It was third down.
The Bengals had just converted a huge 3rd and 16 previously on this drive to keep the game alive.
Less than a minute left.
Joe Burrow is built for these moments. I mean, it is Burrowhead, after all.
But so is Chris Jones. Chris Jones has always been built for these moments.
How did we get here though?
I’ll start off by saying, Mahomes and Burrow is a matchup that us Bills fans despise, for obvious reasons. Allen will insert his name into these matchups in the future. Have faith, fellow mafia members.
But for these two years, they will be defined by Burrow and Mahomes in the AFC.
Mahomes was beaten up. Kelce was beaten up. It’s their 5th straight championship game at home. We’ve heard time and time again how much these long playoff runs can grind on teams both mentally AND physically. Could this be manifesting today?
Personally, I thought going in that Mahomes had a legacy game in him. Burrow would play well. But I couldn’t imagine Mahomes going down 0-4 in his career to Joe.
On the first drive, the Chiefs did exactly what they needed to do to stop the Bengals. Hit Joe Burrow with a 4 man rush. (Although, it probably was roughing the passer..). And then Frank Clark got to him on 2nd down of the second drive. Then the next play, Chris Jones.
And it all started falling apart when on the third drive, Burrow threw an errant pass that was picked off.
Mahomes led the Chiefs down the field, but Kadarius Toney couldn’t survive the ground and the Chiefs were forced to kick.
Andy Reid got drunk on laterals and underhand throws on the next KC drive and settled for a field goal.
Burrow was able to find some time to make throws down the field, but the Bengals also had to settle for a field goal.
Then finally, Patrick Mahomes awoke. Or maybe more appropriately, Andy Reid did. Scheming two great plays, Mahomes was able to hit Marquez Valdes-Scantling for two huge passes the keep the drive alive.
Finally, who else but Travis Kelce for a TD on 4th and 1?
Finally, before the half Burrow and the Bengals got some momentum, partially due to a huge PI call against KC but mostly due to Tee Higgins going beast mode. Unfortunately, they ran out of gas, the KC defense held in the red zone and they go into the half 13-6.
Their first drive stalled, cracking the door back open for Cincinnati.
Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins took advantage.
But Mahomes had a little magic left too. And so did Valdez-Scantling, who had the game of his life. He ended up with 6 catches, 116 yards and a TD. First a huge screen pass to get them into Bengals territory. Then an incredible effort to keep the Chiefs from a 4th and 1, I mean sheeeeeesh.
AND THEN THIS THROW FROM MAHOMES. AND DID I SAY MVS HAD THE GAME OF HIS LIFE!?
And but juuuuuust when you thought the Chiefs had it all figured out…
And just when the Chiefs thought they might have the Bengals dead to rights… the LSU connection strikes again. Chase always seems to come up huge when they need him. a special trait. A special talent. The Bengals tied it up on a Perine TD run.
The most controversial call of the game? The Chiefs getting a do-over on a 3rd and 9. The refs tried to stop the play late to no avail, but they did try. Cincy was naturally, pretty unhappy with the whole deal.
It ended up all for naught. The Chiefs would punt. Burrow and the Bengals could take control. Until Burrow made his first huge mistake of the day. Chase maybe should’ve caught the ball on the play before, but you can’t make this play.
The Chiefs would stall once again.
Joe Burrow with the ball. 2:30 left. Tied 20-20 at their own 7.
Hayden Hurst converts on 3rd and 16. You can sense the tension in Arrow/Burrowhead. And then like we said at the top.. Chris Jones happened. Bengals punt.
The Pacheco punt return with 30 seconds left put the Chiefs at the 40-yard line to start their drive. They were able to advance a bit, but not enough to get into field goal range. Mahomes on 1st and 2nd down, felt pressure and tried to run or extend a play.
Mind you, all day long, it’s been clear how much pain he is in with the high ankle sprain. But you can’t think about that in the moment.
The game is on the line on 3rd and 4, just on the cusp of field goal range. No one is open and, Mahomes uses his legs to generate just enough speed to turn the corner for the first down.
But not only turn the corner.. he draws a late hit call.
