Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cincinnati Bengals: 2022 Week 13 Recap

Game story

In Week 13 of the 2022 NFL season on 2022-12-04, the Cincinnati Bengals took care of business against the Kansas City Chiefs, pulling away with a 27–24 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals) paced the passing game, with +18.55 total EPA, and +10.6% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +18.55 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+16.7% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Kansas City Chiefs changed the game: (3:57) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes scrambles up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

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. Burrow · Cincinnati Bengals · Passing · +18.55 total EPA · 42 snaps · +0.44 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Chase · Cincinnati Bengals · Receiving · +7.16 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.89 EPA/play
3. 3 P. Mahomes · Kansas City Chiefs · Passing · +6.60 total EPA · 32 snaps · +0.21 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Smith-Schuster · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +5.44 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.36 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Valdes-Scantling · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +4.12 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.69 EPA/play
6. 6 S. Perine · Cincinnati Bengals · Receiving · +3.77 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.54 EPA/play
7. 7 T. Boyd · Cincinnati Bengals · Receiving · +3.74 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.75 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Higgins · Cincinnati Bengals · Receiving · +3.51 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.70 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

• Cincinnati Bengals — J. Burrow (Q1 53:54)
• Cincinnati Bengals — T. Higgins (J. Burrow pass) (Q2 43:39)
• Kansas City Chiefs — J. McKinnon (P. Mahomes pass) (Q2 32:28)
• Kansas City Chiefs — I. Pacheco (Q3 27:07)
• Kansas City Chiefs — P. Mahomes (Q3 18:57)
• Cincinnati Bengals — C. Evans (J. Burrow pass) (Q4 9:00)

Field goals

• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q1 49:00)
• Cincinnati Bengals — E. McPherson (Q3 22:20)
• Cincinnati Bengals — E. McPherson (Q4 14:52)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Cincinnati Bengals won the period 7–3. Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the KC 4 (Q1 53:54) — (8:54) (Shotgun) 9-J.Burrow up the middle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the KC 15 (Q1 53:49) — 2-E.McPherson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-C.Adomitis, Holder-4-D.Chrisman.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the CIN 8 (Q1 49:00) — (4:00) 7-H.Butker 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend..

The second quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the KC 12 (Q2 43:39); Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the KC 15 (Q2 43:33) — 2-E.McPherson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-C.Adomitis, Holder-4-D.Chrisman.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the CIN 2 (Q2 32:28) — (2:28) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short left to 1-J.McKinnon for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the CIN 15 (Q2 32:23).

The third quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 14–3. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the CIN 8 (Q3 27:07) — (12:07) (Shotgun) 10-I.Pacheco left guard for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the CIN 15 (Q3 27:03) — 7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.; Cincinnati Bengals connected on a field goal from the KC 18 (Q3 22:20) — (7:20) 2-E.McPherson 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-C.Adomitis, Holder-4-D.Chrisman.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the CIN 3 (Q3 18:57) — (3:57) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes scrambles up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the CIN 15 (Q3 18:49) — 7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend..

The fourth quarter: Cincinnati Bengals won the period 10–0. Cincinnati Bengals connected on a field goal from the KC 23 (Q4 14:52) — (14:52) 2-E.McPherson 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-C.Adomitis, Holder-4-D.Chrisman.; Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the KC 8 (Q4 9:00) — (9:00) (Shotgun) 9-J.Burrow pass short left to 25-C.Evans for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the KC 15 (Q4 8:54) — 2-E.McPherson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-C.Adomitis, Holder-4-D.Chrisman..

