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Oh, apparently the play to Kelce did not count. It's still third-and-9. No idea what happened.

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Punting it back to Burrow on fourth-and-4 in a tie game seems unwise. Let's see if the Bengals make the Chiefs pay for it.