Cincinnati Bengals vs. Kansas City Chiefs: 2023 Week 17 Recap

Game story

In Week 17 of the 2023 NFL season on 2023-12-31, the Kansas City Chiefs took care of business against the Cincinnati Bengals, pulling away with a 25–17 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Browning (Cincinnati Bengals) paced the passing game, with +9.43 total EPA, and -4.5% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Browning (Cincinnati Bengals) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +9.43 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-14.3% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Cincinnati Bengals changed the game: (7:47) 61-C.Ford reported in as eligible. 28-J.Mixon up the middle to KC 9 for -3 yards (50-W.Gay).

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 J. Browning · Cincinnati Bengals · Passing · +9.43 total EPA · 47 snaps · +0.20 EPA/play
2. 2 R. Rice · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +7.60 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.27 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Boyd · Cincinnati Bengals · Receiving · +3.30 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.65 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Mixon · Cincinnati Bengals · Receiving · +3.27 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.82 EPA/play
5. 5 Ju. Watson · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +1.54 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.51 EPA/play
6. 6 I. Pacheco · Kansas City Chiefs · Rushing · +1.50 total EPA · 18 snaps · +0.08 EPA/play
7. 7 P. Mahomes · Kansas City Chiefs · Passing · +1.29 total EPA · 34 snaps · +0.04 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Higgins · Cincinnati Bengals · Receiving · +1.26 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.63 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Kansas City Chiefs — I. Pacheco (P. Mahomes pass) (Q1 48:02)
• Cincinnati Bengals — J. Mixon (J. Browning pass) (Q2 41:32)
• Cincinnati Bengals — J. Browning (Q2 36:28)

Field goals

• Cincinnati Bengals — E. McPherson (Q1 51:26)
• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q2 33:49)
• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q2 30:39)
• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q3 19:34)
• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q4 14:12)
• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q4 6:22)
• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q4 3:03)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 7–3. Cincinnati Bengals connected on a field goal from the KC 16 (Q1 51:26) — (6:26) 2-E.McPherson 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-C.Adomitis, Holder-10-B.Robbins.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the CIN 8 (Q1 48:02) — (3:02) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short middle to 10-I.Pacheco for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the CIN 15 (Q1 47:58) — 7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend..

The second quarter: Cincinnati Bengals won the period 14–6. Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the KC 7 (Q2 41:32) — (11:32) (Shotgun) 6-J.Browning pass short right to 28-J.Mixon for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the KC 15 (Q2 41:29) — 2-E.McPherson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-C.Adomitis, Holder-10-B.Robbins.; Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the KC 1 (Q2 36:28) — (6:28) 6-J.Browning scrambles right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the KC 15 (Q2 36:23) — 2-E.McPherson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-C.Adomitis, Holder-10-B.Robbins.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the CIN 36 (Q2 33:49) — (3:49) 7-H.Butker 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the CIN 24 (Q2 30:39) — (:39) 7-H.Butker 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend..

The third quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 3–0. Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the CIN 9 (Q3 19:34) — (4:34) 7-H.Butker 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend..

The fourth quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 9–0. Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the CIN 6 (Q4 14:12) — (14:12) 7-H.Butker 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the CIN 30 (Q4 6:22) — (6:22) 7-H.Butker 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the CIN 28 (Q4 3:03) — (3:03) 7-H.Butker 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Cincinnati Bengals (Q3 22:47) — (7:47) 61-C.Ford reported in as eligible. 28-J.Mixon up the middle to KC 9 for -3 yards (50-W.Gay). [WPA -14.3% · EPA -4.06]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 16:30) — (1:30) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass deep right to 4-R.Rice to CIN 11 for 67 yards (23-D.Hill). [WPA +14.2% · EPA +4.26]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 22:00) — (7:00) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass deep left to 84-Ju.Watson to CIN 44 for 41 yards (27-J.Battle; 20-D.Turner). Penalty on CIN-23-D.Hill, Illegal Use of Hands, declined. [WPA +13.0% · EPA +3.69]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 21:35) — (6:35) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short right to 4-R.Rice to CIN 15 for 24 yards (27-J.Battle). [WPA +11.0% · EPA +2.06]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q3 25:02) — (10:02) (Shotgun) 6-J.Browning pass incomplete deep left to 5-T.Higgins. PENALTY on KC-2-J.Williams, Defensive Pass Interference, 30 yards, enforced at KC 45 - No Play. [WPA +10.0% · EPA +3.41]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Kansas City Chiefs (Q2 40:53) — (10:53) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes sacked at KC 20 for -8 yards (91-T.Hendrickson). FUMBLES (91-T.Hendrickson), RECOVERED by CIN-94-S.Hubbard at KC 24. [WPA -9.3% · EPA -4.58]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 16:30) — (1:30) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass deep right to 4-R.Rice to CIN 11 for 67 yards (23-D.Hill). [WPA +14.2% · EPA +4.26]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q3 22:47) — (7:47) 61-C.Ford reported in as eligible. 28-J.Mixon up the middle to KC 9 for -3 yards (50-W.Gay). [WPA -14.3% · EPA -4.06]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 22:00) — (7:00) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass deep left to 84-Ju.Watson to CIN 44 for 41 yards (27-J.Battle; 20-D.Turner). Penalty on CIN-23-D.Hill, Illegal Use of Hands, declined. [WPA +13.0% · EPA +3.69]

Quarterback report card

J.Browning led all passers in efficiency for Cincinnati Bengals, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Browning (Cincinnati Bengals) · 47 dropbacks · 40.4% completion · -4.5% CPOE · +0.20 EPA/play · +9.43 total EPA
• P.Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) · 34 dropbacks · 61.8% completion · +6.9% CPOE · +0.04 EPA/play · +1.29 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Kansas City Chiefs held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.10 vs -0.02), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Cincinnati Bengals: 10 drives, -2.00 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Kansas City Chiefs: 10 drives, +6.98 total EPA, 7 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Kansas City Chiefs leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• J. Browning (Cincinnati Bengals) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• J. Browning (CIN) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• P. Mahomes (KC) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Cincinnati Bengals FG (+3) — Q1 51:26 · KC 16 · Score 3-0
   (6:26) 2-E.McPherson 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-C.Adomitis, Holder-10-B.Robbins.
2. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q1 48:02 · CIN 8 · Score 3-6
   (3:02) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short middle to 10-I.Pacheco for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q1 47:58 · CIN 15 · Score 3-7
   7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
4. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q2 41:32 · KC 7 · Score 9-7
   (11:32) (Shotgun) 6-J.Browning pass short right to 28-J.Mixon for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q2 41:29 · KC 15 · Score 10-7
   2-E.McPherson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-C.Adomitis, Holder-10-B.Robbins.
6. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q2 36:28 · KC 1 · Score 16-7
   (6:28) 6-J.Browning scrambles right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q2 36:23 · KC 15 · Score 17-7
   2-E.McPherson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-C.Adomitis, Holder-10-B.Robbins.
8. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q2 33:49 · CIN 36 · Score 17-10
   (3:49) 7-H.Butker 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
9. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q2 30:39 · CIN 24 · Score 17-13
   (:39) 7-H.Butker 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
10. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q3 19:34 · CIN 9 · Score 17-16
    (4:34) 7-H.Butker 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
11. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q4 14:12 · CIN 6 · Score 17-19
    (14:12) 7-H.Butker 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
12. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q4 6:22 · CIN 30 · Score 17-22
    (6:22) 7-H.Butker 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
13. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q4 3:03 · CIN 28 · Score 17-25
    (3:03) 7-H.Butker 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.