KANSAS CITY — For a second straight season, Bengals Super Bowl dreams ended in Arrowhead Stadium.
Harrison Butker booted six field goals while Isiah Pacheco and Rashee Rice gained over 100 scrimmage yards to lead the Kansas City Chiefs to a 25-17 division-clinching win over the visiting Bengals.
Patrick Mahomes finished 21-of-29 for 245 yards and a touchdown for the Chiefs (10-6), who clinched their eighth straight AFC West title.
Jake Browning completed 19-of-33 passes for.197 yards and ran for a touchdown for the Bengals (8-8), who were eliminated from playoff contention with the loss and Pittsburgh’s 30-23 win in Seattle. The loss also means the Bengals will finish in last place in the AFC North after winning the division in 2021 and 2022. Cincinnati will play a last place schedule in 2024.
Mahomes connected with rookie Rashee Rice for 67 yards late in the third quarter that set up Harrison Butker’s go-ahead 24-yard field goal. Rice finished with five catches for 127 yards. Isiah Pacheco came out of concussion protocol to finish with 130 yards on 18 carries and 36 yards receiving, including a touchdown.
So much for Burrowhead.
And it’s fitting how the Bengals were beaten Sunday.
They couldn’t convert a 4th-and-1 at the Chiefs 6 and they allowed another explosive pass play that set up the game-winning field goal. The Bengals allowed 225 yards on six different plays as the Chiefs offense torched the Bengals secondary.
After Cincinnati took a 3-0 lead on a 15-play drive, Kansas City marched immediately down the field with little resistance, scoring on an 8-yard pass from Mahomes to an uncovered Isiah Pacheco for a 7-3 lead.
Pacheco, who was on concussion protocol this week, had 90 yards rushing on six carries and 35 yards receiving in the first half.
Trey Hendrickson broke through and stripped Mahomes, recording his team-leading 17th sack. Sam Hubbard recovered at the Kansas City 24.
Emotions then boiled over between the Chiefs and Ja’Marr Chase, who criticized the Kansas City defense earlier in the week. Chase and L’Jarius Sneed went face-to-face after a Joe Mixon run with 10 minutes left in the second quarter.
The play resulted with Chase and Kansas City safety Mike Edwards getting flagged for offsetting unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.
The Bengals made it 17-7 on a Jake Browning scramble run around the right end to silence the Arrowhead crowd.
The Bengals were exceptional on third down in the first half, converting 6-of-7 to begin the game. Cincinnati also played keep away in the first half, holding the ball for over 21 of the 30 minutes.
The Bengals lost Tee Higgins in the first quarter to a left hamstring injury, but he returned to action on the first drive of the second half.
The Chiefs made a crucial defensive stop when the Bengals decided not to kick a field goal for a seven-point lead and instead handed off to Joe Mixon. The Chiefs were in a run blitz and made the stop on fourth-and-1 at the Chiefs 6.
The Chiefs answered with a nine-play, 82-yard drive, ending with a Butker 27-yard field goal that made it 17-16 Cincinnati.
The Chiefs played the game without two injured starters, left tackle Donovan Smith and wide receiver Kadarius Toney.
