A loss on the road in Pittsburgh was a big setback last week. And after both the Steelers and Bills respectively won their earlier games in week 17, the Bengals were officially in must-win mode, as they looked to keep their playoff hopes alive. In their way… the Kansas City Chiefs. Although the name may give the illusion of an impossible task, the Chiefs have been struggling of late, and were very much a bearable opponent, even despite the Bengals injuries.
The Bengals opening drive on offence was promising, as Browning was able to use his legs to pick up a few 1st downs, before then finding Higgins for 19 on 3rd & 7. The drive, however, stalled out inside the redzone, and McPherson kicked a 34 yard field goal to give the road team a 3-0 lead.
Browning and the offence wiped nearly 9 minutes off of the clock on the opening, but the Chiefs answered rather quickly, at least in comparison. They went on a TD drive that lasted almost 3 and a half minutes. But while the Bengals had to work hard for a lot of their yards, and still stalled out at the end, KC sliced through that defence like a hot knife through butter. Pacheco went for several chunk gains, including a 35 yard run, and Rice added an 18 yard reception. On 3rd & goal from the 8, Mahomes found Pacheco again, this one going for a TD, giving KC a 7-3 lead.
Cincinnati returned the favour with their first TD of the game. It was another long drive, wiping 6:29 off of the clock. A 23 yard completion from Browning to Chase on 3rd & 2 got things going. After a few solid runs by Mixon for a 1st down, Browning found his former college teammate, Drew Sample, for another. A 10 yard pass to Mixon set up 1st & goal at the 6. They lost a yard on 1st down, but Browning found Mixon again on 2nd, this one a 7 yard TD pass. 10-7 Bengals/
After a Trey Hendrickson strip sack, and recovery by Sam Hubbard, the Bengals got the ball back deep in Kansas City territory. Starting at the 24 yard line, they eventually worked their way down to the 1 yard line. On 3rd down, lined up under centre, Zac Taylor called a play action pass, but with nobody open, Browning was able to roll to his right and run it in himself for the TD, making it 17-7 for the Bengals. Though they had a 10 point lead, the Chiefs would add a pair of field goals before the half, and the Bengals went into the break up 17-13.
Cincinnati’s defence forced a punt on the opening drive, and the offence then went to work. A pair of 14 yard completions, to Hudson and Chase respectively, quickly moved the ball downfield. Then, a 30 yard pass interference call on a pass intended for Higgins set them up at the KC 15 yard line. Now down to the 6, facing 4th & 1, Zac Taylor decided to keep the offence out there. But a vanilla play call – a draw up the middle – was easily stuffed by the Chiefs defence. Whether Taylor made the call, or Browning checked to it at the line, it wasn’t a good one, and it would prove later to be costly.
The Chiefs would turn that stop into a field goal, to cut the Bengals lead to 1. From that point on, the Bengals would punt the ball 3 times, while KC would add 3 more field goals. The drive that resulted in the third punt of this stretch, there was controvecy due to poor officiating. Browning had attempted a pass, intended for Mixon, but was hit as he let it go. The pass ended up short of the target, but somehow, despite Mixon being right there, was called for intentional grounding. Eventually, the Bengals were down 8, with one drive left to salvage their season.
The Bengals started well on this drive, with Browning completing a pass to Hudson for 15 yards. But shortly after, controversy took over. On 2nd & 5, the refferees missed what should have been an offsides call on the Chiefs. Instead of an automatic 1st down, Browning was sacked. So instead of a 1st down from the offsides, the Bengals offence were now in a 3rd & 12 situation. Browning was sacked on the play, but on 4th & 18, he found Tyler Boyd for 23 yards and a 1st down.
The offensive line was struggling on this drive, and this continued after the 4th down conversion. Strong pressure, combined with Browning hanging onto the ball too long, led to a sack on both 1st and 2nd down. 3rd down fell incomplete, and the Bengals faced another 4th & long with the season on the line. It was 4th & 27, and Browning lofted it up to Tee Higgins. It was double coverage, but essentially a Hail Mary anyways. There was enough air under the ball for Higgins to make a play on it, but unfortunately, he was unable to. 25-17 Chiefs, final.
The Bengals fall to 8-8 on the season, and will close it out at home to the Cleveland Browns next week. They are officially eliminated from playoff contention, and the focus, beyond next week, now shifts to the offseason.
Modified Homescreen Image Via: Van Ha