Butker's Game-Winner Beats Bengals 23-20 in AFC Championship: Live Game Log
The NFL season comes closer to its end, with the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals battling it out in the AFC Championship for a spot in the Super Bowl.
Kansas City got here after a 27-20 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, while Cincinnati handled its business against the Buffalo Bills in a 27-10 blowout.
These two teams have an extensive history in recent years, with the Bengals one of the few teams to have the Chiefs number.
There are several intriguing storylines entering this game, and perhaps none bigger than the health of the Kansas City Chiefs. With quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce battling injuries, it could limit the explosiveness of the Chiefs offense.
On the other sideline, the Bengals are led by quarterback Joe Burrow, who is undefeated against Mahomes and the Chiefs in his career. This will be their second playoff matchup, with the Bengals outlasting the Chiefs 27-24 in an overtime thriller.
All three matchups between Burrow's Bengals and Mahomes' Chiefs have been decided by three points, which should make for another entertaining AFC Championship.
Stay tuned as we provide live drive-by-drive updates as the Chiefs and Bengals face off in the AFC Championship.
Live updates will be available shortly after kickoff.
FIRST QUARTER: Chiefs 3, Bengals 0
The Bengals receive the opening kick and will star their drive at their own 25.
A false start brings back what would have been a Burrow drive-extending 3rd down scramble, leading to a Cincinnati punt following a sack on 4th down.
The Chiefs will start their drive at their own 36.
Kansas City picks up back-to-back 16-yard plays with completions from Mahomes to Pacheco and Kelce moving the ball into Bengals territory.
FIELD GOAL CHIEFS: Butker drills the 43-yard field goal to give the Chiefs a 3-0 lead with 8:50 left in the first quarter. The drive went 39 yards on 7 plays, taking 3:21 off the clock.
The Bengals will start their drive at their own 38.
The Chiefs defense has been swarming to start this game, picking up two more sacks on that drive to force a Cincinnati punt.
The Chiefs will start their drive at their own 33.
Mahomes dumps it off to Pacheco on a screen, who takes it for 18 yards and his second big gain through the air.
A 13-yard completion to Kelce followed by a 13-yard completion to McKinnon moves the ball inside the Cincinnati 10-yard line.
SECOND QUARTER: Chiefs 13, Bengals 6
FIELD GOAL CHIEFS: Butker drills the 24-yard field goal to extend the Chiefs' lead to 6-0 with 14:58 left in the second quarter. The drive went 61 yards on 12 plays, taking 6:18 off the clock.
The Bengals will start their drive at their own 25.
Burrow finally has time in the pocket and connects with Boyd on 3rd and 14 for 16 yards to move across midfield for the first time.
FIELD GOAL BENGALS: McPherson drills the 30-yard field goal, cutting the Chiefs' lead to 6-3 with 8:36 left in the second quarter. The drive went 63 yards on 13 plays, taking 6:22 off the clock.
The Chiefs will start their drive at their own 25.
Mahomes finds Valdes-Scantling on back-to-back completions for 11 and 29 yards, moving Kansas City to the edge of the red zone.
TOUCHDOWN CHIEFS: Mahomes finds Kelce for the 14-yard touchdown. Butker's extra point attempt is good to extend the Chiefs lead to 13-3 with 3:53 left in the second quarter. The drive went 75 yards on 8 plays, taking 4:43 off the clock.
The Bengals will start their drive at their own 25.
INTERCEPTION CHIEFS: Burrow's pass intended for Higgins is intercepted by Watson.
The Chiefs will start their drive at the Bengals 39.
The Chiefs can't take advantage of the Bengals' turnover and are forced to punt after going three and out.
The Bengals will start their drive at their own 4.
On what appeared to be an interception, the Chiefs are called for pass interference which gifts the Bengals a free first down.
FIELD GOAL BENGALS: McPherson drills the 23-yard field goal to end the half, cutting the Chiefs lead to 13-6 at halftime. The drive went 90 yards on 12 plays, taking 2:03 off the clock.
THIRD QUARTER: Chiefs 20, Bengals 13
The Chiefs will start their drive at their own 21.
An uneventful drive for the Chiefs to start the second half and they punt after going three and out.
The Bengals will start their drive at their own 38.
Cincinnati's offense is showing signs of life as they have picked up a pair of first downs to move deep into Kansas City territory.
TOUCHDOWN BENGALS: Burrow to Higgins for the 27-yard touchdown. McPherson's extra point attempt is good to tie the game at 13-13 with 9:54 left in the third quarter. The drive went 62 yards on 8 plays, taking 3:35 off the clock.
The Chiefs will start their drive at their own 23.
Mahomes scrambles out of the pocket and finds Hardman for a gain of 11 yards on 3rd and 5.
Mahomes stands in the pocket before dumping it down to Valdes-Scantling who takes it for 25 yards into Cincinnati territory.
TOUCHDOWN CHIEFS: Mahomes to Valdes-Scantling for the 19-yard touchdown. Butker's extra point attempt is good to give the Chiefs a 20-13 lead with 4:15 left in the third quarter. The drive went 77 yards on 11 plays, taking 5:39 off the clock.
The Bengals will start their drive at their own 25.
Cincinnati can't overcome a holding penalty and as a result will be forced to punt after going three and out.
The Chiefs will start their drive at their own 31.
Mahomes and Valdes-Scantling continue their connection, this time on 3rd and 8 for 25 yards. However, a taunting penalty costs the Chiefs 15 yards.
FUMBLE RECOVERY BENGALS: The ball slips out of Mahomes hands and the Bengals jump on the fumble.
The Bengals will start their drive at the Chiefs 45.
FOURTH QUARTER: Chiefs 23, Bengals 20
On 4th and 6 the Bengals keep the offense on the field and Burrow delivers a deep strike to Chase for 35 yards inside the 10-yard line.
TOUCHDOWN BENGALS: Perine plunges in for the 2-yard touchdown. McPherson's extra point attempt is good to tie the game at 20-20 with 13:30 left in the fourth quarter. The drive went 45 yards on 6 plays, taking 2:25 off the clock.
The Chiefs will start their drive at their own 22.
Despite a potential drive-ending sack on 3rd and 9, the Bengals are called for defensive holding to gift the Chiefs a first down.
That won't be enough though, as the Chiefs are forced to punt once again after a Mahomes incompletion on 3rd down.
The Bengals will start their drive at their own 16.
INTERCEPTION CHIEFS: Burrow's pass intended for Higgins is tipped by Cook and intercepted by Williams.
The Chiefs will start their drive at their own 14.
A pair of completions to Kemp for 13 yards and Moore for 8 yards, followed by a pass interference has the Chiefs nearing midfield.
The Chiefs cross midfield but can't get much going past that, as the drive stalls and they're forced to punt.
The Bengals will start their drive at their own 6.
On 3rd and 16 Burrow finds a wide open Hurst for a gain of 23 yards to extend the drive.
The Bengals are forced to punt, though, and the punt is returned to the Kansas City 47.
FIELD GOAL CHIEFS: Butker drills the game-winning 45-yard field goal with :03 left in the fourth quarter.
END OF GAME
You can find Connor Zimmerlee on Twitter @Connorjz98
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