Daijahn Anthony's critical pass interference penalty on a fourth-and-16 gave the Kansas City Chiefs a second chance. As is customary with Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs capitalised on it.
With no time remaining after the penalty, Harrison Butker converted the game-winning 51-yard field goal, giving the Chiefs a dramatic 26-25 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals at Arrowhead Stadium.
The key play of the game was Anthony's pass interference penalty in the last minute, which would have given the Bengals the victory even if there had been no flag raised. The game had five lead changes in the second half.
With just 151 yards, Patrick Mahomes completed 18 of 25 throws. Along with two touchdown passes (one of which was a 44-yard pass to Rashee Rice), he also threw two interceptions.
With 38 seconds remaining and the Chiefs facing a fourth-and-16 from their own 35, rookie safety Daijahn Anthony was flagged for pass interference, giving Mahomes one last opportunity with his team down two.
Andrei Iosivas scored two touchdowns from Joe Burrow, who completed 23 of 36 passes for 258 yards.
One of the most captivating rivalries in the NFL over the past four years continued with this game. Burrow has a lifetime record of 3-2 versus Mahomes.
Cincinnati's Sheldon Rankins punched the ball free from running back Carson Steele at midfield, and Germaine Pratt recovered after Evan McPherson's 33-yard field goal gave the Bengals a 13-10 lead in the second quarter. McPherson's third field goal of the game, a 48-yarder, gave the Bengals the lead.
On Kansas City's last drive before the half, Trey Hendrickson, who outran rookie left tackle Kingsley Suamataia for two sacks, ignited the defence with a sack of Mahomes.
After driving 70 yards on their first play of the second half, the Chiefs seized a 17–16 led thanks to a tackle-eligible 1-yard throw to Wanya Morris.
Burrow responded with a lengthy drive that was sealed off with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Iosivas on fourth down. The Bengals were ahead, 22–17, after the extra point was missed.
After getting burned on the 44-yard touchdown pass to Rice, Cam Taylor-Britt made amends by snagging a remarkable one-handed catch on a Mahomes pass meant for Xavier Worthy.
Burrow was tackled during a scramble on the Bengals' following play, and cornerback Chamarri Conner recovered the ball to run 38 yards for the game-winning touchdown and a 23-22 Chiefs lead.
On the following drive, Ja'Marr Chase almost cost the Bengals dearly when he was tackled hard by corner Trent McDuffie and assessed a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty.
Burrow attempted to calm him down, but not before revealing the flag. Nevertheless, with 9:28 remaining in the fourth quarter, McPherson made his fourth field goal of the day, this one from 53 yards out.
Midway through the second quarter, Bengals defensive tackle B.J. Hill suffered a left hamstring injury.
Chiefs go 2-0 and look good heading into week 3 as they take on Atlanta Falcons at the Mercedes Benz Stadium. Whereas Bengals have had a terrible start going 0-2 and they take on the Washington Commanders next week.
