Kansas City, Mo. ( Associated Press) – Patrick Mahomes first struggled with a sprained right ankle, then was pushed out of bounds late by Joseph Osai, allowing Harrison Butker to kick a 45-yard field goal with 3 seconds remaining. The NFL led the Kansas City Chiefs to a 23-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday.
The Chiefs won over the Bengals after suffering three straight losses, including one in overtime in the previous year’s championship game. Now, they will face the Philadelphia Eagles, coach Andy Reid’s former team, in their third Super Bowl appearance in four years.
Mahomes, who had sprained his ankle in the divisional-round game against Jacksonville, threw for 326 yards and two touchdowns, even though he was without three of his wide receivers due to injuries in the fourth quarter. Marquez Valdes-Scantling led the way with 116 yards and a touchdown, while Travis Kelce caught seven passes for 78 yards and a score despite injury.
However, it was Mahomes with his bad right ankle, rather than his strong right arm, that saved the Chiefs.
The Chiefs got a key sack by Chris Jones to force a punt with 39 seconds remaining, and Sky Moore ran 29 yards for a good punt return. On third and four to get to the Bengals 47-yard line, Mahomes eluded defenders and ran toward the Bengals, barely getting a first down before Osai pushed him from behind.
The tissues went flying, the ball covered 15 yards, and Bakker’s kick for a field goal barely passed.
Joe Burrows, who was sacked five times, finished with 270 passing yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions for the Bengals. Tye Higgins had six catches for 83 yards and a score.
The Chiefs were able to hurry up what the Buffalo Bills failed to do in the previous week’s Divisional Round game: They ran over a struggling Bengals offensive line, missing two starters with injury and another with sore throat.
In the first quarter alone, Burrow was sacked three times and the Bengals’ offense did not gain a yard.
Mahomes, whose ankle had been the subject of speculation all week, looked good as he led Kansas City to a field goal on their first possession.
