The Cincinnati Bengals are going to the Super Bowl for the first time in 33 years, and multiple Buckeyes played a huge role in making it happen.
With less than two minutes to go in regulation, a touchdown by the Kansas City Chiefs would have given them the lead and left the Bengals with little time to score a touchdown of their own to win the AFC Championship Game. Sam Hubbard forced the Chiefs to settle for a game-tying field goal, however, with a pair of massive sacks on 2nd-and-goal and 3rd-and-goal.
WOWOWOWOW. #NFLPlayoffs
— NFL (@NFL) January 30, 2022
: #CINvsKC on CBS
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The Chiefs won the coin toss to start overtime, giving them a chance to win the game with a touchdown. It looked like Eli Apple might have let their opportunity to turn the tables go right through his hands when he dropped an interception early in the overtime period.
Just one play later, however, Patrick Mahomes attempted a deep ball that Vonn Bell intercepted, giving the Bengals the ball and control of the game.
RING THAT BELL!
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) January 30, 2022
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Following Bell’s interception, Joe Burrow and the Bengals drove into Kansas City’s red zone before Evan McPherson made a game-winning 31-yard field goal to clinch a 27-24 conference championship game victory and send the Bengals to the Super Bowl.
SHOOOOOOOOOTER SENDS US TO LA!
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) January 30, 2022
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Hubbard finished Sunday’s win over the Chiefs with eight total tackles, including two sacks and a tackle for loss, while Bell added six tackles to his interception. Apple recorded seven tackles, including one crucial tackle on the final play before halftime, when he held Tyreek Hill out of the end zone.
What a stop by the @Bengals defense to end the half! #NFLPlayoffs #RuleTheJungle
— NFL (@NFL) January 30, 2022
: #CINvsKC on CBS
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Their former Ohio State teammate Isaiah Prince also started at right tackle, as he has in all of the Bengals’ playoff games.
The Bengals will face the winner of Sunday night’s NFC Championship Game between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl, which is set for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff on Feb. 13.
