Bengals Slash Titans: Headed to AFC Championship Game

Date: Wednesday January 26, 2022

Writer: Anthony Iles

What a weekend of NFL Divisional Playoffs matchups!!! All 4 games were close and the best games I have seen in a playoffs in a very long time. It all began with the Bengals at Titans with the Bengals winning 19-16 on a game winning field goal as time expired.

Bengals came out hot on defense forcing an interception on the first play. Bengals were able to get a field goal to take the lead 3-0. RB Henry returned for the Titans after missing half the season because of his foot injury. He is still not 100% healthy but was healthy enough to be able to play in this playoff game after being designated on the IR to rehab his foot after surgery. He ran 20 times for only 62 yards with 1 TD. Biggest accomplishment of the Bengals defense is they held Henry to 3.1 yards per carry. Usually Henry can get to the 6-7 yards per carry on the average by the end of a game.

Burrow was solid even after being sacked 9 times in the game. He went 28-37 for 348 yards with 1 INT which is debatable and was not his fault. Mixon ran the ball for 54 yards on 14 carries and 1 TD along with 6 catches for 54 yards. Ja’Marr Chase had 5 catches for 109 yards averaging 21.8 yards per catch; Tee Higgins had 7 catches for 96 yards; C.J. Uzomah had 7 catches for 71 yards; and Boyd 2 catches for 17 yards.

The Bengals stayed poised and the defense played solid forcing Titans QB Tannehill to throw 15/24 for 220 yards 1 TD and 3 INTs. At the end of the game it was tied 16-16 with a couple minutes left and the Titans had the ball but threw an interception around the 45 yard line and the Bengals took over. Burrow threw a sideline pass to Chase for 19 yards and then the Bengals were able to run the ball and spot it where K McPherson likes it. He kicked a 52 yard FG to win the game and send the Bengals to the AFC Championship!!!

Bengals travel to the Chiefs to play in the AFC Championship game on Sunday January 30 at 3:00 PM. The Chiefs are coming off one of the greatest games played in the playoffs in playoff history vs the Bills as it was a slugfest and then a shootout at the end. Chiefs ended up winning in OT with a game winning TD from Mahomes to Kelce.

The Bengals and Chiefs just played 2 weeks ago in a thrilling game where the Bengals won the game by 3 to earn them the AFC North Division Champs and a spot in the playoffs. The Chiefs lost and ended up losing the #1 seed for the playoffs and became the #2 seed. This is going to be a great game vs 2 teams that have high flying offenses. I put the Bengals as the better defensive team as they bend and don’t break. Bengals found holes in the Chiefs defense that they will be able to thrive on and the Chiefs can’t fix. The Bengals offensive line will play better than last week as the Titans had a top 5 defense. I predict Bengals win by 10 in this game as they will control the clock especially in the second half. Unlike the Bills the Bengals will make sure Mahomes and the offense do not get a second chance to tie or take the lead at the end of the game.

Who Dey ! Go Bengals!