Del Duduit

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City kicker Harrison Butker nailed a 51-yard field goal as time expired to boot the Chiefs to a 26-25 win over Cincinnati on Sunday at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

But that’s NOT the story.

It should be, but it’s not.

Cincinnati had a chance to put the game away — a REAL chance — in the fourth with 10:43 to play, with the ball in Chiefs territory and on the move.

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow connected with Ja’Marr Chase for a four-yard gain to the Kansas City 30-yard line with 9:37 to play in the game.

Chase, who is wanting a new contract even though his is not up until next year, felt he was roughed up on the play — and jumped up and started jawing with and confronting the official.

Burrow rushed over and tried to pull his former LSU teammate away from the official – but it was too late.

The yellow flag was thrown, and Chase was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Fifteen yards backward.

According to the Pool Report from ESPN’s Ben Baby, NFL referee Alex Kemp had more to say about the call than Chase, who offered no explanation after the game.

“It’s pretty clear cut,” Kemp stated. “It’s just simply abusive language toward a game official. That’s all it was. And there was really no interpretation. I’m not going to repeat to you what he said, but there was no interpretation with the language he used. Just abusive language.”

Chase questioned the tackle, the Pool Report stated, and thought he was hip dropped on the play.

Kemp said that was not the case.

“The simple answer is: profanity used by a grown man versus direct, personal abusive language towards a game official. That’s the line. When that line gets crossed, we simply can’t let that happen in pro football,” Kemp stated.

Instead of having the ball at the 30-yard line with a makeable third down, the ball was sent back to the 45-yard line.

There are not many third-and-22 plays in the playbook.

That’s demoralizing.

The Bengals settled for a 53-yard field goal by Evan McPherson — his fourth on the day — and a slim 25-23 lead with 9:33 left in the game.

After the contest, Chase told reporters that he “didn’t want to talk about it.”

Bengals coach Zac Taylor didn’t either.

“You’ll have to ask Ja’Marr about that,” he said in the press conference, about what happened with Chase and the official.

A dejected Burrow at least offered some words about that play.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow at Sunday’s press conference following the Bengals’ 26-25 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Courtesy of Del Duduit

“I was just trying to de-escalate the situation,” Burrow said. “I’m not sure what was said. I was just trying to calm everyone down.”

But that wasn’t the only messup the Bengals had down the stretch.

Kansas City was trailing the Bengals 25-23 with 48 seconds left on the regulation clock, and faced an improbable fourth and 16 at their own 35-yard line.

Forty-eight seconds was all that was left.

Forty-eight.

Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes scrambled and heaved a pass downfield, and Bengals’ safety Daijahn Anthony bumped the receiver and was called for pass interference.

After the penalty, the ball was placed at the Bengal 36-yard line, and Kansas City had a first down and a chance to win.

Two plays later, Butker connected on the game-winner.

“This is one of the hardest losses I’ve had,” Burrow said. “We had it. Just didn’t make the big plays at the end. They made plays and we didn’t.”

Sunday’s performance by the Bengals was nowhere near the tragedy it turned in on opening day at Paycor Stadium, where the Patriots knocked off Cincy 16-10 in Week 1.

In Kansas City, the Bengals showed determination.

Grit.

Resolve.

And unfortunately… poor judgement in the end.

“Our team played hard and I’m proud of the way they fought,” Taylor said. “Our defensive takeaways were critical. I’m just disappointed that we lost. It’s a tough loss for us, but at the same time I was proud of the way we responded. There were a lot of good things, but we just came up short.”

Except for Chase’s boneheaded decision to confront the official, he should have added.

The Bengals played well for about 59:25 seconds.

Two bad choices cost them a chance at winning the game against the back-to-back defending Super Bowl champs.

Otherwise, Cincinnati outgained the Chiefs 320 yards to 286.

Burrow threw for 258 yards and one touchdown while his counterpart — Mahomes — struggled with 151 yards, two TDs and two picks.

But in the end, the Bengals put themselves in position to win.

They just didn’t pull the trigger.

Instead, referees were forced the pull the flag.

Cincinnati players deserved the penalties.

They have to do better.

Now I sound like Marvin Lewis.

The difference from Week 1 and Week 2 for the Bengals was simple.

They had a gameplan against the Chiefs (2-0.)

Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo told reporters earlier in the week that the Bengals needed to stiffen up, and hold the Chiefs to three points instead of seven.

“They move the ball on everybody,” he said. “When we’ve done well against them, we’ve made them kick field goals, and we’ve been able to get takeaways.”

He was right.

The Bengals forced two fumbles and picked off Mahomes twice.

They held the Chiefs to two touchdowns and four field goals.

They did what was needed on the defensive end (with the exception of the PI.)

Cincinnati showed signs of life against Kansas City compared to last week.

They battled the Chiefs well and put themselves in position to win.

They always seem to play KC well.

In the last six meetings, they have split 3-3.

This one was hard to accept, because the end came down to mental mistakes.

But in the end, the Bengals are 0-2 to start the season — AGAIN.

Next up is Washington on Monday Night Football at The Jungle.

Can they get a W in the Jungle?

It’s a must-win on MNF.

Who Dey!