Joseph Ossai hits Mahomes a millisecond too late. That millisecond will live with Bengals fans forever.
15 yards closer.
A chip shot for Butker.
And the Chiefs are moving onto the Super Bowl.
To face the Philadelphia Eagles.
The scene in Philadelphia was picturesque. Grey skies, cold weather, two classic uniforms and great franchises. What more could you ask for?
The story of the day going into the game was Jalen Hurts and Brock Purdy. While the stories of their ascension couldn’t be further apart, they end up in the same building facing off in the biggest game of their lives.
Hurts, a 2nd round pick who was exceptional for both Alabama and Oklahoma (even though he had to to leave Bama, he still had success) and Purdy, a 7th rounder who ended up overachieving his entire career at Iowa State and came into the year a 3rd string QB.
But today, they were level. And fairly or unfairly, the narrative of the future of their career was shaped today.
The first Eagles drive, Hurts was incredible. Poise, patience and playmaking against a tough 49ers defense.
Converted a long 3rd and 8, recognizing a blitz was coming, immediately fading to his right and throwing a low ball to AJ Brown. Then on 4th and 3, the catch of the day. Capped off by an easy Miles Sanders run.
But, he actually didn’t catch it.
The Eagles started the day with an enormous break. And that became the story of the game. The Eagles, continuously catching breaks.
Purdy on his first drive, fumbled, as the ball was knocked out of his hands before the throwing motion was completed. Brock Purdy hurt his wrist and exited the game.
The first quarter was profoundly strange. The missed review on the Smith catch. Purdy’s injury leading to the ultimate journeyman, Josh Johnson appearing. The 49ers FOURTH QB of the year. Bosa getting hurt while standing on the sideline. An Eagles punt that may or may not have hit a sky cam wire.
And that was actually story of the day. Josh Johnson became the FOURTH 49ers QB to play in a game this year. And then… Josh Johnson got hurt. So the Niners season came down to an injured Brock Purdy who couldn’t throw, or Christian McCaffrey playing QB.
Who would respond for the Niners?
Would they have a response? With all of that star talent, could they elevate their team when they needed it the most?
Kittle is the star who stepped up, at least emotionally. Trying to keep the team loose. Building Purdy’s confidence to come into the game and give it a shot. What else did they have to lose?
Hurts and the Eagles offense could not figure it out to start. They kept getting into 2nd, 3rd and longs against this defense. That’s a recipe for disaster. But eventually, the Niners mistakes would compound.
The hero of the day was the diversity of the Eagles’ rushing attack, which was on full display all afternoon. The Eagles dominated the way they needed to. Controlling the ball and the clock, running the 49ers into the ground.
Hurts added a QB sneak touchdown after another demoralizing drive where the Eagles ran all over San Francisco. The Eagles led 28-7 going into the 4th and the game was effectively OVER. The Eagles added a field goal but that was effectively it.
The Chiefs and Eagles will meet in Super Bowl LVII.
Bengals fans will be upset about this game for years. They dealt with a number of questionable calls against them, including the do-over 3rd down (even though nothing came of it,) the intentional grounding on Burrow and even the late hit at the end of the game, although it was clear-cut to this blogger.
It pains me to say this but it feels like the right matchup. Mahomes was on a redemption tour all year, listening to all the Allen hype and then in the playoffs, the Burrow hype. “Burrowhead” struck a nerve with them as Kelce and Mahomes both referenced it even in the postgame, just like teammates had earlier in the week. Don’t give the Chiefs more motivation than they need, Bengals, a tough lesson that they learned this week.
But Eli Apple, kick rocks.
For the Eagles? I was hoping today would be their first major test. Even though Purdy hadn’t really been tested, the weapons and Shanahan could’ve presented issues, especially because the Eagles offense struggled at times. But once Purdy got hurt and especially after Johnson did, the game was a slow, painful death. The Niners QB situation is easily a top 5 offseason storyline. This roster is ready to win a Super Bowl. Who will they trust to run the ship?
I’ll have much more on this Super Bowl matchup in a few weeks and this is subject to change, but my initial lean is….