The running back banished his early season inefficiency with a searing performance at Paul Brown Stadium to move last season's Super Bowl finalists to 5-4 for the campaign.
With four on the ground and one in the air, Mixon moved to six TDs for the campaign, having previously only finished against the Atlanta Falcons in October.
Taylor stressed that he knew the 26-year-old's time would come thanks to his dedication to the game, suggesting it was only a matter of time before he returned to his best.
"Great players want the ball," he said. "He's a captain. He's handled this thing really well.
"A lot of these guys know that sometimes their number isn't called as a much and then there's a game that's going to smack them right in the face like this one."
The Bengals famously sat 5-4 last term before going on to post another five wins to top the AFC North and set them on their path to the Super Bowl.
Asked what the difference is between such a feat this season compared to last year, Taylor was bullish, adding: "It's a very similar situation. You're in the mix, and you've just got to take it one game at a time.
"There's still a long season yet to go. I know it's at the halfway point now. But again, we've just got to be very narrowly focused on our next opponent which is Pittsburgh.
"[It's a] big divisional game, obviously. We haven't taken care of business in the division, which is always key, so it's a great opportunity to get that on the right track."
Taylor, 38, guided the Bengals to their first Super Bowl appearance in 33 years during what was a momentous season.
While Cincinnati were ultimately beaten 23-20 by the Los Angeles Rams – Taylor's previous employers – in Super Bowl LVI on Sunday in Inglewood, rumours quickly began to circulate that he was to be handed a new deal.
The franchise confirmed the news on Wednesday, with Taylor signing through 2026, and Bengals president Mike Brown was keen to show his and the city's gratitude to the coach.
"He's a good young coach," Brown wrote. "Zac has come into the league and worked to develop the foundations for a winning program that can be successful over time.
"The fruits of Zac's efforts were seen this year, and Zac is well-regarded by our players and coaches. I know the effort and passion Zac brings to the building and to our team, and I am pleased by his approach.
"And I think the city of Cincinnati sees him the way the players and I do. He's brought excitement to the town and deserves credit and recognition for that."
Not only did Taylor end the Bengals' long wait for a crack at the Super Bowl, but their 26-19 Wild Card win over the Las Vegas Raiders in January was their first playoff victory in 31 years.
The Bengals scored 444 points over the 16 games that the starters played, just four short of the franchise record set in 1988.
The output and run of the 2021 vintage was, according to Brown, largely down to Taylor and his coaching.
"In this league, if you want to get to where you wish, getting to the Super Bowl, you need a lot of things," Brown added.
"All of those are important, but certain people, and I would be one, would say the most important part is being able to score.
"These days 30 points is at a level you're able to win week in and week out. It's something we're shooting for in the future.
"We have the ability to do it if we're going right. Zac is the reason we can do that. It's his system. He teaches it effectively and our guys have bought into it."
The Bengals held on to defeat the Las Vegas Raiders 26-19 on Sunday as the Wild Card round began.
Cincinnati led by 14 points towards the end of the first half but had to wait until Germaine Pratt intercepted Derek Carr on fourth down with 12 seconds left in the fourth quarter until they could be sure of a massive win.
The Bengals had their lost eight straight postseason games coming into the game, their last win coming back in the 1990 season against the Houston Oilers.
Ending that drought may not have looked likely after Taylor went 6-25-1 across his first two seasons, but the head coach received a vote of confidence from president Mike Brown after the 2020 season and oversaw an impressive turnaround.
The Bengals went from fourth to first in the AFC North in 2021 to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2015.
Joe Burrow produced a fine season at quarterback and threw for 244 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions in his first playoff game.
"Personally, if I coached at any other organization in football, I probably wouldn't be here right now in the third year," Taylor said after the famous win over the Raiders.
"That's the truth.
"Some of them [the players] might not understand the significance of what happened.
"The city can finally enjoy this team and take the pressure off of the last 31 years. This was significant for a lot of people.
"We've got all the faith in the world in Joe, so there's never any panic on our end.
"Had they been down seven at the end of the game and scored there to tie it, and then we'd have had to kick a field goal to win it, I promise you my heart rate would have been as easy as could be.
"We trust our players - someone is going to step up and win that game for us. I wasn't surprised when it happened."
Taylor dedicated a game ball to owner Brown and another to the city of Cincinnati, with balls being sent out to some prominent local venues after the win.
