Harrison Butker split the uprights from 51 yards as time expired at Arrowhead Stadium on September 15, 2024. Kansas City escaped with a 26-25 victory in another instant classic between these AFC powers. Joe Burrow completed 23 of 36 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns with zero interceptions. Mike Gesicki hauled in seven catches for 91 yards to lead all receivers. Patrick Mahomes threw for just 151 yards with two touchdowns and two picks, but the Chiefs defense delivered game-changing plays when Cincinnati threatened to pull away.
Table of Contents
Quarterback and Running Back Statistics
Burrow outplayed Mahomes statistically, yet Kansas City found a way to win.
| Category | Joe Burrow (CIN) | Patrick Mahomes (KC) |
|---|---|---|
| Comp/Att | 23/36 (63.9%) | 18/25 (72.0%) |
| Yards | 258 | 151 |
| TD | 2 | 2 |
| INT | 0 | 2 |
| Sacks | 3-12 | 2-14 |
| QBR | 67.9 | 27.4 |
| Rating | 103.7 | 80.6 |
| Yards/Attempt | 7.2 | 6.0 |
The Chiefs forced three sacks on critical downs, including the strip sack that Chamarri Conner returned 38 yards for a touchdown. Mahomes threw two interceptions but Kansas City’s defense made the plays that mattered most.
Rushing Performance
| Player | Team | Carries | Yards | Avg | Long | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isiah Pacheco | KC | 19 | 90 | 4.7 | 11 | 0 |
| Zack Moss | CIN | 12 | 34 | 2.8 | 8 | 0 |
| Chase Brown | CIN | 4 | 31 | 7.8 | 12 | 0 |
| Patrick Mahomes | KC | 4 | 29 | 7.3 | 9 | 0 |
| Carson Steele | KC | 7 | 24 | 3.4 | 9 | 0 |
Kansas City pounded out 149 rushing yards compared to Cincinnati’s 74. That ground game provided control of possession and kept Burrow on the sideline during crucial stretches. Pacheco posted his 10th game with 75 or more scrimmage yards in his last 11 contests, ending with 111 total yards before leaving with an ankle injury late.
The Bengals couldn’t establish any consistent ground attack. Burrow faced obvious passing situations where the Chiefs could pin their ears back. Complete game data and play-by-play information shows how Kansas City controlled tempo throughout.
Pass Catching Performance
Cincinnati’s tight ends took over after Kansas City bracketed Chase and limited the outside receivers. That’s not a sustainable gameplan, but it nearly worked.
| Player | Team | Pos | Rec | Yards | Avg | Long | TD | Tgts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Gesicki | CIN | TE | 7 | 91 | 13.0 | 37 | 0 | 9 |
| Rashee Rice | KC | WR | 5 | 75 | 15.0 | 44 | 1 | 6 |
| Jermaine Burton | CIN | WR | 1 | 47 | 47.0 | 47 | 0 | 2 |
| Ja’Marr Chase | CIN | WR | 4 | 35 | 8.8 | 13 | 0 | 5 |
| Erick All Jr. | CIN | TE | 4 | 32 | 8.0 | 19 | 0 | 4 |
| Drew Sample | CIN | TE | 3 | 28 | 9.3 | 12 | 0 | 3 |
| Justin Watson | KC | WR | 2 | 22 | 11.0 | 16 | 0 | 2 |
| Isiah Pacheco | KC | RB | 5 | 21 | 4.2 | 13 | 0 | 5 |
| Xavier Worthy | KC | WR | 2 | 17 | 8.5 | 12 | 0 | 4 |
| Zack Moss | CIN | RB | 1 | 13 | 13.0 | 13 | 0 | 1 |
| Andrei Iosivas | CIN | WR | 2 | 7 | 3.5 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| Travis Kelce | KC | TE | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| Wanya Morris | KC | OT | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Gesicki’s seven catches for 91 yards were his best performance since gaining 115 yards back in October 2021 with Miami. Cincinnati’s tight end trio combined for 151 of Burrow’s 258 passing yards, accounting for 58.5% of his total production. Burrow found reliable underneath options when Kansas City took away deeper routes.
Rice’s strong sophomore season continued with another productive game. His 44-yard touchdown connection with Mahomes in the second quarter sparked Kansas City’s momentum after falling behind early. Morris, the 6-foot-6, 307-pound offensive tackle, caught a trick play touchdown after posing as a blocker before leaking into the end zone. The score put Kansas City ahead 17-16 early in the third quarter.
