Cincinnati Bengals vs Kansas City Chiefs Match Player Stats (Sep 15, 2024)
Cincinnati Bengals vs Kansas City Chiefs match player stats showcase another chapter in what the game report called “an instant classic” rivalry. Kansas City escaped with a 26-25 victory at Arrowhead Stadium on September 15, 2024, when Harrison Butker drilled a 51-yard field goal as time expired.
Quick Stats Summary
Final: Kansas City Chiefs 26, Cincinnati Bengals 25
Date: September 15, 2024
Location: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
Deciding Play: Harrison Butker 51-yard FG (0:00)
Table of Contents
Rivalry Context
The report noted this was the sixth consecutive Chiefs-Bengals game decided in the fourth quarter. Kansas City has now won three straight in the series after Cincinnati won the first three Burrow-Mahomes matchups.
Quarterback Duel
Joe Burrow vs Patrick Mahomes Head-to-Head
| Quarterback | Comp/Att | Pct | Yards | TD | INT | Sacks | Rating | Rush Yds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Burrow | 23/36 | 63.9% | 258 | 2 | 0 | 3-12 | 103.7 | 9 |
| Patrick Mahomes | 18/25 | 72.0% | 151 | 2 | 2 | 2-14 | 80.6 | 29 |
Burrow’s Approach: Targeted tight ends on 17 of 36 attempts (47.2%), completing 14 for 151 yards. Smart adjustment against Kansas City’s interior rush.
Mahomes’ Struggles: Posted his lowest yardage output at Arrowhead since 2022. Both interceptions came in Kansas City territory, leading directly to 10 Cincinnati points.
The Critical Difference: Burrow’s fourth-quarter fumble returned for touchdown vs. Mahomes keeping the ball secure in crunch time.
Complete Team Statistics
Offensive Production Breakdown
| Offensive Category | Cincinnati | Kansas City |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 320 | 286 |
| Pass Yards | 246 | 137 |
| Rush Yards | 74 | 149 |
| Yards/Play | 5.2 | 4.8 |
| Total Plays | 62 | 60 |
| First Downs | 18 | 19 |
| – Passing | 11 | 7 |
| – Rushing | 6 | 9 |
| – Penalty | 1 | 3 |
| Third Down | 4/13 (30.8%) | 1/8 (12.5%) |
| Fourth Down | 2/2 (100%) | 2/2 (100%) |
| Red Zone | 2/4 (50%) | 1/2 (50%) |
| Time of Possession | 31:29 | 28:31 |
Turnover Battle
| Team | Total | Lost | Leading To | Defensive TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | 1 | 1 | 7 points against | 1 allowed |
| Kansas City | 3 | 3 | 10 points against | 0 allowed |
Kansas City committed three turnovers (two Mahomes interceptions to Davis-Gaither and Taylor-Britt, plus Steele’s fumble to Pratt) that led to 10 Cincinnati points. Cincinnati’s lone turnover went for six points.
Individual Player Performances
Cincinnati Passing Attack
Primary Targets
| Receiver | Pos | Tgt | Rec | Yards | Avg | Long | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Gesicki | TE | 9 | 7 | 91 | 13.0 | 37 | 0 |
| Jermaine Burton | WR | 2 | 1 | 47 | 47.0 | 47 | 0 |
| Ja’Marr Chase | WR | 5 | 4 | 35 | 8.8 | 13 | 0 |
| Erick All Jr. | TE | 4 | 4 | 32 | 8.0 | 19 | 0 |
| Drew Sample | TE | 4 | 3 | 28 | 9.3 | 11 | 0 |
| Andrei Iosivas | WR | 4 | 2 | 7 | 3.5 | 4 | 2 |
Key Takeaway: Tight ends combined for 14 catches, 151 yards on 17 targets. Chase held to season-low 35 yards.