"The next one [game ball] is a new tradition we start with our first playoff win," added Taylor.
"It goes to the city of Cincinnati and we pass this thing out at bars across Cincinnati and we let the fans celebrate with us.
"Every playoff game from here on out, the city shares in this with us."
Burrow, who connected with C.J. Uzomah and Tyler Boyd in the endzone, insisted the Bengals were not done yet.
"It's exciting, but this was expected," the QB said. "This isn't the icing on top of the cake or anything, this was the cake. So, we're moving on.
"It's exciting for the city and the state, but we're not going to dwell on that. We're moving forward, whoever we got to play next, we'll be ready to go out and execute the game plan."
Star rookie Ja'Marr Chase had game-leading totals of nine catches and 116 yards for the Bengals, adding a further 23 on the ground.
Taylor was not about to take the bait.
"You're talking very specifically about one prospect there," he said with a smile.
While all signs point to Cincinnati selecting the 2019 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback with the first overall pick in Thursday's draft, Taylor did not divulge who the Bengals will be picking with just two days to go.
For the first time since 2003, Cincinnati will have the top overall pick. In that year, the Bengals selected a player they believed would be their franchise quarterback – Carson Palmer.
Palmer turned out to be a solid quarterback, ranking fourth in franchise history in both passing yards and passing touchdowns while earning two Pro Bowl selections and leading the Bengals to a pair of division titles in his seven years in Cincinnati.
The Bengals appear poised to take a similar route this season by drafting Burrow first.
An Ohio native, he led LSU to the national title last season, completing 76.3 percent of his passes for 5,671 yards and an FBS-single season record 60 touchdowns to just six interceptions.
The Bengals will make history when they make the first pick in the virtual NFL draft, with all teams and executives in isolation amid the coronavirus pandemic
Taylor said the buzz surrounding the remote draft is akin to the hype leading up to the season opener.
"It's almost like you're playing the first game of the season," he said. "It's that kind of excitement right now.
"You're taking who you believe is the best player in the draft and you don't ever want to pick there ever again."
After commissioner Roger Goodell announces Cincinnati's top pick from his basement, the Bengals will be off the clock for about 24 hours until they make their next pick at 33.
And just like owning the first pick on day one, the Bengals will be treating the first pick of day two similarly by zeroing in on the top player available.
"The first pick of the second day, you get a lot of time to think about it," Taylor said.
"There's going to be some really good players there that we probably have first-round grades on. It will be exciting to see how it all shakes out."
It all begins with the Bengals picking first, and at this point Taylor and the rest of the front office are just waiting for Thursday night and the draft to begin.
The team has done its homework on the players it has targeted through FaceTime meetings and is prepared for the challenge of the virtual draft.
"As it stands today, we feel really good about where we're at," added Taylor.
A 34-23 victory gave the visitors the last laugh in Tampa, a result that marked the first time in 90 games a Brady side lost a home game after leading by 17, and extended the Bengals winning streak to six games.
Prior to the game, Brady said on the SiriusXM 'Let's Go!' podcast that the Bengals possessed a "fairly tough" defense.
Though the comments were blown out of proportion in the days leading up to the game, they were not forgotten by the Bengals.
Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt poked fun at Brady, saying: "Hearing that from an old, savvy vet from him, we're a 'fairly tough defense,' with four turnovers, what would you say - tough as nails?"
Defensive tackle BJ Hill admitted the team's early performance fitted Brady's description, though he was delighted to quiet a chatty Bucs offense in the second half.
"That's how we played in the first half, I'm not going to lie to you. But we just came out in the second half and played our tails off," he told reporters.
"They really didn't say too much when we got up on them. I told them, 'Just wait until the second half.' I knew what we were going to do in the second half. And we did that."
For safety Jessie Bates III, the Bengals' defensive efforts had little to do so with Brady's comments.
"We don't really care about what people say. It is how it is, week in and week out. Somebody's going to say something. At the end of the day, they got to see us," he said.
The 10-4 Bengals hold a narrow lead over the Baltimore Ravens in the battle for the AFC North crown. Cincinnati face Baltimore in their final regular-season game on January 8.
Rookie kicker Evan McPherson's 35-yard field goal at the buzzer gave Cincinnati the win after the Bengals went the entire game without a lead.
