CINCINNATI (AP) — Joe Burrow threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score, Samaje Perine rushed for a season-high 106 yards and the Bengals beat the Kansas City Chiefs 27-24 in their first meeting since Cincinnati prevailed in last season’s AFC championship game.
Patrick Mahomes and Chiefs missed their chance to avenge two losses to Burrow and Cincinnati last season.
The Bengals beat the Chiefs last Jan. 2 to clinch the AFC North title, then won four weeks later in overtime to advance to the Super Bowl.
On Sunday, Burrow threw a go-ahead 8-yard touchdown pass to Chris Evans with 8:54 remaining.
He got a huge assist from his defense in another riveting duel with Mahomes.
With the Chiefs leading 24-20 early in in the fourth quarter, Mahomes hooked up with Travis Kelce, who rumbled for a big gain. But while Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt and other defenders were wrestling Kelce to the ground, Pratt forced the ball free and recovered the ensuing fumble.
Burrow took it from there, completing 6 of 7 passes during a 53-yard drive that he finished with th go-ahead touchdown to Evans. The Bengals’ defense held Kansas City scoreless from there and Burrow closed out a 27-24 victory over the Chiefs.