Evan McPherson kicks winning FG, lifts Bengals to first Super Bowl in 33 years
The last time the Cincinnati Bengals played in the Super Bowl was Jan. 22, 1989, and only three members of their current roster were even born yet. Bengals tight end Clark Harris was four years old, punter Kevin Huber three years old and offensive tackle Riley Reiff was not even two months old yet.
Even Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor probably had few thoughts of competing for the Vince Lombardi Trophy the last time the franchise was on the big stage, as he was only five years old. Rookie Evan McPherson put the finishing touches on the Bengals' 27-24 upset win over the host Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, kicking the game-winning field goal in overtime from 31 yards out.
Cincinnati will take on the winner of the NFC Championship Game between the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVI on Feb. 13. It will be the Bengals' third Super Bowl appearance in their 52-year NFL history, having lost both previous appearances to the Niners -- first in 1982 and then in 1989.
This winter is Cincinnati's first playoff appearance in six seasons, with the Bengals having previously made the postseason in five consecutive years and seven of 11 campaigns under head coach Marvin Lewis, only to fall in the AFC wild-card round each time.
Things looked ominous for the visitors through most of the first half, as three touchdown passes from Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes helped the two-time reigning AFC champions storm out to a 21-3 lead. However, Bengals signal-caller Joe Burrow connected with running back Samaje Perine on a screen pass that went for a 41-yard touchdown reception before the break to get things to 21-10.
McPherson nailed his second field goal of the contest in the third quarter to make it a one-possession game, and after Mahomes threw his first of two interceptions on the next drive, Burrow found stud rookie wideout Ja'Marr Chase for a two-yard score. A two-point conversion knotted things at 21 going into the fourth.
Cincinnati's first-year kicker blasted through his deepest field goal of the game from 52 yards away in the last quarter of regulation, but Kansas City's Harrison Butker responded with a clutch 44-yard field goal of his own to send it to overtime. After winning the coin flip and receiving the kick off, Mahomes was intercepted on the first drive in overtime to set up McPherson's heroics.
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