Burrow completed 25 of 32 passes for 348 yards and a pair of touchdown passes to C.J. Uzomah as the Bengals improved to 3-1.
Lawrence was 17-of-24 for 204 yards as he and first-year head coach Urban Meyer will have to wait at least another week for their first NFL victory after falling to 0-4.
Jacksonville took a 14-0 lead on touchdown runs by James Robinson and Lawrence in the first half, and just missed another TD after they were stopped on fourth-and-goal at the Cincinnati one-yard line just before the break.
The momentum swung the Bengals' way after the break, though, as Burrow hit rookie receiver Ja'Marr Chase for a 44-yard gain, then found Uzomah for a 22-yard touchdown on the opening drive of the second half.
Cincinnati's next two drives also ended in TDs, on a one-yard run by Joe Mixon and a 31-yard Burrow-to-Uzomah strike.
After the Bengals' defence got the ball back with 5:40 to play, Burrow bled out the rest of the clock on a 10-play, 73-yard drive that culminated in McPherson's game-winning field goal.
Burrow completed 24 of 34 passes for 244 yards with two touchdowns, although the second for Tyler Boyd was controversial after an official's whistle was heard, presumably for out of bounds, during the play yet it stood.
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr made 29 of 54 passes for 310 yards and one touchdown but he threw an interception on the final play as he drove his side to the nine-yard line, with Germaine Pratt picking it off.
All three TDs came in the first half, with Burrow finding CJ Uzomah with a lazer for a first-quarter touchdown before opening up a 20-6 lead with his pass for Boyd.
Carr's 80-yard drive ended with a 14-yard touchdown pass for Zay Jones on the stroke of half-time to close the gap.
Rookie Evan McPherson went four of four to help the Bengals clinch victory, staving off the Raiders' late push to make it five straight wins.
Ja'Marr Chase was important for the Bengals too, with nine receptions for 116 yards and three rushing carries for 23 yards.
The Raiders, who have endured a difficult season, will have to wait to end their 41-year playoffs road win drought.
Defensive end Hubbard raced clear for the longest go-ahead TD in NFL postseason history as the Ravens pressed for the lead on a third-and-goal on Tyler Huntley's QB sneak, as he leapt up to break the plane of the goalline, only for Logan Wilson to knock it out.
Hubbard's go-ahead touchdown, scored with 11:39 remaining in the fourth quarter, was also the longest fumble return TD in NFL playoff history.
Baltimore had been mounting the pressure with scores locked 17-17 with Huntley's 35-yard run, the longest of his career, pushing them to the goalline, but the Bengals' defense held up, before the fumble return TD ignited Paul Brown Stadium.
Huntley threw a final-second pass on fourth-and-20, which James Proche got a hand on, but could not hold. The Ravens QB, starting in the absence of injured former MVP Lamar Jackson, had kept his side in the game on 17-of-29 passing for 226 yards with two TD passes and one interception, adding 54 rushing yards.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow completed 23-of-32 passes for 209 yards with one passing touchdown and one rushing touchdown, but was sacked four times. Ja'Marr Chase had nine receptions for 84 yards.
It was a seesawing encounter with the Bengals dominating the first quarter led by Chase, before Burrow connected with the wide receiver to cap a six-minute, 10-play drive.
The Ravens hit back in the second to lead 10-9 at halftime, with Huntley finding J.K. Dobbins to score, while Burrow was sacked three times in the first half.
The two sides traded touchdowns in the third, with Burrow slithering across after Hayden Hurst thought he had scored yet fell half a yard short, before Huntley threw a 41-yard TD pass for Demarcus Robinson.
Williams did the damage in the second quarter of a 24-17 Wild-Card round win and was replaced by Jackson Carman.
The 25-year-old was on Monday listed as week-to-week by the Bengals, who battle the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional round at Highmark Stadium on Sunday.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said it was "hard to tell" if Williams will recover in time to take on the Bills but was impressed with the way Carman stepped in.
"I thought he did a nice job, especially being thrust in there," Taylor said. "He's gotta practice both sides during the week.
"He's practised a lot of guard this year as well. I thought given the opportunity that he had, against a tough defensive line, I thought he handled it really well."
Alex Cappa missed the game against the Ravens due to an ankle injury, but Taylor was encouraged to see him in attendance wearing a protective boot.
