KC Chiefs vs. Bengals: Depressing takeaways from a complete meltdown

The Kansas City Chiefs came into Sunday’s game as the favorites to head to their third consecutive Super Bowl. The Cincinnati Bengals were having none of it.

In what will be known as one of the single biggest postseason implosions in team history, the Chiefs lost to the visiting Bengals in overtime by a final score of 27-24 in a game in which they were up 21-10 with the ball at the one-yard line with first-and-goal to go before halftime. Even now, it still seems unbelievable.

The Bengals were on the ropes for the entire first half in a game that looked like it was going to be the rout that many predicted it would be with the Chiefs rolling on offense and doing enough on defense to keep Joe Burrow and Cincinnati at bay. Yet somehow, the entire second half was an alternate universe (don’t worry, we will get there) for Patrick Mahomes and everything we’ve come to know about this team. It was as if the same roster that defined the first seven games came back to play the second half.

In the end, the Bengals are now headed to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 1700s or so while the Chiefs missed out on a chance to really cement their dynasty. They are, of course, still going to be favored in years to come to make the Super Bowl, but this sort of complete meltdown will only bolster opponents going forward.

Let’s look at some key takeaways from the devastating loss to the Bengals.