Cincinnati Bengals vs. Kansas City Chiefs: 2022 Conf. Championship Recap

Game story

In the Conf. Championship of the 2022 NFL season on 2023-01-29, the Kansas City Chiefs took care of business against the Cincinnati Bengals, pulling away with a 23–20 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 22 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals) paced the passing game, with -1.66 total EPA, and +8.1% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, P. Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +10.00 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+18.8% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Cincinnati Bengals changed the game: (1:03) (Shotgun) 9-J.Burrow pass deep right to 88-H.Hurst pushed ob at CIN 33 for 23 yards (23-J.Williams) [8-C.Dunlap].

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 P. Mahomes · Kansas City Chiefs · Passing · +10.00 total EPA · 51 snaps · +0.20 EPA/play
2. 2 M. Valdes-Scantling · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +8.24 total EPA · 8 snaps · +1.03 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Kelce · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +7.66 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.96 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Chase · Cincinnati Bengals · Receiving · +6.18 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.77 EPA/play
5. 5 T. Boyd · Cincinnati Bengals · Receiving · +4.52 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.26 EPA/play
6. 6 I. Pacheco · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +3.63 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.61 EPA/play
7. 7 J. Burrow · Cincinnati Bengals · Rushing · +2.10 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.10 EPA/play
8. 8 S. Perine · Cincinnati Bengals · Rushing · +1.42 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.28 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. Kelce (P. Mahomes pass) (Q2 33:59)
• Cincinnati Bengals — T. Higgins (J. Burrow pass) (Q3 24:59)
• Kansas City Chiefs — M. Valdes-Scantling (P. Mahomes pass) (Q3 19:21)
• Cincinnati Bengals — S. Perine (Q4 13:35)

Field goals

• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q1 53:54)
• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q2 45:00)
• Cincinnati Bengals — E. McPherson (Q2 38:40)
• Cincinnati Bengals — E. McPherson (Q2 30:04)
• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q4 0:08)

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 3–0. Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the CIN 25 (Q1 53:54) — (8:54) 7-H.Butker 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend..

The second quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 16–6. Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the CIN 6 (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) 7-H.Butker 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.; Cincinnati Bengals connected on a field goal from the KC 12 (Q2 38:40) — (8:40) 2-E.McPherson 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-C.Adomitis, Holder-4-D.Chrisman.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the CIN 14 (Q2 33:59) — (3:59) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short right to 87-T.Kelce for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the CIN 15 (Q2 33:53) — 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 5 (Q2 30:04) — (:04) 2-E.McPherson 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-C.Adomitis, Holder-4-D.Chrisman..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the KC 27 (Q3 24:59) — (9:59) (Shotgun) 9-J.Burrow pass deep right to 85-T.Higgins for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the KC 15 (Q3 24:54) — 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 19 (Q3 19:21) — (4:21) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass deep middle to 11-M.Valdes-Scantling for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the CIN 15 (Q3 19:15) — 7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend..

The fourth quarter: Cincinnati Bengals won the period 7–3. Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the KC 2 (Q4 13:35) — (13:35) (Shotgun) 34-S.Perine up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the KC 15 (Q4 13:30) — 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 27 (Q4 0:08) — (:08) 7-H.Butker 45 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 (Q4 1:03) — (1:03) (Shotgun) 9-J.Burrow pass deep right to 88-H.Hurst pushed ob at CIN 33 for 23 yards (23-J.Williams) [8-C.Dunlap]. [WPA +18.8% · EPA +1.18]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 9-J.Burrow pass deep left to 1-J.Chase to KC 6 for 35 yards (6-B.Cook). [WPA +17.8% · EPA +5.38]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q4 0:17) — (:17) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes scrambles right end ran ob at CIN 42 for 5 yards (58-J.Ossai). PENALTY on CIN-58-J.Ossai, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, enforced at CIN 42. [WPA +16.1% · EPA +1.50]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 19:21) — (4:21) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass deep middle to 11-M.Valdes-Scantling for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +15.4% · EPA +3.35]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q4 1:27) — (1:27) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-J.Burrow pass incomplete short middle [95-C.Jones]. PENALTY on CIN-9-J.Burrow, Intentional Grounding, 9 yards, enforced at CIN 19. [WPA -13.6% · EPA -0.72]

Impact plays

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

• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 16:00) — (1:00) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes sacked at KC 49 for -5 yards. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by CIN-94-S.Hubbard at KC 45. [WPA -10.9% · EPA -5.97]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 9-J.Burrow pass deep left to 1-J.Chase to KC 6 for 35 yards (6-B.Cook). [WPA +17.8% · EPA +5.38]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q3 24:59) — (9:59) (Shotgun) 9-J.Burrow pass deep right to 85-T.Higgins for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +12.9% · EPA +3.90]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q2 33:59) — (3:59) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short right to 87-T.Kelce for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +5.7% · EPA +3.66]

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) · 52 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · +8.1% CPOE · -0.03 EPA/play · -1.66 total EPA
• P.Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) · 51 dropbacks · 56.9% completion · +2.3% CPOE · +0.20 EPA/play · +10.00 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 (Cincinnati Bengals -0.00, Kansas City Chiefs +0.04) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Cincinnati Bengals: 11 drives, -0.26 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Kansas City Chiefs: 10 drives, +3.10 total EPA, 5 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• P. Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) 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.

Every scoring play

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

1. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q1 53:54 · CIN 25 · Score 0-3
   (8:54) 7-H.Butker 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
2. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q2 45:00 · CIN 6 · Score 0-6
   (15:00) 7-H.Butker 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
3. Cincinnati Bengals FG (+3) — Q2 38:40 · KC 12 · Score 3-6
   (8:40) 2-E.McPherson 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-C.Adomitis, Holder-4-D.Chrisman.
4. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q2 33:59 · CIN 14 · Score 3-12
   (3:59) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short right to 87-T.Kelce for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+7) — Q2 33:53 · CIN 15 · Score 3-13
   7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
6. Cincinnati Bengals FG (+3) — Q2 30:04 · KC 5 · Score 6-13
   (:04) 2-E.McPherson 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-C.Adomitis, Holder-4-D.Chrisman.
7. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q3 24:59 · KC 27 · Score 12-13
   (9:59) (Shotgun) 9-J.Burrow pass deep right to 85-T.Higgins for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q3 24:54 · KC 15 · Score 13-13
   2-E.McPherson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-C.Adomitis, Holder-4-D.Chrisman.
9. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q3 19:21 · CIN 19 · Score 13-19
   (4:21) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass deep middle to 11-M.Valdes-Scantling for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q3 19:15 · CIN 15 · Score 13-20
    7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
11. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q4 13:35 · KC 2 · Score 19-20
    (13:35) (Shotgun) 34-S.Perine up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q4 13:30 · KC 15 · Score 20-20
    2-E.McPherson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-C.Adomitis, Holder-4-D.Chrisman.
13. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q4 0:08 · CIN 27 · Score 20-23
    (:08) 7-H.Butker 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.