Cincinnati Bengals vs. Kansas City Chiefs: 2021 Conf. Championship Recap

Game story

In the Conf. Championship of the 2021 NFL season on 2022-01-30, 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 Q2 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

P. Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) paced the passing game, with -2.90 total EPA, and +0.7% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +9.63 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-30.0% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Kansas City Chiefs changed the game: (:39) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes sacked at CIN 24 for -15 yards (94-S.Hubbard). FUMBLES (94-S.Hubbard) [94-S.Hubbard], recovered by KC-62-J.Thuney at CIN 26.

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 · +9.63 total EPA · 44 snaps · +0.22 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Kelce · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +7.15 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.65 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Higgins · Cincinnati Bengals · Receiving · +4.95 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.50 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Hardman · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +3.71 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.93 EPA/play
5. 5 S. Perine · Cincinnati Bengals · Receiving · +2.06 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.52 EPA/play
6. 6 J. McKinnon · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +2.05 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.51 EPA/play
7. 7 M. Hardman · Kansas City Chiefs · Rushing · +1.61 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.80 EPA/play
8. 8 J. McKinnon · Kansas City Chiefs · Rushing · +1.27 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.11 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 — T. Hill (P. Mahomes pass) (Q1 52:25)
• Kansas City Chiefs — T. Kelce (P. Mahomes pass) (Q2 42:23)
• Kansas City Chiefs — M. Hardman (P. Mahomes pass) (Q2 35:09)
• Cincinnati Bengals — S. Perine (J. Burrow pass) (Q2 31:15)
• Cincinnati Bengals — J. Chase (J. Burrow pass) (Q3 15:18)

Field goals

• Cincinnati Bengals — E. McPherson (Q1 45:40)
• Cincinnati Bengals — E. McPherson (Q3 18:02)
• Cincinnati Bengals — E. McPherson (Q4 6:07)
• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q4 0:03)
• Cincinnati Bengals — E. McPherson (OT 9:26)

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. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the CIN 10 (Q1 52:25) — (7:25) 15-P.Mahomes pass short right to 10-T.Hill for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the CIN 15 (Q1 52:17) — 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 14 (Q1 45:40) — (:40) 2-E.McPherson 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber..

The second quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 14–7. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the CIN 5 (Q2 42:23) — (12:23) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short right to 87-T.Kelce for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the CIN 15 (Q2 42:14) — 7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the CIN 3 (Q2 35:09) — (5:09) 15-P.Mahomes pass short right to 17-M.Hardman for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the CIN 15 (Q2 35:04) — 7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.; Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the KC 41 (Q2 31:15) — (1:15) (Shotgun) 9-J.Burrow pass short right to 34-S.Perine for 41 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the KC 15 (Q2 31:05) — 2-E.McPherson extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber..

The third quarter: Cincinnati Bengals won the period 11–0. Cincinnati Bengals connected on a field goal from the KC 13 (Q3 18:02) — (3:02) 2-E.McPherson 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.; Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the KC 2 (Q3 15:18) — (:18) (Shotgun) 9-J.Burrow pass short left to 1-J.Chase for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals registered a safety from the KC 2 (Q3 15:14) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 9-J.Burrow pass to 11-T.Taylor is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. Cincinnati Bengals connected on a field goal from the KC 34 (Q4 6:07) — (6:07) 2-E.McPherson 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the CIN 26 (Q4 0:03) — (:03) 7-H.Butker 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend..

Overtime: Cincinnati Bengals won the period 3–0. Cincinnati Bengals connected on a field goal from the KC 13 (OT 9:26) — (9:26) 2-E.McPherson 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber..

