Bengals stun Chiefs in OT to clinch long-awaited Super Bowl return

For the first time since 1989, the Cincinnati Bengals are headed to the Super Bowl.

While after playing in the Super Bowl the previous two seasons, the Kansas City Chiefs are headed home.

Rookie kicker Evan McPherson made a 31-yard field goal in overtime Sunday, capping an 18-point rally by the Bengals en route to a 27-24 upset of the host Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.

Cincinnati, which had the worst record in the NFL two seasons ago, overcame a 21-3 first-half deficit against Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City, holding the high-powered Chiefs to three points after halftime.

Joe Burrow threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns, and McPherson went 4-for-4 on field goals for the fourth-seeded Bengals, who will face either the Los Angeles Rams or San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl in Inglewood, Calif., on Feb. 13.

"We've got a special team, and we've overcome a lot of deficits this year," Bengals coach Zac Taylor said. "We always believe in all three of our phases. Everyone stepped up. We're not done yet."

Mahomes passed for 275 yards and three touchdowns, with two interceptions, for Kansas City. The second-seeded Chiefs, who got the ball first in overtime last weekend and drove for the winning touchdown against Buffalo in the divisional playoffs, again won the overtime coin toss Sunday.

However, Mahomes was intercepted on the third play on a deep ball that was broken up by Jessie Bates III and intercepted by Vonn Bell. Burrow and Joe Mixon helped move the ball deep into Kansas City territory, and McPherson made his kick with 9:22 left to stun the home crowd.

"Usually when you lose a coin flip to those guys, you're going home," Burrow said. "But our defense really stepped up and made plays in the second half."

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