Burton’s 47-yard reception on the first play of the second half displayed Cincinnati’s explosive potential. The rookie receiver torched Jaylen Watson down the left sideline for his first NFL catch, immediately putting the Bengals in scoring position.
Defensive Statistics
The game came down to which defense could create turnovers in critical moments. Both teams forced mistakes that shifted momentum in the fourth quarter.
Tackle Leaders and Pass Rush
| Player | Team | Pos | Tackles | Solo | Sacks | TFL | PD | QB Hits | INT | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germaine Pratt | CIN | LB | 16 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Logan Wilson | CIN | LB | 12 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vonn Bell | CIN | S | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nick Bolton | KC | LB | 7 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Drue Tranquill | KC | LB | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Justin Reid | KC | S | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Secondary and Turnover Creators
| Player | Team | Pos | Tackles | Solo | Sacks | TFL | PD | QB Hits | INT | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geno Stone | CIN | S | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chamarri Conner | KC | S | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Leo Chenal | KC | LB | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Trey Hendrickson | CIN | DE | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Akeem Davis-Gaither | CIN | LB | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| George Karlaftis | KC | DE | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Cam Taylor-Britt | CIN | CB | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Pratt’s 16 tackles established a career high, surpassing his previous best of 15 from December 2021. His fumble recovery in the second quarter set up a field goal that extended Cincinnati’s lead. Wilson recorded 12 stops, the first Bengals player since Vincent Rey in 2017 to register double-digit tackles in consecutive games opening a season.
Hendrickson dominated rookie left tackle Kingsley Suamataia all afternoon. He racked up two sacks, six total pressures, and three quarterback hits. His 33.3% pass rush win rate terrorized Suamataia on nearly every dropback. Kansas City eventually benched Suamataia late in the fourth quarter after the rookie struggled repeatedly against a pass rusher coming off a 17.5-sack season.
Conner turned the game with two critical plays. His 38-yard fumble return touchdown put Kansas City ahead 23-22 with 14:40 remaining. He came through with a crucial third-down sack of Burrow that forced a punt with 2:35 left, giving Mahomes the ball back for the game-winning drive.
Taylor-Britt hauled in a spectacular one-handed interception on the final play of the third quarter, plucking an underthrown Mahomes pass intended for Worthy. The pick put Cincinnati in excellent field position, though Burrow fumbled it back three plays later on the return Conner took for six points.
Chris Jones wreaked havoc without recording traditional stats, generating seven pressures, three quarterback hits, and consistent interior disruption. Karlaftis contributed four pressures, two quarterback hits, and a sack as Kansas City pressured Burrow on 32% of his dropbacks.
Special Teams and Kicking
Field goal accuracy decided this one-point battle.
| Kicker | Team | FG Made/Att | Long | XP Made/Att | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evan McPherson | CIN | 4/4 | 53 | 1/2 | 13 |
| Harrison Butker | KC | 2/2 | 51 | 2/2 | 8 |
McPherson tied his career high with four field goals from 22, 33, 48, and 53 yards. His 53-yarder with 9:28 remaining gave Cincinnati a 25-23 lead and extended his team record to 23 career field goals from 50 or more yards. His missed extra point in the third quarter kept the Chiefs within striking distance.
Butker’s game-winner was the fourth time in his career he made a field goal to win as time expired. The veteran checked wind conditions at midfield between every quarter, and his preparation paid off. This was his 29th career field goal from 50 or more yards.
Critical Game-Changing Plays
The pass interference call on Daijahn Anthony with 38 seconds left changed everything. Facing fourth-and-16 from their own 35, Mahomes threw deep for Rice. Anthony arrived early and made contact, drawing flags that gave Kansas City a first down at the Cincinnati 36.
“They’re calling it like they see it. I thought they called a very fair game,” Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said after the loss. “It’s one of those plays where we might benefit from that at some point this season.”
Ja’Marr Chase’s unsportsmanlike conduct penalty shifted momentum at a crucial point. Stopped short on second-and-11, Chase confronted referee Alex Kemp about a perceived missed hip-drop tackle call. Kemp immediately threw a flag for abusive language. The 15-yard penalty created third-and-22, forcing Cincinnati to settle for a field goal instead of potentially scoring a touchdown.
These teams have made a habit of close finishes. Since January 2022, all six meetings between these franchises have featured fourth-quarter lead changes, with five decided by field goals on the final play. This game followed the same script with three lead changes in the final quarter alone.