"I saw him curling a towel in there with his toes and he looked good," Taylor said. "It seemed like that was progress when I walked in. That was exciting for the room."
Redmond was a restricted free agent who received an original-round tender which will pay him $2.13million in 2020.
Initially signed by Cincinnati as an undrafted free agent in 2016, Redmond started 15 games at right guard in 2018 and helped team-mate Joe Mixon lead the AFC with 1,168 rushing yards that season.
The UCLA product appeared in three games with two starts last season before going on injured reserve due to a torn biceps.
Redmond is one of four candidates for the Bengals' two starting guard spots, along with free-agent addition Xavier Sua-Filo, 2018 first-round pick Billy Price and second-year pro Michael Jordan.
John Miller, a 13-game starter at right guard last season, signed with the Carolina Panthers in March.
The Bengals icon was scheduled to be a free agent when the new league year begins on Wednesday but will now move into a 10th season with the team.
Green, 31, will earn around $18million in 2020 if he opts to sign the tag, with the team having until July 15 to negotiate a long-term deal before the new season.
Amid a stellar career that has seen him earn seven Pro Bowl selections, the wide receiver sits second in Bengals history when it comes to receptions (602), receiving yards (8,907) and receiving touchdowns (63).
Green has been the subject of trade rumours after missing all of last season due to an ankle injury suffered in training camp, having only played nine games in 2018, with the team struggling in his absence.
But the franchise tag means Green remains under the control of the Bengals, who hold the number one overall pick in April's NFL Draft which they are expected to use on LSU quarterback Joe Burrow.
"A.J. has been a big part of this team for a long time," Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said after the franchise tag decision was announced on Monday.
"Now that he's healthy, I am excited to see what he will add to our offense this year."
With the legal tampering period for NFL free agents beginning on Monday, teams have been making key roster moves.
The Arizona Cardinals opted to hand the transition tag to running back Kenyan Drake, who they acquired in a trade with the Miami Dolphins last season.
Drake will initially be contracted for one year at around $8.4m but is free to negotiate with other teams. If he signs an offer sheet elsewhere, the Cardinals will have the opportunity to match the deal under the terms of the tag.
Meanwhile, the New England Patriots are reportedly applying the franchise tag to guard Joe Thuney at an estimated cost of $14m.
Thuney had looked poised to become one of the top offensive linemen hitting the open market but will now stay in New England, where the future of QB Tom Brady is dominating the agenda.
Floyd – an African-American man – died in Minneapolis after a police officer was filmed kneeling on his neck for at least eight minutes during the arrest.
Violent protests have broken out across the United States since Floyd's death on Monday, after he was filmed crying out for help as he was handcuffed and pinned to the ground.
Burrow – the number one pick in this year's NFL Draft – used social media to have his say amid the fierce backlash and riots.
"The black community needs our help. They have been unheard for far too long. Open your ears, listen, and speak. This isn't politics. This is human rights," Burrow tweeted on Friday.
Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores also addressed the issue that has engulfed the country.
Flores, who is one of four minority coaches in the 32-team NFL, said in a statement: "I've had the privilege of being a part of many different circles that have included some very powerful and influential people of all different races and genders. The events of the last few weeks have brought some of the memories of those conversations back to light.
"I vividly remember the Colin Kaepernick conversations. 'Don't ever disrespect the flag' was the phrase that I heard over and over again. This idea that players were kneeling in support of social justice was something some people couldn't wrap their head around. The outrage that I saw in the media and the anger I felt in some of my own private conversations caused me to sever a few long-standing friendships.
"Most recently, I've had conversations about incentivising teams for hiring minorities. Again, there was some outrage in the media and talks that this would cause division amongst coaches, executives and ownership. I bring these situations up because I haven't seen the same OUTRAGE from people of influence when the conversation turns to Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and most recently George Floyd.
"Many people who broadcast their opinions on kneeling [during the national anthem] or on the hiring of minorities don't seem to have an opinion on the recent murders of these young black men and women.
"I think many of them quietly say that watching George Floyd plead for help is one of the more horrible things they have seen, but it's said amongst themselves where no one can hear. Broadcasting that opinion clearly is not important enough.
"I lead a group of young men who have the potential to make a real impact in this world. My message to them and anyone else who wants to listen is that honesty, transparency and empathy go a long way in bringing people together and making change. I hope that the tragedies of the last few weeks will open our hearts and minds to a better way of communicating and hopefully create that change."
