The Cincinnati Bengals simply preserve ending postseason droughts, and their newest victory has them of their first AFC championship recreation in 33 years.
Rookie Evan McPherson kicked a 52-yard subject objective as time expired, lifting the fourth-seeded Bengals previous the top-seeded Tennessee Titans 19-16 on Saturday to finish the NFL’s longest lively street playoff skid.
“He’s received ice in his veins,” Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow mentioned of McPherson. “There’s not rather more to be mentioned. He’s simply as cool because it will get.”
Per week after snapping a 31-year playoff victory drought, the Bengals (12-7) lastly gained their first street recreation within the postseason after dropping their first seven. They reached the 1981 and 1988 Tremendous Bowls by profitable on their residence subject.
The Bengals will play within the AFC championship recreation Jan. 30 on the winner of the Buffalo Payments-Kansas Metropolis Chiefs matchup Sunday within the different AFC divisional-round recreation.
The Bengals intercepted Ryan Tannehill 3 times, organising two of McPherson’s 4 subject objectives. Logan Wilson picked off Tannehill with 20 seconds left on the Bengals 47. Joe Burrow hit Professional Bowl rookie receiver Ja’Marr Chase with a 19-yard go, then the Bengals ran twice to arrange McPherson for the win.
“That’s a kicker’s dream,” McPherson mentioned, “to have the sport in your shoulders.”
Burrow shook off being sacked 9 instances because the Titans tied an NFL document held by 4 different groups for essentially the most within the postseason. The Bengals’ second-year quarterback threw for 348 yards, and Chase completed with 109 yards receiving.
Joe Mixon ran for the Bengals’ lone landing, a 16-yarder on their first drive of the third quarter.
“We discovered a manner all yr,” Burrow mentioned. “Man, loopy, loopy recreation. That’s a very, actually good crew. Unbelievable defensive position. They'd an amazing plan on protection. Credit score to them, we discovered a manner on the finish.”
The Titans (12-6) wrapped up their twenty fifth season in Tennessee with their third straight loss on their very own subject because the AFC’s No. 1 seed. They haven’t gained at residence within the postseason since January 2003.
“I don’t suppose Ryan or myself or anyone did sufficient to win the sport,” Titans coach Mike Vrabel mentioned. “That’s the way it goes. It’s by no means going to be about one individual, not so long as I’m head coach, which can be some time.”
The Titans had Derrick Henry, the 2020 AP NFL Offensive Participant of the 12 months, on the sphere after he missed 9 video games with a damaged foot. He ran for a landing and completed with 66 yards.
Tannehill was picked off on the Titans’ first play. His second got here on first-and-goal on the Bengals 9 within the third. He completed with 220 yards passing. A.J. Brown had 5 catches for 142 yards.
Burrow was the NFL’s most sacked quarterback through the season, simply forward of Tannehill.
The Titans sacked Burrow on his first snap and had three within the first quarter. Burrow joined Donovan McNabb as the one quarterback to be sacked a minimum of eight instances within the playoffs and win. McNabb and the Philadelphia Eagles gained 20-17 in extra time in opposition to the Inexperienced Bay Packers.
The Titans had loads of alternatives to win.
Henry was stopped on fourth-and-1 on the Bengals 37 as a substitute of the Titans making an attempt an extended subject objective for the lead with 7:16 left. Additionally they received the ball again with 2:43 left and loads of time to drive for the profitable subject objective after scoring 10 factors inside 90 seconds late within the third quarter, tying it at 16.
However the Titans confirmed little consciousness of the clock, working just one play earlier than the clock stopped for the two-minute warning. On the third play, Wilson picked off Tannehill’s go supposed for Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, organising the Bengals for the profitable subject objective.
“All day we had been simply taking pictures ourselves within the foot,” Brown mentioned of the Titans.
McPherson transformed for his eleventh subject objective from 50 yards or longer, essentially the most in a season for one participant.
“He stepped up huge and received us to the place we have to go,” Burrow mentioned.
The Titans’ 5 sacks within the first half had been essentially the most in a playoff recreation since Jan. 8, 2000, after they sacked Payments quarterback Rob Johnson 5 instances within the recreation finest identified for the Music Metropolis Miracle. Burrow was solely the third quarterback to be sacked a minimum of 5 instances within the first half of a playoff recreation since 1991.