Coverage Matchups and Line Play
Trent McDuffie stuck to Ja’Marr Chase like a shadow all afternoon. The cornerback shadowed Chase on 17 of his 38 routes (45%), including four in press coverage. McDuffie allowed just one reception for four yards on two targets when matched directly against Cincinnati’s star. Other teams studied this defensive blueprint closely afterward.
Chase finished with four catches for 35 yards on five targets, well below typical production. Kansas City mixed coverages, playing soft zones on early downs and pressing Chase in obvious passing situations. The strategy limited explosive plays and forced Burrow to check down underneath.
Hendrickson’s dominance over Suamataia created consistent pressure that disrupted Kansas City’s timing. The rookie left tackle allowed multiple pressures and committed two holding penalties before his benching. Head coach Andy Reid acknowledged the learning curve.
“Kingsley was going against, arguably, one of the best defensive ends in the league,” Reid said. “Sometimes, you’ve got to take a step back to take a step forward.”
Cincinnati’s offensive line held up better overall, allowing three sacks. Orlando Brown Jr. got called for a costly holding penalty that pushed the Bengals back on a late drive, but the unit generally gave Burrow time to work.
Team Statistical Comparison
The overall numbers demonstrate how evenly matched these teams competed.
| Category | Bengals | Chiefs |
|---|---|---|
| First Downs | 18 | 19 |
| Total Yards | 320 | 286 |
| Yards Per Play | 5.2 | 4.8 |
| Passing Yards | 246 | 137 |
| Rushing Yards | 74 | 149 |
| Third Down | 4-13 (30.8%) | 1-8 (12.5%) |
| Fourth Down | 2-2 (100%) | 2-2 (100%) |
| Red Zone | 2-4 (50%) | 1-2 (50%) |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Penalties | 8-79 | 4-44 |
| Possession | 31:29 | 28:31 |
Cincinnati controlled possession for nearly three extra minutes and gained 34 more yards. None of it mattered.
The efficiency numbers explain why. The Bengals’ 30.8% third-down conversion rate kept drives stalling, while red zone struggles left points on the board. Kansas City converted just one of eight third downs but maximized scoring chances when they got them.
Three turnovers should sink a team. Kansas City made them count. Despite Mahomes throwing two picks and fumbling once, the Chiefs defense created the game’s most impactful turnover when Conner returned Burrow’s fumble for six points. Cincinnati’s two interceptions led to just seven total points.
Season Context and Analysis
This loss dropped Cincinnati to 0-2 for the third consecutive season. Historically, fewer than 15% of teams starting 0-2 make the playoffs. The Bengals rallied from 0-2 in 2022 to reach the AFC Championship Game, winning 10 straight before losing to Kansas City.
Kansas City improved to 2-0 and extended their streak of holding opponents under 28 points to 23 straight games including playoffs. That tied the longest such streak for any team since 2009.
Despite throwing two interceptions, Mahomes led Kansas City to victory when Butker’s field goal won it. The depth around him proved critical, with Conner’s fumble return touchdown offsetting the quarterback’s struggles. That defensive score turned a potential Cincinnati runaway into a one-point game.
“That’s two great football games we’ve played the last two weeks, teams we played in the AFC championship game,” Mahomes said. “We’re going to clean up the mistakes, especially on the offense. It starts with me. And we’ll be a better team for it.”
The defensive performances suggested these units would keep their offenses competitive throughout the season. Cincinnati’s pass rush looked dangerous, fueled by Hendrickson’s dominance, while Kansas City’s secondary continued elite play with McDuffie shutting down opposing top receivers.
Kansas City’s ability to win despite Mahomes’ worst statistical game as a starter showed championship mettle. The defending Super Bowl champions overcame three turnovers, poor third-down efficiency, and costly penalties because their defense made critical stops and their kicker delivered under pressure.
Cincinnati faces questions about closing games. Both losses came by a combined three points, showing they can compete with elite teams but haven’t found ways to finish. Special teams miscues like McPherson’s missed extra point and untimely penalties cost them dearly.
The offensive line concerns for Kansas City need addressing. If Suamataia continues struggling, the Chiefs may turn to Morris as the starter or make other adjustments. Protecting Mahomes remains critical to their championship pursuit.
Cincinnati’s tight end usage offers a successful approach. With 151 yards from that position group, the Bengals found soft spots in Kansas City’s coverage. Expanding Gesicki’s role and getting All involved provides Burrow with reliable safety valves when Chase draws extra attention.
One play separated two evenly matched rosters. Execution matters more than yardage, and Kansas City executed when it counted most.
