Win and you're in. It's that simple for the Bengals Sunday afternoon as they host the Chiefs in the Jungle for what will be the season's biggest game to date.
Here are five things to know ahead of Sunday's Week 17 meeting with the Kansas City Chiefs:
1. Bombs Away
Last week's win over Baltimore was a thrilling one, as it was a day of records, milestones and career highs. For the second time this season, the Bengals recorded 500 total yards of offense, as both instances came against the Ravens. But the 575 yards the offense recorded in Week 16 stands as the fifth most ever in team history, and it's the most by a Bengals team in over 31 years. The last time the team logged more total yards was on October 7, 1990, against the Los Angeles Rams in a 34-31 overtime win where Boomer Esiason threw for 490 yards as the offense put up 582 yards for the game.
2. Hall of Fame Company
Esiason's 490-passing yards on that day in 1990 stood as the team record until Joe Burrow took the field last week and threw for a new Bengals record of 525 yards. As Burrow surpassed the 400-passing yardage mark, he joined Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino as the only quarterbacks to throw for 400 yards and three touchdowns in at least three games in their first two seasons.
Check out the Top 50 game action images from the 2021 calendar year of the Bengals players.
Cincinnati Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase, left, makes a touchdown catch against San Francisco 49ers' Ambry Thomas (20) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd (83) flips into the end zone for a touchdown in the first half during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Emilee Chinn)
Linebacker Germaine Pratt intercepts a tipped pass in the first quarter against the New York Jets.
Tight end C.J. Uzomah dives into the end zone scoring the Bengals first touchdown in the third quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) throws under pressure from Denver Broncos defensive end Shelby Harris during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Bengals center Trey Hopkins jumps out in pass protection against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021 at Paul Brown Stadium.
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton (21) makes an interception of a pass intended for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver James Washington (13) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in Cincinnati. Hilton returned the ball for a touchdown. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) passes against the Minnesota Vikings in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Wide receiver Auden Tate makes a catch between two Jacksonville Jaguar defenders in the first quarter.
Cincinnati Bengals running back Chris Evans (25) and wide receiver Tyler Boyd (83) celebrate after Evans' touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson (2) reacts after making a field goal against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) rushed for a career high 165 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Emilee Chinn)
Defensive end Sam Hubbard celebrates after making a third down stop against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Cincinnati Bengals tight end C.J. Uzomah reacts after scoring on a touchdown pass from quarterback Joe Burrow, not visible, during the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Cincinnati Bengals' Trey Hendrickson, second from right, tackles New York Jets quarterback Mike White during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Safety Vonn Bell holds the ball up in the air after recovering a fumble against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021.
Bengals defenders Cam Sample and Vonn Bell sack Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert in the third quarter at Paul Brown Stadium.
Cincinnati Bengals guard Quinton Spain (67) blocks during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021 in Baltimore, Md. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)
Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson (2) kicks a franchise-record 58-yard field goal against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson with a sack and forced fumble of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the third quarter at Paul Brown Stadium.
Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Jonah Williams (73) defends against the New York Jets during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Defensive tackle D.J. Reader tackles Browns running back Nick Chubb in the second quarter at Paul Brown Stadium.
Cincinnati Bengals' Chidobe Awuzie (22) intercepts a pass intended by Los Angeles Chargers' Josh Palmer (5) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Sam Hubbard and B.J. Hill team up for a sack on Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert in the second quarter at Paul Brown Stadium.
Akeem Davis-Gaither, Logan Wilson and Larry Ogunjobi stop the Jaguars Trevor Lawrence at the goal line in the second quarter.
Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins hauls in a 2-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter against the Minnesota Vikings.
Bengals defensive tackle B.J. Hill sacks Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the second quarter at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati.
Defensive end Khalid Kareem forces and recovers a fumble by Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock in the fourth quarter.
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end B.J. Hill (92) sacks Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson (55) celebrates with teammates after making an interception of a pass by Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger during the first half an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Offensive tackle Riley Reiff looks downfield during the Oct. 17, 2021 game against the Detroit Lions.
Cincinnati Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase (1), right, celebrates his touchdown with Joe Mixon (28) during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Quarterback Joe Burrow passes the football during the second quarter against the New York Jets.
Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins leaps between two defenders for a 32-yard touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers at Paul Brown Stadium.
Running back Samaje Perine celebrates with teammates after making a tackle on special teams against the Baltimore Ravens.
Tight end C.J. Uzomah makes a reception in a game against the New York Jets on Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021.
Clark Harris and Evan McPherson celebrate after converting a 52-yard field goal in the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens.
Kevin Huber gets ready to kick a punt against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021 in Denver, Colo.
Bengals safety Jessie Bates III returns a fumble down the sideline in the second quarter against the Chargers.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd (83) runs in a touchdown as Denver Broncos free safety Justin Simmons (31) and cornerback Pat Surtain II (2) pursue during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Safety Jessie Bates III makes an interception and returns it down to the 2 yard line against the New York Jets.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Darnell Mooney (11) is tackled by Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple (20) and free safety Jessie Bates III (30) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple breaks up a pass in the end zone as Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton (14) can't make the catch during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Tight end Drew Sample catches a pass during the 2021 season against the Denver Broncos.
Cincinnati Bengals offensive guard Jackson Carman (79) plays in an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Defensive tackle D.J. Reader make a tackle against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Brandon Allen throws against the Detroit Lions during an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) runs against the Minnesota Vikings during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
3. Triple Threat
Burrow has spread the wealth to his pass catchers this season, as the Bengals are the only team in the NFL with three receivers who each have more than 750-receiving yards. Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins have already surpassed the 1,000-yard mark, while Tyler Boyd needs 208 more yards to reach it. If Boyd reaches 1,000, the Bengals would become the first Cincinnati team and sixth in NFL history to have three 1,000 yard receivers in the same season. The 2008 Arizona Cardinals were the last team in the league to accomplish this feat.
4. Defense Delivers
Since the bye week, the defense has taken their play up a notch. The Bengals have won the turnover margin in each of their last four wins, and on the season they have been stout on fourth downs. Teams are converting 37.5% of fourth-down attempts on Cincinnati, tied for second-best in the league.
5. Good Fortune Jungle
As the Chiefs and Bengals square off at Paul Brown Stadium, Kansas City enters a place they have recently struggled in. The Bengals have won the last five meetings against the Chiefs in Cincinnati, and have outscored Kansas City 123-83 in those matchups.