Turning points

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

• Kansas City Chiefs (Q4 0:39) — (:39) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes sacked at CIN 24 for -15 yards (94-S.Hubbard). FUMBLES (94-S.Hubbard) [94-S.Hubbard], recovered by KC-62-J.Thuney at CIN 26. [WPA -30.0% · EPA -0.51]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q4 0:03) — (:03) 7-H.Butker 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend. [WPA +16.4% · EPA +0.65]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q4 3:29) — (3:29) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short right to 87-T.Kelce to CIN 38 for 18 yards (55-L.Wilson; 30-J.Bates III). [WPA +14.0% · EPA +1.37]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 17:23) — (2:23) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short left intended for 11-D.Robinson INTERCEPTED by 92-B.Hill at KC 30. 92-B.Hill to KC 27 for 3 yards (15-P.Mahomes). [WPA -13.1% · EPA -5.89]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q4 6:07) — (6:07) 2-E.McPherson 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber. [WPA +12.7% · EPA +1.86]

Impact plays

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

• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 17:23) — (2:23) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short left intended for 11-D.Robinson INTERCEPTED by 92-B.Hill at KC 30. 92-B.Hill to KC 27 for 3 yards (15-P.Mahomes). [WPA -13.1% · EPA -5.89]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q2 31:15) — (1:15) (Shotgun) 9-J.Burrow pass short right to 34-S.Perine for 41 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +1.9% · EPA +4.80]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q4 14:01) — (14:01) 9-J.Burrow pass deep left intended for 1-J.Chase INTERCEPTED by 38-L.Sneed at KC 47. 38-L.Sneed to KC 47 for no gain (1-J.Chase). [WPA -9.9% · EPA -4.01]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q2 30:05) — (:05) 15-P.Mahomes pass short left to 10-T.Hill to CIN 1 for no gain (20-E.Apple). [WPA -6.7% · EPA -3.90]

Quarterback report card

P.Mahomes led all passers in efficiency for Kansas City Chiefs, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• P.Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) · 48 dropbacks · 54.2% completion · +0.7% CPOE · -0.06 EPA/play · -2.90 total EPA
• J.Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals) · 44 dropbacks · 52.3% completion · -1.8% CPOE · +0.22 EPA/play · +9.63 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Cincinnati Bengals generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.10 vs +0.02), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Cincinnati Bengals: 10 drives, +8.21 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• Kansas City Chiefs: 12 drives, +1.41 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.

Every scoring play

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

1. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q1 52:25 · CIN 10 · Score 0-6
   (7:25) 15-P.Mahomes pass short right to 10-T.Hill for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q1 52:17 · CIN 15 · Score 0-7
   7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
3. Cincinnati Bengals FG (+3) — Q1 45:40 · KC 14 · Score 3-7
   (:40) 2-E.McPherson 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.
4. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q2 42:23 · CIN 5 · Score 3-13
   (12:23) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short right to 87-T.Kelce for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q2 42:14 · CIN 15 · Score 3-14
   7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
6. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q2 35:09 · CIN 3 · Score 3-20
   (5:09) 15-P.Mahomes pass short right to 17-M.Hardman for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q2 35:04 · CIN 15 · Score 3-21
   7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
8. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q2 31:15 · KC 41 · Score 9-21
   (1:15) (Shotgun) 9-J.Burrow pass short right to 34-S.Perine for 41 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q2 31:05 · KC 15 · Score 10-21
   2-E.McPherson extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.
10. Cincinnati Bengals FG (+3) — Q3 18:02 · KC 13 · Score 13-21
    (3:02) 2-E.McPherson 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.
11. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q3 15:18 · KC 2 · Score 19-21
    (:18) (Shotgun) 9-J.Burrow pass short left to 1-J.Chase for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Cincinnati Bengals Safety (+2) — Q3 15:14 · KC 2 · Score 21-21
    TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 9-J.Burrow pass to 11-T.Taylor is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
13. Cincinnati Bengals FG (+3) — Q4 6:07 · KC 34 · Score 24-21
    (6:07) 2-E.McPherson 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.
14. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q4 0:03 · CIN 26 · Score 24-24
    (:03) 7-H.Butker 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
15. Cincinnati Bengals FG (+3) — OT 9:26 · KC 13 · Score 27-24
    (9:26) 2-E.McPherson 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.