Round Two: Bengals head to Kansas City for AFC Championship game

CINCINNATI (WXIX) - It will be a familiar scene next Sunday when the Cincinnati Bengals return to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game.

The Bengals’ path to Super Bowl LVII is nearly identical to last season’s playoff run.

Cincinnati hosted a first-round playoff game each year before getting a road win to set up a showdown with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. Joe Burrow and the Bengals went into snowy Buffalo Sunday and took down Josh Allen and the Bills.

An important storyline going into next week’s game will be the health of Mahomes.

The Chiefs’ star quarterback sustained a high ankle sprain in their game on Saturday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Mahomes is expected to play in the AFC title game, according to the Associated Press.

The Bengals have already played the Chiefs once this season. Cincinnati won the Dec. 4 matchup, 27-24, at Paycor Stadium in the regular season.

Burrow is the only quarterback to play Mahomes multiple times and be undefeated (3-0) in head-to-head matchups, including the 2022 AFC Championship game.

Standing in the way of the #Bengals and a return trip to the Super Bowl is the Kansas City Chiefs with a (perhaps) hobbled Patrick Mahomes.#Bengals have beaten the Chiefs three consecutive times in the last 13 months.
— Joe Danneman (@FOX19Joe) January 22, 2023