Following a weekend in which all four games were decided on the final play, most were expecting a letdown on Championship Sunday.
The football gods had other plans for fans of the NFL.
Bengals complete comeback, head to Super Bowl for first time since 1989
The AFC Championship Game was a tale of two halves. Well, two halves and overtime.
Cincinnati came back from an 18-point first half deficit, tying the largest comeback in Championship Game history, beating the Kansas City Chiefs 27-24 on a walk-off overtime field goal from Evan McPherson.
EVAN MCPHERSON SENDS CINCY TO THE SUPER BOWL. #NFLPlayoffs #RuleTheJungle pic.twitter.com/lcWku1eYpt
— NFL (@NFL) January 30, 2022
It’s the first Super Bowl appearance for the Bengals since 1989.
Just like in their divisional matchup against the Buffalo Bills, the Chiefs won the overtime coin toss. But this OT would end differently, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes throwing an interception on third-and-10, allowing Cincinnati to win with just a field goal.
INTERCEPTED BY VONN BELL.
THE BENGALS CAN WIN IT WITH A FG. #NFLPlayoffs
📺: #CINvsKC on CBS
📱: https://t.co/dKNUFkxkbU pic.twitter.com/nJk7A8PqJR— NFL (@NFL) January 30, 2022
“Usually when you lose the coin flip to those guys, you’re going home,” said Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. “Our defense really stepped up and made plays in the second half. And on offense we made plays when we had to. I thought the offensive line played really well all day. We started running the ball there at the end and that’s exciting.
“Big win for us.”
Kansas City scored touchdowns on their first three possessions of the game, jumping out to an early 21-3 lead, with three touchdowns from quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The former MVP had just one incompletion in the first three drives. But Cincinnati had been in the position before, coming back from a 14-point second quarter deficit in their 34-31 win over Kansas City in week 17.
Following a 41-yard touchdown from Bengals running back Samaje Perine with 1:01 left in the first half, Kansas City held a 21-10 lead. With the Chiefs scheduled to receive the second half kickoff, another score before halftime by Kansas City effectively would put the game out of reach. Cincinnati finally got the stop they needed — a second-and-goal stop to run out the clock — allowing them to head into half down just two scores.
A third quarter interception by Mahomes set up a three-yard touchdown from Joe Burrow to Ja’Marr Chase, with Cincinnati converting the two-point conversion to send the game into the fourth quarter tied up at 21.
BURROW TO CHASE. TOUCHDOWN. #RuleTheJungle #NFLPlayoffs
📺: #CINvsKC on CBS
📱: https://t.co/dKNUFkxkbU pic.twitter.com/4oTvYaHBdM— NFL (@NFL) January 30, 2022
Both teams traded field goals in the fourth quarter before heading into overtime.
Burrow finished the day 23-38 for 250 yards, throwing two touchdowns and an interception. He also made several big plays with his legs, rushing for 25 yards on the day. Burrow becomes the first quarterback to take his team to the Super Bowl in his second season after being drafted number one overall.
Rams head to Super Bowl for second time in four years
Prior to the 2021 season, the Los Angeles Rams went all in, acquiring quarterback Matthew Stafford in a blockbuster trade with the Detroit Lions. They acquired Von Miller and Odell Beckham Jr. midseason, mortgaging their future with their eyes on Super Bowl 56.
It all paid off Sunday night, as the Rams beat the San Francisco 49ers 20-17 in the NFC Championship Game.
49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo finally made the big mistake, throwing an interception with 1:09 left in the fourth quarter.
AARON DONALD CREATES THE TURNOVER. #RamsHouse #NFLPlayoffs
📺: #SFvsLAR on FOX
📱: https://t.co/vywGt5Kgfz pic.twitter.com/pcltmPm9EP— NFL (@NFL) January 31, 2022
“I got total trust and confidence in that defense,” Stafford said after the game. “They’ve been unbelievable all year. Way to freaking ice the game, I loved it. I’d rather be out there playing, but they came through. What a great play to end it.”
The 49ers took a 17-7 lead into the fourth quarter, following a 16-yard touchdown pass from Garoppolo to tight end George Kittle.
This view of @gkittle46's TD >>
📺: #SFvsLAR on FOX
📱: https://t.co/vywGt5Kgfz pic.twitter.com/crJp6OS5vR— NFL (@NFL) January 31, 2022
LA quickly responded with a touchdown of their own to start the fourth quarter, with Matthew Stafford connecting with Cooper Kupp for an 11-yard score.
DOUBLE UP, COOPER KUPP! #RamsHouse #NFLPlayoffs
📺: #SFvsLAR on FOX
📱: https://t.co/vywGt5Kgfz pic.twitter.com/BaD6w47wMq— NFL (@NFL) January 31, 2022
Los Angeles took the lead on a 30-yard field goal from Matt Gay with 1:46 left in the fourth, before Garoppolo’s interception ended the game.
Kupp finished the day with 142 yards, the 13th time this season he’s had at least 100 yards receiving in a game, the most in NFL history. Beckham Jr. had nine catches for 113 yards.
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to [email protected].
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.