It was everything anyone could have wanted on the first Sunday of 2022 as the Bengals looked to reach another huge milestone for the 2021 season and rode the generation-setting tandem of Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and rookie wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase to a stunning 34-31 win over two-time AFC champion Kansas City to secure the AFC North title before a deliriously packed Paul Brown Stadium.
It was the wildest finish ever at PBS. The Bengals couldn't score on three tries inside the KC 1, tried a fourth down pass, got a holding call on both teams and they passed for it again on fourth down and on the incompletion wide receiver Tyler Boyd drew a flag.
But Burrow went off the field limping on his right leg. Backup Brandon Allen came on, spiked it twice and Evan McPherson kicked them into the playoffs with a 20-yard field goal at the gun.
Burrow put up another 446 yards on 30 of 39 sifting, just four shy of the all-time record for yards in two straight games a week after blitzing the Ravens for 525 yards. Chase broke Chad Johnson's club record for a game with 266 yards on 10 catches, as well as Jerry Butler's 42-year-old NFL rookie record of 255, as the Bengals won their first game under Zac Taylor trailing after three quarters.
View the best game action photos from the Bengals hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17 of the 2021 NFL season.

Quarterback Joe Burrow escapes the Kansas City Chiefs pass rush and carries the ball forward.

Quarterback Joe Burrow hands the ball off to running back Joe Mixon in the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow looks to throw during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Running back Joe Mixon carries the ball upfield in the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Running back Joe Mixon in action against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17 at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Defensive tackle D.J. Reader pressures Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the first quarter at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati.

Kicker Evan McPherson converts an extra point against the Kansas City Chiefs at Paul Brown Stadium.

Wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase turns up field for a 72-yard touchdown reception against the Kansas City Chiefs at Paul Brown Stadium.

Wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase does the Griddy and celebrates after catching an 18-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Joe Burrow in the second quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase is surrounded by C.J. Uzomah and Tyler Boyd after recording his second receiving touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, left, is tackled by Kansas City Chiefs middle linebacker Anthony Hitchens (53) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cornerback Tre Flowers celebrates with his teammates after making a tackle on special teams against the Kansas City Chiefs at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati.

Tight end C.J. Uzomah makes a reception against the Kansas City Chiefs at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) throws a pass in the first half during an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Emilee Chinn)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) catches a pass for an 18-yard touchdown as Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Charvarius Ward (35) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

Wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase is greeted by Vernon Hargreaves III and Tyler Boyd on the sideline after recording his third touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs at Paul Brown Stadium.

Wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase runs in the end zone after making a 69-yard touchdown reception against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard rushes during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd (83) tries to avoid Kansas City Chiefs safety Juan Thornhill (22) after a reception during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

Defensive end Sam Hubbard flexes after the defense makes a stop on third down against the Kansas City Chiefs at Paul Brown Stadium.

Wide receiver Tee Higgins catches a ball in traffic against the Kansas City Chiefs for a first down.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) throws a touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

Wide receiver Tyler Boyd Jumps into the stands after scoring a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs at Paul Brown Stadium.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd (83) celebrates a 5-yard touchdown with fans during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) runs off the field after a 34-31 win over the Kansas City Chiefs during an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Emilee Chinn)

