Analysis: What stood out most in the Cincinnati Bengals' win over the Kansas City Chiefs

The Cincinnati Bengals knocked off the two-time reigning AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs to win the AFC North in front of 64,505 fans at Paul Brown Stadium on Sunday.

In the 34-31 win, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and rookie wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase stole the show. Chase set a new franchise record for most receiving yards in a game with 266 on 11 catches. Burrow finished the day completing 30-of-39 passes for 446 yards and four touchdowns.

Although Cincinnati’s offensive performance will steal most of the headlines over the new few days – and rightfully so – the Bengals’ defense kept All-Pro quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the potent Chiefs’ offense to three points in the second half. The Bengals trailed the Chiefs 28-17 at halftime.

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'It means more because I'm from Ohio': Joe Burrow said as Bengals win AFC North title

Given the roster makeup when he took over as head coach of the Bengals in 2019 and winning just six games in his first two seasons, it was hard for head coach Zac Taylor to put into words what winning the AFC North and clinching a postseason berth means. Taylor’s response when asked why he opted to go for it twice on fourth down in the final seconds of the game instead of kick a field goal when the game was tied 31-31 shows just how much confidence he has in his young team.

"You have to go take this division," Taylor said. "It’s not just kick the field goal then let Patrick Mahomes do something and I’ve got a ton of faith in our defense to come up there but the things worth having, you have to go get them and not wait for someone to give them to you and that’s what I thought our guys did today."

Here’s what we learned from the Bengals’ Week 17 win:

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When asked if Burrow believes he’s playing the best he’s ever played in his career, Cincinnati’s 25-year-old star quarterback didn’t mince his words. Nor should he. Burrow has thrown for 971 yards and eight touchdowns in two weeks. As the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, expectations were incredibly high of Burrow and not only has he lived up to them, he’s getting better every single week.

"Yeah, I do," Burrow responded when asked if this is best he’s ever played. “I think I'm seeing the field really well.”

Burrow carries an incredible amount of confidence for a player just in his second year and he more than backs it up. He thrives in opportunities to showcase his talents when doubted. Not only is Burrow setting new franchise records it seems like only a weekly basis for the Bengals, he’s lifting his team to new heights. Burrow, a native of A, says being from Ohio is making this journey all that much sweeter.

"I know the history of the Bengals," Burrow said. "I know the ownership that we have has taken a lot of heat, but they do a great job and have done a great job building this team. A lot of credit to the Brown family for doing that. Like I said, they did a great job hiring Zac. Couldn't have asked for a better situation from ownership all the way down."

Burrow had thrown for 4,165 yards on 336 completions and 30 touchdowns this season prior to the Week 17 win over the Chiefs. And as far as Burrow’s right knee injury goes, he said following the game it’s “nothing serious.”

Ja’Marr Chase shattering franchise records for the Bengals

There is something to be said for chemistry that can’t be forced. Look no further than to Chase and Burrow to understand why. When the Bengals opted to draft Burrow’s former LSU teammate, Chase, over tackle Penei Sewell with the No. 5 overall pick in the 20201 NFL Draft, many pundits doubted the decision.

Let’s just say there’s no longer any question about what the Bengals should have done.

Chase and Burrow’s connection with one another has been on display since Week 1. The rookie standout is well on his way to earning the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award and is becoming a force to be reckoned in his first year.

The Chiefs had no answer, like many other teams this season, for Chase. With his 11 catches for 266 yards and three touchdowns, Chase is now the Bengals’ single-game franchise leader in receiving yards. Chad Johnson previously held the record with 11 catches for 260 yards in 2006. Chase is now close to eclipsing 1,500receiving yards in his first season in the NFL.

“I mean, I knew I could do it,” Chase said of breaking records. “It was something that I, if you put your mind to it, then you can do it. That’s what I wanted to do. I came here with that plan. I wrote it down and I came in with that plan. I’m going to stick with it. I just gotta keep working. Still a long way to go.”

Cincinnati’s defense can hold its own against high-powered offenses

The Chiefs own one of the most explosive passing attacks in the league led by Mahomes and offensive weapons tight end Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill. And Cincinnati wasn’t intimidated by Kansas City by any means.

It took the Bengals a half to “settle in” as defensive end Sam Hubbard said. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo made adjustments and Cincinnati finally started getting stops after the first half in which the Chiefs only punted twice.

The Bengals showed they can keep their offense in games against top-tier offenses and that’ll be important when they start playing games in the postseason.

“I think we just settled in,” Hubbard said. “They present a lot of challenges that you can’t replicate in practice. We kind of just settled in and did our thing. We just played our defense and did a good job of doing our job individually.”

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Bengals AFC North champs: Bengals beat KC Chiefs