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    Monday, April 29, 2024

    Bengals upset Titans on McPherson's 52-yard field goal as time expires

    Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson (2) celebrates after his 52-yard field goal on the game's final play lifted the Bengals to a 19-16 win over top-seeded Tennessee in Saturday's AFC divisonal round playoff game in Nashville. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)

    Nashville, Tenn. — The Cincinnati Bengals just keep ending postseason droughts, and their latest victory has them in their first AFC championship game in 33 years.

    Rookie Evan McPherson kicked a 52-yard field goal as time expired, lifting the fourth-seeded Bengals past the top-seeded Tennessee Titans 19-16 on Saturday to end the NFL's longest active road playoff skid.

    "He's got ice in his veins," Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow said of McPherson. "There's not much more to be said. He's just as cool as it gets."

    A week after snapping a 31-year playoff victory drought, the Bengals (12-7) finally won their first road game in the postseason after losing their first seven. They reached the 1981 and 1988 Super Bowls by winning on their home field.

    Cincinnati will play in the AFC championship game next Sunday at the winner of the Buffalo-Kansas City matchup in the other AFC divisional round game Sunday.

    The Bengals intercepted Ryan Tannehill three times, setting up two of McPherson's four field goals. Luke Wilson picked off Tannehill with 20 seconds left at the Cincinnati 47. Joe Burrow hit Pro Bowl rookie receiver Ja'Marr Chase with a 19-yard pass, then the Bengals ran twice to set up McPherson for the win.

    "That's a kicker's dream," McPherson said, "to have the game on your shoulders."

    Burrow shook off being sacked nine times as Tennessee tied an NFL mark held by four other teams for the most in the postseason. The Bengals' second-year quarterback threw for 348 yards, and Chase finished with 109 yards receiving.

    Joe Mixon ran for the Bengals' lone touchdown, a 16-yarder on their first drive of the third quarter.

    "We found a way all year," Burrow said. "Man, crazy, crazy game. That's a really, really good team. Unbelievable defensive line. They had a great plan on defense. Credit to them, we found a way at the end."

    The Titans (12-6) wrapped up their 25th season in Tennessee with their third straight loss on their own field coming in as the AFC's No. 1 seed. They haven't won at home since January 2003 in the postseason.

    Tennessee had Derrick Henry, the 2020 AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year, on the field after he missed nine games with a broken foot. He ran for a touchdown and finished with 66 yards.

    Burrow was the NFL's most sacked quarterback during the season, just ahead of Tannehill.

    The Titans sacked him on his first snap and had three in the first quarter alone. Burrow joins Donovan McNabb as the only quarterback to be sacked at least eight times in the playoffs and win. McNabb and Philadelphia won 20-17 in overtime against Green Bay.

    The Titans got the ball back with 2:43 left and plenty of time to drive for the winning field goal themselves after scoring 10 points within 90 seconds late in the third quarter, tying it up at 16.

    But Tennessee showed little awareness of the clock, running only one play before the clock stopped for the 2-minute warning. On the third play, Tannehill's pass to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine was picked off by Wilson setting up the Bengals for the winning field goal.

    McPherson converted for his 11th field goal from 50 yards or longer, the most in a season for one player.

    "He stepped up big and got us to where we need to go," Burrow said.

    TITANS SACK ATTACK

    Tennessee's five sacks in the first half were the most in a playoff game since Jan. 8, 2000, when the Titans sacked Buffalo quarterback Rob Johnson five times in the game best known for the Music City Miracle. Burrow was only the third quarterback to be sacked at least five times in the first half of a playoff game since 1991.

    Tennessee tied the NFL playoff mark previously set by Kansas City against the then-Oilers on Jan. 16, 1994, Cleveland vs. the Jets on Jan. 3, 1987; the 49ers against the Bears on Jan. 6, 1985 and Buffalo against the Chiefs on Jan. 1, 1967.

    INJURIES

    Titans LB David Long was hurt early in the third quarter, but walked off the field. He missed six games with an injured hamstring. ... Bengals Pro Bowl defensive end Trey Hendrickson, cleared from a concussion that knocked him out of last week's wild-card win, went to the sideline with 1:46 left. That cost the Bengals a timeout they didn't wind up needing.

    Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) runs intopo the end zone for a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during the second half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
    Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson (2) celebrates his 54-yard field goal against the Tennessee Titans during the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
    Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor speaks during the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Tennessee Titans, Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
    Tennessee Titans defensive end Jeffery Simmons (98) celebrates his sack of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow during the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
    Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) works against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
    Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) runs near Cincinnati Bengals nose tackle D.J. Reader (98) during the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
    Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) takes the field before the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game between the Tennessee Titans and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
    Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) pases from the pocket against the Tennessee Titans during the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
    Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) is sacked by Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Naquan Jones (90) during the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
    Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel speaks during the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)

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