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Did Joe Mixon fumble in Bengals' OT win? Andy Reid wanted an explanation

The Cincinnati Bengals are going to the Super Bowl, but not without a little controversy in their wake.

In their game-winning drive in overtime, set up by a Vonn Bell interception, the Bengals found themselves sitting pretty with the ball at the Kansas City Chiefs' 25-yard line and needing only a field goal to win. They could have centered the ball and tried to put away the Chiefs there, but they instead turned to running back Joe Mixon to deliver another nail in the coffin.

Mixon found enough daylight to gain 13 yards and set up a chip shot for kicker Evan McPherson, but then he celebrated by dropping the ball and pounding his chest. That celebration wouldn't typically be out of the ordinary, but there was a very important detail he, and the CBS broadcast, seemed to miss.

Mixon may never have been touched by a Chiefs defender on his run, up to the point that he let go of the ball. And then a Chiefs player picked up the ball.

The play was blown dead soon after Mixon dropped the ball, but take a close look here and see if you can find any contact between Mixon and the defense:

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid certainly had questions about the play, as he called timeout to discuss the play with officials. The CBS broadcast didn't understand what was happening at the time, speculating that Reid was trying to nail Cincinnati for an illegal formation, which is not reviewable. Coaches also cannot challenge rulings in overtime.

Reid's arguments went nowhere, and soon McPherson was kicking a 31-yard field goal for the win.

Reid told reporters after the game that the official told him Mixon gave himself up on the run, something you usually see with quarterbacks.

That won't be much consolation to the Chiefs, though not getting the right call on a potentially all-time screw-up was hardly the only reason they lost.

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 30: Running back Joe Mixon #28 of the Cincinnati Bengals eludes the tackle of defensive end Frank Clark #55 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 30, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
It's basically impossible to tell if Joe Mixon was touched on his big run for the Bengals. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)