Turning points

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

• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 18:57) — (3:57) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes scrambles up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +16.7% · EPA +4.03]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q4 3:24) — (3:24) 7-H.Butker 55 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend. [WPA -15.1% · EPA -2.42]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 29:15) — (14:15) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass deep middle to 11-M.Valdes-Scantling to CIN 32 for 42 yards (20-E.Apple) [91-T.Hendrickson]. [WPA +13.3% · EPA +4.26]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 20:45) — (5:45) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass deep right to 11-M.Valdes-Scantling to CIN 9 for 29 yards (21-M.Hilton) [96-C.Sample]. CIN-92-B.Hill was injured during the play. [WPA +11.5% · EPA +3.26]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q2 30:51) — (:51) 11-T.Taylor right end to KC 7 for -3 yards (8-C.Dunlap). [WPA -10.4% · EPA -2.99]

Impact plays

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

• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 29:15) — (14:15) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass deep middle to 11-M.Valdes-Scantling to CIN 32 for 42 yards (20-E.Apple) [91-T.Hendrickson]. [WPA +13.3% · EPA +4.26]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 18:57) — (3:57) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes scrambles up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +16.7% · EPA +4.03]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 20:45) — (5:45) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass deep right to 11-M.Valdes-Scantling to CIN 9 for 29 yards (21-M.Hilton) [96-C.Sample]. CIN-92-B.Hill was injured during the play. [WPA +11.5% · EPA +3.26]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q2 43:39) — (13:39) (Shotgun) 9-J.Burrow pass short right to 85-T.Higgins for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on CIN-1-J.Chase, Taunting, 15 yards, enforced between downs. [WPA +8.1% · EPA +3.14]

Quarterback report card

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

• J.Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals) · 42 dropbacks · 59.5% completion · +10.6% CPOE · +0.44 EPA/play · +18.55 total EPA
• P.Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) · 32 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · +5.6% CPOE · +0.21 EPA/play · +6.60 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Kansas City Chiefs +0.18, Cincinnati Bengals +0.16) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Cincinnati Bengals: 8 drives, +13.78 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Kansas City Chiefs: 8 drives, +11.92 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Cincinnati Bengals leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• J. Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• J. Burrow (CIN) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• 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 TD (+6) — Q1 53:54 · KC 4 · Score 0-6
   (8:54) (Shotgun) 9-J.Burrow up the middle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q1 53:49 · KC 15 · Score 0-7
   2-E.McPherson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-C.Adomitis, Holder-4-D.Chrisman.
3. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q1 49:00 · CIN 8 · Score 3-7
   (4:00) 7-H.Butker 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
4. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q2 43:39 · KC 12 · Score 3-13
   (13:39) (Shotgun) 9-J.Burrow pass short right to 85-T.Higgins for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on CIN-1-J.Chase, Taunting, 15 yards, enforced between downs.
5. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q2 43:33 · KC 15 · Score 3-14
   2-E.McPherson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-C.Adomitis, Holder-4-D.Chrisman.
6. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q2 32:28 · CIN 2 · Score 9-14
   (2:28) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short left to 1-J.McKinnon for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q2 32:23 · CIN 15 · Score 10-14
   7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend. PENALTY on CIN-98-D.Reader, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, enforced between downs
8. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q3 27:07 · CIN 8 · Score 16-14
   (12:07) (Shotgun) 10-I.Pacheco left guard for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q3 27:03 · CIN 15 · Score 17-14
   7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
10. Cincinnati Bengals FG (+3) — Q3 22:20 · KC 18 · Score 17-17
    (7:20) 2-E.McPherson 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-C.Adomitis, Holder-4-D.Chrisman.
11. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q3 18:57 · CIN 3 · Score 23-17
    (3:57) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes scrambles up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q3 18:49 · CIN 15 · Score 24-17
    7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
13. Cincinnati Bengals FG (+3) — Q4 14:52 · KC 23 · Score 24-20
    (14:52) 2-E.McPherson 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-C.Adomitis, Holder-4-D.Chrisman.
14. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q4 9:00 · KC 8 · Score 24-26
    (9:00) (Shotgun) 9-J.Burrow pass short left to 25-C.Evans for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
15. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q4 8:54 · KC 15 · Score 24-27
    2-E.McPherson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-C.Adomitis, Holder-4-D.Chrisman.