Game by game: The Bengals’ dramatic path to the Super Bowl last season

So, you can’t get enough of the Cincinnati Bengals. You spend your time scrolling through YouTube videos of the team’s spectacular run through the playoffs to Super Bowl 56 last year. You spontaneously shout “Who Dey!” to strangers wearing Joe Burrow jerseys at Kroger. Don’t worry – you’re not alone.

We all got caught up in the excitement last year, something we had not experienced around here in, well, more than 30 years. We were all members of Bengals Nation.

History:New book explores Cincinnati Bengals history, from heartache to triumph

Last season, the Bengals took us on a whirlwind journey through the playoffs, surprising everyone but themselves. “Why not us?” fans asked. The Bengals answered, “It is us.”

Bengals win AFC North

The Bengals won the AFC North in 2021 with a 10-7 record, quite a turnaround from the last-place finish for head coach Zac Taylor’s team in 2020, when No. 1 draft pick Joe Burrow was injured. Burrow set franchise records for passing yards and touchdowns in his first full season, while wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase earned NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

Wild card round: Bengals vs. Las Vegas Raiders

When Cincinnati hosted the Raiders in the wild-card game at Paul Brown Stadium (before the name change to Paycor), it had been 31 years since the Bengals had won a playoff game. That streak began with a loss to the then-Los Angeles Raiders, the game when two-sport superstar Bo Jackson injured his hip, ending his career. Folks started calling Cincinnati’s playoff drought “the Curse of Bo Jackson,” so it was fitting that the Bengals faced the Raiders in their bid to break the curse.

The game wasn’t without controversy. Burrow’s touchdown pass to Tyler Boyd was interrupted by a referee blowing an early whistle, apparently thinking Burrow had stepped out of bounds before the throw (he hadn’t). But the play stood. Clinging to a 26-19 lead, Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt picked off Derek Carr’s fourth-down pass at the 2-yard line in the waning seconds, securing their first postseason win in a generation. The curse was broken.

Divisional round: Bengals vs. Tennessee Titans

In the matchup against the No. 1-seed Tennessee Titans, points were at a premium as the Bengals too often settled for field goals. Weaknesses in the offensive line led to Burrow being sacked nine times – matching a playoff record.

Tied up at 16 all, the Bengals defense got another key interception with 20 seconds remaining on a tipped pass caught by linebacker Logan Wilson. Three quick plays got the Bengals closer for kicker Evan McPherson – earning the nickname Money Mac – to kick a 52-yard field goal as time expired for the upset victory.

AFC Championship Game: Bengals vs. Kansas City Chiefs

The Bengals had come back from a large deficit to beat the Chiefs in Week 17. Like that game, the Bengals fell behind 21-3 to Kansas City early in the AFC championship game at Arrowhead Stadium. Patrick Mahomes had continued his postseason success, following a legendary overtime win over the Buffalo Bills the week before. Then the Chiefs got greedy before halftime, going for a touchdown rather than a field goal in the final seconds. But Eli Apple tackled Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill short of the goal line as time ran out.

Down by 11 points, the Bengals rallied in the second half, punctuated by a Ja’Marr Chase touchdown and a two-point conversion. The Bengals defense then gave Mahomes fits, holding the high-powered Chiefs to just three points in the second half.

In overtime, Jessie Bates broke up Mahomes’ pass intended for Hill, which went into Vonn Bell’s hands. The Bengals skillfully moved the ball closer to give McPherson a chance for another game-winner – his 12th field goal in three playoff games – shocking the Chiefs and the NFL with a 27-24 win. The Bengals were headed back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1989.

Super Bowl 56: Bengals vs. Los Angeles Rams

Super Bowl 56 was held on the Los Angeles Rams’ home turf, SoFi Stadium, but plenty of Cincinnati fans showed up to cheer “Who Dey!” for the Bengals.

Two touchdowns by Tee Higgins – including a 75-yarder on the first play of the second half – gave the Bengals the lead, but the O-line problems that had plagued the team caught up to them, and Burrow was sacked seven times.

After the Rams went ahead 23-20 late in the fourth quarter, everyone believed that Burrow could lead the Bengals into field goal range to send the game to overtime. Then, on fourth down, Rams pass rusher Aaron Donald wrapped up Burrow before he could get off a good throw, and the Bengals fell short.

Confidence remains high for this young team, though, and Zac Taylor has the Bengals back in the playoffs after winning the AFC North once again.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How the Cincinnati Bengals made it to Super Bowl 56 in 2022