Tight end C.J. Uzomah greets and celebrates with fans following the Bengals 34-31 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Quarterback Joe Burrow is interviewed field level following the Bengals 34-31 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Quarterback Joe Burrow runs off the field following the Bengals 34-31 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Wide receiver Ja'Marr Chsae smiles following the Bengals 34-31 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Quarterback Joe Burrow smiles following the Bengals 34-31 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd scores a 5-yard touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins celebrates after the Bengals defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 34-31 in an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Quarterback Joe Burrow looks over to the sideline during the Week 17 game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Paul Brown Stadium.
Chase finished with more yards than Patrick Mahomes (259) had passing.
A week after Tee Higgins strafed the Ravens for a career-high 194 yards, Chase drilled the Chiefs for the all-time rookie record. He danced on the right sidelines for a 35-yard pass with Burrow under terrific pressure on a blitz and then did it again on third-and-27 when Burrow hit him again for 30 more on the right sideline frying cornerback Charvarius Ward.
But it was Burrow's fourth touchdown pass of the day (giving him the Bengals single-season record with 34) to slot receiver Tyler Boyd that gave them their first lead of the day with 11:44 left on a five-yard arrow as Boyd dragged the back foot down going out of the end zone's left side. That gave them a 31-28 lead after being down 14 points on three different occasions.
After giving up 28 first-half points, the defense blanked Mahomes until Harrison Butker's 34-yard field goal tied it with 6:01 left at 31. An all-out blitz led by free safety Jessie Bates III in the red zone forced
It was arguably the Bengals' biggest regular-season game since Dec. 22, 2014, the next-to-last time they beat a team with double-digit wins. When they knocked off the Broncos that Monday night at PBS, it put them in the playoffs for the fourth straight season with a Wild Card berth.
Burrow went over 300 yards for the sixth time this season, breaking the team record on a day he became the club's single-season passing leader breaking Andy Dalton's 2013 record.
The officiating crew, levelled by COVID, had a patchwork unit, tried to keeping up with the two teams that put 52 points in the game's first 32 minutes.
The Bengals remained being one of the league leaders scoring on the first possession of the second half when Chase again stunned Chiefs. He scored his third touchdown when safety Daniel Sorenson drifted to the middle of the field and Chase kept running down the left side line for a 69-yarder that cut to 28-24.
The quarterbacks were brilliant in that High Noon first half. Mahomes went for 209 yards on 17 of 22 passing for two touchdowns and a 136.4 passer rating. Burrow went click-for-clock with 15 of 21 for 193 yards and two touchdowns on a 131.6 passer rating.
CBS had Burrow pressured ten times of 23 drop backs, but, Chase buffaloed the Chiefs coverage. His 72-yard touchdown that cut the lead to 14-7 came with about 60 yards after the catch when Burrow popped it to him in a seam and Chase froze linebacker Nick Bolton on his way to outrunning the safeties for his third touchdown catch of at least 70 yards this season.
After Burrow became the Bengals all-time passing leader on a 20-yard flip on third down to Boyd, on the next snap he back-shouldered an 18-yard touchdown to Chase working one-on-one with Ward that made it 21-14 and they were only halfway through the second quarter.
After Mahomes got away with throwing a pick right at cornerback Eli Apple that was dropped, he turned it into another touchdown on a drive marked by the Bengals' inability to tackle running back Darrell Williams, whose 33 yards in the half came on a majority after contact.
Down 28-14, the Bengals tried to double up when they got the ball with 2:50 left in the half knowing they'd get the ball to begin the second half.
But they could only get McPherson's 46-yard field goal when the Chiefs put up a stand from the KC 28. On second-and-ten, an all-out blitz forced Burrow to get rid of it and on the next snap Burrow got hit into an incompletion on a costly play. Chiefs defensive end Alex Okafor beat right tackle Isaiah Prince and crushed Burrow into the right ankle of left guard Quinton Spain, one of their most consistent linemen.
Spain was done for the day and maybe the first playoff game and backup right guard Jackson Carman moved in to take his first snaps at left guard in a game.
After ushering out the Chiefs on a three-and-out to open the game, the Bengals gave up four straight touchdown drives despite the Chiefs' revamped offensive line that lost another starter on Sunday's second series, backup left tackle Lucas Niangon, working on the left side after moving over from starting on the right earlier in the season.
A 32-yard pass interference call on Bates working on tight end Travis Kelce set up the first one and the third one was set up on a killing 53-yard bomb to wide receiver Mecole Hardman coming out of the slot on third-and-17 one-on-an-one against cornerback Mike Hilton when they blitzed Mahomes.