This is the online version of our daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Subscribe to get irreverent and incisive sports stories, delivered to your mailbox every morning.
The Bengals had a lot of fun in the days leading up to Sunday’s AFC title game with the Chiefs, didn’t they?
They called Arrowhead “Burrowhead” because their QB, Joe Burrow, had a perfect 3-0 record against the Chiefs.
Burrow, himself, had fun ripping the NFL and fans over the the possible neutral-site title game if Buffalo had advanced and then he wore a t-shirt to Sunday’s game that seemed to take a subtle shot at the Chiefs and their fans.
It seemed like they were all pretty comfortable talking some trash before taking on the the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Heck, even Cincinnati’s mayor got in on it with one of the most cringe stunts you’ll ever see.
And then, well, things didn’t go as planned for the Bengals as they lost to the Chiefs, 23-20, in a thriller that was decided in the final seconds after a brutal – but very correct – penalty was called on Cincinnati linebacker Joseph Ossai.
All the trash they talked wasn’t backed up at all and now the Chiefs are back in the Super Bowl and the Bengals are on vacation.
Who could have seen that coming? (Besides everyone!)
Seriously, if you’re going to talk all that trash before a championship game you need to come out and play one heck of a game and get a big win or you are going to look really silly, which is how the Bengals look this morning.
Also, you might want to think twice about talking all that trash again, especially if you’re facing all-world QB Patrick Mahomes because chances are your opponent is going to use that to fire them up even more to beat you.
The Chiefs heard the chatter during the week and then once the final whistle blew they had fun crushing the Bengals over it. Travis Kelce was quick to mock the “Burrowhead” comments and then the legendary tight end went all WWE on Cincinnati’s mayor with a classic line that was inspired by The Rock.
The Bengals had all the fun before the game… and the Chiefs had all the fun after the game. I think we all know which fun is more desirable.
The Bengals have been very good the past two years but they don’t have any Super Bowl trophies to show for it.
Maybe next time they’ll be a little more careful before heading into a huge showdown.
Quick hits: Terry Bradshaw ripped for trophy celebration… Bad officiating leads “rigged” claims… George Kittle bitter about QB situation… And more.
– NFL fans blasted Terry Bradshaw for ruining the Eagles’ NFC championship trophy celebration.
– The bad officiating in the Chiefs-Bengals game had lots of fans thinking the game was rigged.
– George Kittle did not hold back about the state of the 49ers’ QB situation in loss to Eagles.
– Jason Kelce had a great reaction to facing his brother, Travis Kelce, in Super Bowl 57.