The NFL's concussion process has been a hot topic over the past fortnight, following worrying incidents involving Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
Tagovailoa had been cleared of concussion despite appearing shaky on his feet after a heavy hit against the Buffalo Bills a fortnight ago and played out the game, but he was floored by another hefty blow five days later against the Bengals.
That saw him carried off, taken immediately to hospital and diagnosed with concussion. He was ruled out of the Week 5 game against the New York Jets.
The Tagovailoa situation has led to questions about the rigour and accuracy of the league's concussion protocols, while the independent neurologist who cleared the quarterback has since been dismissed.
Burrow, who led the Bengals to Super Bowl LVI last season, revealed his jarring experiences with becoming suddenly forgetful after taking a hit in the NFL.
"I've had some [games] where I don't remember the second half, or I don't remember the entire game, or I know that I got a little dizzy at one point but nothing long-lasting," Burrow told The Colin Cowherd Podcast.
"I've been hit and forgot the rest of the game before. That's happened a couple of times. But I've never had one where I have headaches for like a week and I have symptoms of concussion after the game."
Burrow, who was Tagovailoa's opposing QB when he was carried off on a stretcher last week, added that the risk of concussion was inherent in the game.
"It's scary," Burrow said. "Everybody knows the profession that we do – it's a dangerous game – that's always a possibility. But then when it happens, you kind of collectively hold your breath.
"You can make all the rules you want to make the game as safe as you possibly can, but there's an inherent risk and danger with the game of football.
"You're going to have head injuries. You're going to tear your ACL. You're going to break your arm. That's the game that we play. That's the life that we live. And we get paid handsomely for it.
"I think going into every game, we know what we're getting ourselves into."
Burrow was carted off the field after he was hit low while throwing a pass in the third quarter of a 20-9 loss at FedExField.
The NFL's number one draft pick underwent an MRI scan on Monday, which NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and NFL Network's Tom Pelissero say revealed he has torn his medial collateral ligament and anterior cruciate ligament.
Burrow is also said to have suffered further structural damage in his left knee and is facing a long absence.
The 23-year-old will reportedly undergo reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation ahead of the 2021 season.
Burrow was 22-of-34 passing for 203 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions before he made an early exit.
The 2-7 Bengals are expected to recruit a new QB, with Ryan Finley their only backup for the unfortunate Burrow.
It's uncertain how much work Burrow did during Sunday morning's walkthrough, though the 25-year-old quarterback returned from the practice field in his jersey while carrying his helmet.
Prior to the Bengals' Sunday afternoon practice, the team tweeted out a short video of Burrow in shoulder pads and a practice jersey to tease fans of his return.
A return to the practice field appeared imminent after he took part in some pre-game sprints ahead of the Bengals' preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals on Friday night.
Sidelined since his appendectomy on July 26, Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor had just said last week Burrow was feeling better but didn’t want to put a timetable on when he would return.
The Bengals open the season on September 11 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the team has always indicated Burrow would be healthy enough to start the opener.
After a knee injury cut short his 2020 rookie season, Burrow is coming off a sensational 2021, in which he led the Bengals to their first Super Bowl appearance since the 1988 season, while ranking second in passer rating (108.3), sixth in passing yards (4,611) and eighth in touchdown passes (34).
He's baaaaack pic.twitter.com/vAGuTxEU4z
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) August 14, 2022
Burrow is expected to miss practice time during training camp but make a full recovery before the defending AFC champion Bengals begin their season on September 11 against the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers.
The news comes one day after team owner Mike Brown said Cincinnati's "whole focus" is to get an extension in place with Burrow, who is eligible to negotiate a new deal after this season – his third in the NFL.
"Right now our obvious, most important issue will be our quarterback," Brown said on Monday. "It's not quite ready or ripe yet, but it's right down the track and we see the train coming."
Burrow went 2-7-1 as the starter in 2020 after the Bengals selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. He tore his left ACL and MCL in Week 11 that season before returning last year and leading Cincinnati to their first playoff berth since 2015 and first Super Bowl appearance since 1988.
The Bengals led the Los Angeles Rams 20-13 in the third quarter of the Super Bowl before eventually losing 23-20. Burrow passed for 263 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions against the Rams.
