The top-seeded Tennessee Titans awaited the Bengals in the Divisional round. RB Derrick Henry had dominated defenses all season despite battling injury, rushing for 937 yards in just eight regular season appearances. Cincinnati's defense stepped up, limiting Henry to just over three yards per carry.
Cincinnati held a 10-point lead in the third quarter, but it was quickly erased by the Titans, who tied the game on a touchdown pass from QB Ryan Tannehill to WR A.J. Brown. The Bengals defense shut Tennessee in the fourth quarter, forcing a turnover on downs followed by a pivotal interception by LB Logan Wilson. The turnover gave the Bengals the ball at the Cincinnati 47-yard line. Burrow connected with Chase for 19 yards, setting up McPherson to nail a 52-yard field goal as time expired to send the Bengals to the AFC Championship Game for the first time since 1988.
The Bengals traveled to Arrowhead Stadium to take on the two-time defending AFC Champion Chiefs. Kansas City jumped out to a 21-3 lead in the first half, but Cincinnati battled back, as Burrow hit RB Samaje Perine for a 41-yard touchdown just before halftime. The Bengals scored 21 unanswered points to take a 24-21 lead in the fourth quarter, but Chiefs K Harrison Butker hit a 44-yard attempt to send the game to overtime as time expired.
Kansas City won the toss in overtime and got the ball first, but the Bengals defense made a stand. Mahomes took a deep shot for WR Tyreek Hill but instead found S Vonn Bell. Cincinnati took over around midfield, a field goal away from the Super Bowl. Burrow took command, finding WR Tee Higgins on the drive and relying on the legs of RB Joe Mixon, who tallied 88 rushing yards in the game. Cincinnati drove all the way to the Chiefs' 13-yard line, setting up McPherson for another game-winning kick this time from 31 yards away.