KANSAS CITY— Less than a minute into Sunday’s game at Arrowhead Stadium, the Cincinnati Bengals targeted Patrick Mahomes. 48 seconds may seem like a lifetime for the Kansas City Chiefs star, but it was an important game.
On fourth-and-16, Kansas snapped from 35 yards out. Bengals prove odds don't matter. Mahomes rolled left out of pocket when pursued. He saw Rashee Rice across the middle,
"One game changed everything for us," Bengals star receiver Ja'Mar Chase told reporters in his corner stall in a somber visitors' locker room. You noticed the defence flag. So, one play.”
Sunday's second half saw five lead changes. Before Butker's clutch kick and Anthony's penalty, Charmarri Conner's 38-yard scoop-and-score fumble recovery return may have put KC ahead.
Later in the quarter, Conner's slot-blitz 9-yard sack of Burrow may have forced a punt. After kicking a 53-yard field goal, Bengals kicker Evan McPherson missed a PAT in the third quarter. And so on. Plays here and there.
Kansas City beat the Bengals despite two Mahomes interceptions and a Carson Steele fumble. They won despite one third-down conversion in eight tries. They were outgained again in yards but untouchable.
The Bengals were lucky to get a field goal when Chase was fined 15 yards for disputing a non-call with referee Alex Kemp in the fourth quarter.