"We couldn't be happier with Joe Burrow," Brown said. "He's everything you would wish for, especially for a quarterback in Cincinnati. And our whole focus is going on keeping him here."
Burrow – the NFL's number one draft pick – reportedly tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) in Cincinnati's 20-9 loss to the Washington Football Team on November 22.
The rookie QB was carted off after being hit low while throwing in the third quarter at FedExField.
"Joe Burrow underwent successful surgery yesterday [Wednesday]," the Bengals said in a statement on Thursday. "The procedure went as planned and he is expected to make a complete recovery.
"Joe will begin the recovery process and we look forward to his return."
Burrow was producing strong numbers in his debut season with the Bengals in the NFL prior to the injury.
Through 10 games, Burrow completed 65.3 per cent of passes for 2,688 yards, 13 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Burrow's five interceptions are the least in the league alongside Andy Dalton of the Dallas Cowboys, with under-fire Philadelphia Eagles QB Carson Wentz (15) recording the highest number.
The 23-yeard-old Burrow also rushed for 142 yards and three touchdowns on 37 carries.
Burrow returned to training on Sunday after undergoing an appendectomy on July 26, giving him four weeks to build up before the Bengals' NFL season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 11.
The 25-year-old quarterback, who was due to return to team drills on Wednesday, revealed the extent of the issue when addressing a press conference for the first time since the surgery.
"It wasn't normal appendicitis that you hear about," Burrow said.
"I didn't really feel much. Just getting checked out and had some discomfort so we thought we'd get it checked out.
"Turns out I had it, so we had to get it fixed. Not ideal timing obviously but glad to have it now than halfway through the year."
Burrow was sidelined longer than most players for an appendectomy which typically means only missing a few days.
The Bengals are confident the 2020 NFL Draft top pick will be fit and healthy to face the Steelers but Burrow said there was plenty of work to do to ramp up, having lost weight in hospital.
"When they cut into you and do all that stuff your core is going to lose some muscle and some strength just getting that back," said Burrow, whose 2020 and 2021 preseasons were interrupted by COVID-19 and knee surgery respectively.
"I'd like to have a normal offseason at some point. That would be great. Going into the season feeling as good as I can, but that hasn't been the reality for three years."
Burrow, however, is not expecting to play in the Bengals' preseason.
"I think it will be OK," Burrow said. "We have a good plan as far as nutrition and weight room and all that stuff.
"I feel good right now and just going to keep feeling better."
Burrow – the NFL's number one draft pick – was carted off with a serious left leg injury in Sunday's 20-9 loss to the Washington Football Team.
With the Bengals leading 9-7 at the time, Burrow went down when the 23-year-old was hit low while throwing in the third quarter at FedExField, where he was subsequently taken off the field on a cart.
The Bengals star later tweeted: "Thanks for all the love. Can't get rid of me that easy. See ya next year".
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor was unable to provide an immediate update on Burrow post-game as Cincinnati fell to 2-7-1 for the season.
Burrow was 22-of-34 passing for 203 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions before he left the game.
"He was making improvements every week and we were getting the offense headed in a direction that we thought was exciting," Taylor said.
"I just told them that we needed to come out with some emotion," Taylor continued. "That's an injury to a team leader that can take the wind out of your sails and we wanted to try to recapture some energy that we had going into half-time. Unfortunately, they went down and scored a touchdown and we had a three and out, so we didn't get that done."
Cincinnati's second-year QB Ryan Finley replaced Burrow and he said: "My thoughts right now are with Joe. I hope he's going to be OK and have a speedy recovery. That was tough to see. We've grown close. That was hard to see.
"I mean, I think guys were a little shook, to be honest. But, you know we have to roll. We've got the [New York] Giants next week and we got a lot of games left in the season.
"Many that we feel like we can win. So it's time to move on and it's time to prepare harder than we have, and even more than we have, and try to keep getting some wins."
Patrick Mahomes had started in inspired form at Arrowhead Stadium, delivering three touchdown passes to put the Chiefs 21-3 ahead, but the Bengals roared back in stunning fashion to move 24-21 in front.
A Harrison Butker field goal with three seconds left took the game to overtime, yet Evan McPherson ensured a memorable win for the Bengals with a field goal of his own.
They will face either the Los Angeles Rams or the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVI in a fortnight.
