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LeBron James, Josh Allen and more react as Joe Burrow and Bengals punch Super Bowl ticket

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Second-year quarterback Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals secured a spot within the Tremendous Bowl in thrilling trend on Sunday. The Bengals overcame an 18-point deficit en path to a 27-24 additional time walk-off win on the leg of rookie kicker Evan McPherson, whom you may bear in mind of divisional-round fame.

Whereas Tremendous Bowl LIV MVP Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs had expertise on their aspect, Burrow was the fifth participant up to now 30 seasons to enter a convention championship sport whereas main the NFL in each completion proportion and yards per try (together with playoffs). So yeah, we already knew he was fairly good at this soccer factor.

From LeBron James to Josh Allen and Trevor Lawrence, right here’s what the sports activities world needed to say about Joey B. main the Bengals to a long-awaited third look within the Tremendous Bowl.


We’ve additionally acquired you coated with a take a look at how all of the motion unfolded as Cincinnati earned its first AFC title since 1988:

OT

It took 21 unanswered factors and a few bonus soccer, however the Bengals are heading to the Tremendous Bowl.

Even dropping the coin toss in additional time couldn’t forestall Cincinnati from claiming its first AFC title since 1988. After an interception by Vonn Bell, Evan McPherson stayed good within the postseason to safe the win for Who Dey Nation.


This fall

Evan McPherson’s not your common rookie kicker — he’s the one who has transformed essentially the most postseason discipline objectives by a rookie kicker in NFL historical past. Along with his discipline aim within the first quarter, McPherson surpassed Stephen Gostkowski (eight in 2006) for the file.

His 52-yarder provides the Bengals a 24-21 lead within the fourth quarter.


Q3

Bengals defensive sort out B.J. Hill’s big-guy interception was the catalyst for a well-known finish zone connection: Burrow to Ja’Marr Chase. One 2-point conversion later and we out of the blue have ourselves a tie sport.

Chase now holds the file for essentially the most receiving yards by a rookie in a playoff run in NFL historical past.

Big play. The primary turnover of the sport — the second interception Mahomes has ever thrown at dwelling within the playoffs — comes courtesy of Hill.


Q2

Come for Bengals RB Samaje Perine’s 41-yard TD run and keep for Ja’Marr Chase with the lead block. Cincinnati marches 70 yards down the sector to make it a 21-10 sport earlier than the half.

Three touchdowns, three totally different receivers. Mahomes is, the truth is, in his bag. The QB completes Kansas Metropolis’s third offensive drive (yep, he’s thrown a rating on every of his crew’s drives) with a toss to Mecole Hardman, who finds the tip zone to make it a 21-3 sport.

In accordance with ESPN Stats & Data, Mahomes has by no means misplaced when taking a lead of 15 or extra factors (37-0 together with playoffs).

Whereas we’re with reference to related stats, it additionally feels price mentioning that per Elias Sports activities Bureau, the Chiefs are the primary crew to attain touchdowns on their first three drives in both a convention championship sport or a Tremendous Bowl for the reason that 1994 season (San Francisco 49ers, Tremendous Bowl XXIX).

Mahomes gonna Mahomes. It’s unclear what’s extra predictable at this level: Mahomes displaying an unparalleled means to scramble, or the QB discovering Travis Kelce in the long run zone. Both approach, the Chiefs began the second quarter with one other landing to make it a 14-3 sport.


Q1

Mahomes wasted roughly no time in getting the Chiefs on the board. The 26-year-old discovered one among his favourite targets, Tyreek Hill, in the long run zone for a 10-yard landing. The catch marks Cheetah’s fifth profession postseason TD reception.

And this one received’t be a shutout. Cincinnati will get a discipline aim from the hero of the Bengals’ divisional spherical win, supremely assured kicker Evan McPherson, with below a minute remaining within the first quarter to make it a 7-3 sport.