Butker hits a 51-yard winner for KC after penalty on Bengals safety keeps Chiefs alive

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Harrison Butker stored making a lonely stroll to midfield after every quarter Sunday to test on the route of the wind, which tends to swirl inside Arrowhead Stadium. He did it one final time through the 2-minute warning, when his Chiefs had been trailing the Bengals by two and attempting to offer him a successful field-goal try.

When Patrick Mahomes and the remainder of the offense did precisely that, helped alongside by a go interference name on Cincinnati security Daijahn Anthony on fourth down within the closing minute, Butker as soon as once more headed onto the sector as Chiefs followers started to roar.

Hardly ever does he miss. They usually didn’t count on him to this time.

With preternatural calm, Butker drilled the 51-yarder as time expired, giving Kansas Metropolis the 26-25 victory.

“I attempt to block it out,” Butker mentioned of the gang noise. “It’s exhausting to not feed off it, however I attempt to block it out. What I don’t like is while you’re trotting onto the sector and everyone seems to be clapping, and I’m like, ‘The sport’s not over but. I nonetheless must make this kick.’”

Patrick Mahomes threw for 151 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, nevertheless it was his incomplete go supposed for Rashee Rice on fourth-and-16 from the Kansas Metropolis 35 that turned out to be decisive. Anthony arrived a split-second early and moved Rice from behind together with his physique, and flags flew with 38 seconds remaining to maintain the Chiefs alive.

The penalty got here simply after Kansas Metropolis had a protracted achieve on fourth down worn out by a penalty of its personal.

The go interference name moved the Chiefs to the Cincinnati 36, and so they ran a pair extra performs to bleed the clock for the big-legged Butker, who rotated and began strolling off the sector even earlier than his kick went by way of the uprights.

“You understand, it’s a type of performs the place we’d profit from that in some unspecified time in the future this season. That’s what I advised the blokes,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor mentioned of the go interference name. “They’re calling it like they see it. I believed they referred to as a very reasonable sport, and so they noticed that as a penalty. So that they referred to as a penalty.”

Joe Burrow threw for 258 yards and two touchdowns, each to Andrei Iosivas, because the Bengals (0-2) got here up empty towards one among their greatest nemeses for the third straight time. That features a loss to Kansas Metropolis within the AFC championship sport.

Chamarri Conner returned a fumble 37 yards for a landing for the Chiefs, and massive offensive deal with Wanya Morris — who had the penalty that just about price them within the closing minute — had a landing reception on a day stuffed with weird performs.

It was the second win for Kansas Metropolis selected the ultimate play after its 27-20 victory over Baltimore on opening evening.

“That’s two nice soccer video games we’ve performed the final two weeks, groups we performed within the AFC championship sport,” Mahomes mentioned. “We’re going to wash up the errors, particularly on the offense. It begins with me. And we’ll be a greater group for it.”

The Chiefs struggled of their first sport with Ravens tight finish Isaiah Seemingly, who had 9 catches for 111 yards and a rating. And with Bengals broad receiver Tee Higgins absent with an ailing hamstring, Burrow leaned closely on his personal tight ends — Drew Pattern, Mike Gesicki and rookie Erick All Jr. — to maneuver an offense that by no means bought going final weekend towards New England.

Pattern and Gesicki accounted for many of the yardage on a gap drive that produced a subject purpose. A couple of minutes later, after Mahomes was picked by Akeem Davis-Gaither, All’s catch helped arrange Iosivas’ landing reception.

Mahomes finally atoned for the interception when he discovered Rice over the outstretched fingers of Cam Taylor-Britt for a tying 44-yard landing go. However in any other case, Andy Reid’s potent offense was caught in impartial and trailed 16-10 on the half.

All that and the hijinks had been simply starting.

The Chiefs pulled forward early within the second half, when Mahomes popped a go to his 310-pound tackle-eligible Morris for a landing. The Bengals answered on fourth-and-goal when Burrow linked with Iosivas for a second time, solely to see Burrow get stripped a couple of minutes later and Conner return the fumble 37 yards for an additional landing.

Evan McPherson’s fourth subject purpose gave the Bengals a 25-23 lead with 5:12 to go, and their protection gave them the ball again. However the Chiefs compelled a punt with 2:59 remaining, giving Mahomes and Co. the chance to determine the sport.

Unsportsmanlike conduct

Bengals broad receiver Ja’Marr Chase was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct within the fourth quarter. Chase was stopped wanting the first-down marker on second-and-11, and he gave the impression to be upset {that a} flag was not throw for a hip-drop deal with. He bought proper into the face of referee Alex Kemp, who threw the flag. It compelled a third-and-22 on the Chiefs 45, and after a completion to Gesicki bought 10 yards again, McPherson kicked the sector purpose that gave the Bengals a 25-23 lead.

“It’s fairly clear lower. It’s simply merely abusive language towards a sport official,” Kemp mentioned. “I’m not going to repeat to you what he mentioned, however there was no interpretation with the language that he used. Simply abusive language.”

Chase refused to debate the penalty within the postgame locker room, saying solely: “It doesn’t really feel nice dropping.”

“It’s OK to be emotional,” Taylor mentioned. “I can’t see every thing that’s mentioned or finished, so it’s higher that I not touch upon it.”

Accidents

Bengals: DT B.J. Hill (hamstring) left within the second quarter. DT Sheldon Rankins (hamstring) left within the fourth.

Chiefs: RB Isiah Pacheco left within the closing minute and was seen in a strolling boot with crutches leaving the stadium. Reid didn’t present any particulars apart from to say he would bear exams on Monday.

Up subsequent

Cincinnati returns residence to play Washington on Sept. 23.

Kansas Metropolis heads to Atlanta on Sunday evening.

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