NFL playoffs divisional round: Mahomes limps Chiefs to win, Bengals stun Bills
The Cincinnati Bengals caused a major upset in the 2022 NFL season playoffs by dominating the Buffalo Bills at a snowy Highmark Stadium.
The away side dictated the game from the outset, scoring touchdowns on their first two possessions, with Joe Burrow finding Ja’Marr Chase and then Hayden Hurst in the first quarter.
Buffalo hit back with Josh Allen in the second quarter, but wouldn’t score again as the Bengals defense stood firm to help Cincinnati to a 27-10 victory.
The game also saw an emotional return to Buffalo for safety Damar Hamlin, who was resuscitated on the field after suffering a cardiac arrest during the penultimate game of the regular season – also against the Bengals.
The 24-year-old was discharged from hospital after nine days and has continued his recovery, and was pictured Hamlin riding in a utility vehicle and being driven to the door of the Bills’ locker room before the game.
Despite the playoff exit, Hamlin took to Twitter to emphasise that the Bills will be back in 2023.
49ers march on, Chiefs make AFC playoff history
Elsewhere, the San Francisco 49ers edged out a tight win over the Dallas Cowboys to reach their third NFC Championship Game in the last four years.
The 19-12 win also takes the Niners’ winning streak to 12 games, with Christian McCaffrey crossing for their only touchdown score.
The Cowboys’ NFC Championship Game drought now extends to 27 years, having not played in the fixture since beating the Green Bay Packers in 1996.
Both top seeds in the NFL play-offs booked their places in the Conference Championships on Saturday, as the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Philadelphia Eagles dominated the New York Giants.
Patrick Mahomes overcame an ankle injury to earn his side a fifth straight AFC Championship appearance, with tight end Travis Kelce having another huge game for the Chiefs, catching two touchdown passes, one from Mahomes and one from his back-up Chad Henne, who impressively came in and led the team to a record touchdown drive.
The win means the Cheifs become the first team in NFL history to host five straight Conference championships.
It was a hard fought effort from the Jaguars at Arrowhead stadium, as they matched this year’s AFC top seeds for most of the contest. Trevor Lawrence hit Christian Kirk to level the game at 7-7 in the first quarter, before Travis Etienne’s fourth-quarter score made it 20-17.
Jacksonville had the league’s worst record in 2021, so will take a great deal of pride away from their playoff run this time around.
The Eagles meanwhile thrashed their opponents New York 38-7, as they answered any questions following the bye week.
Jalen Hurts starred once again by throwing touchdown passes to Dallas Goedert and DeVonta Smith, and ran one in himself to go along with rushing scores for Boston Scott and Kenneth Gainwell.
The Chiefs will host the Bengals in a repeat of last year’s AFC Championship, while the Eagles will take on the San Francisco 49ers in Philadelphia.