Cincinnati Ground Game
| Runner | Att | Yards | Avg | Long | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zack Moss | 12 | 34 | 2.8 | 9 | 0 |
| Chase Brown | 4 | 31 | 7.8 | 15 | 0 |
| Joe Burrow | 6 | 9 | 1.5 | 4 | 0 |
| Total | 22 | 74 | 3.4 | 15 | 0 |
Cincinnati abandoned the run after falling behind. Only 22 attempts all game.
Kansas City Offensive Distribution
Receiving Breakdown
| Receiver | Pos | Tgt | Rec | Yards | Avg | Long | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rashee Rice | WR | 6 | 5 | 75 | 15.0 | 44 | 1 |
| Isiah Pacheco | RB | 5 | 5 | 21 | 4.2 | 13 | 0 |
| Travis Kelce | TE | 3 | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 5 | 0 |
| Wanya Morris | OT | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 1 |
Rushing Leaders
| Runner | Att | Yards | Avg | Long | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isiah Pacheco | 19 | 90 | 4.7 | 13 | 0 |
| Patrick Mahomes | 4 | 29 | 7.3 | 15 | 0 |
| Others | 9 | 30 | 3.3 | – | 0 |
| Total | 32 | 149 | 4.7 | 15 | 0 |
Kansas City committed to the run with 32 attempts. Pacheco’s 19 carries kept defense honest. The report noted Carson Steele lost a fumble that was forced and recovered by Germaine Pratt.
Kansas City committed to the run despite trailing. Pacheco’s 19 carries kept defense honest.
Three Game-Changing Moments
1. The Scoop-and-Score
When: 4th Quarter, 9:52 remaining
Score: CIN 22, KC 16
Situation: 3rd & 10 at CIN 34
Burrow took a seven-step drop. Protection held initially. Mike Danna beat left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. around the edge. Tershawn Wharton pushed through the A-gap. They met at Burrow simultaneously. Ball hit the turf. Chamarri Conner scooped at the Cincinnati 38. Clear path to the end zone. Arrowhead erupted. Chiefs led 23-22 without their offense stepping on the field.
2. Chase’s Costly Penalty
When: 4th Quarter, 4:24 remaining
Score: KC 23, CIN 22
Situation: 3rd & 7 at KC 47
Burrow hit Chase for 4 yards. Short of the sticks. Chase immediately turned to side judge. Words exchanged. Flag thrown. Unsportsmanlike conduct. Fifteen yards. Instead of 4th & 3 in field goal range, Cincinnati faced 3rd & 22 from their own 38. Drive dead. Momentum gone.
3. The Phantom Flag
When: 4th Quarter, 0:48 remaining
Score: CIN 25, KC 23
Situation: 4th & 16 at KC 35
Season on the line. Mahomes rolled right. Heaved toward Rashee Rice near the sideline. Ball fell incomplete. Cincinnati players celebrated. Then they saw the flag. Daijahn Anthony called for pass interference. Twenty-nine yard penalty. Automatic first down. Chiefs at the Cincinnati 36. Butker’s range.
Defensive Performances
Tackle Leaders
| Player | Team | Total | Solo | Ast | TFL | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germaine Pratt | CIN | 16 | 7 | 9 | – | 0 |
| Logan Wilson | CIN | 12 | 7 | 5 | – | 0 |
| Leo Chenal | KC | 6 | 5 | 1 | – | 0 |
| Chamarri Conner | KC | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | – |
Impact Plays
| Player | Team | FF | FR | INT | PD | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germaine Pratt | CIN | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cam Taylor-Britt | CIN | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Akeem Davis-Gaither | CIN | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Chamarri Conner | KC | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Leo Chenal | KC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Pass Rush Impact
Trey Hendrickson led Cincinnati with 2 sacks of Patrick Mahomes. The report noted he had “six pressures on 30 pass rushes” with what was called “a 32% win rate.”
Chris Jones: Zero sacks, zero official tackles per the game report. But Cincinnati threw 151 of 258 passing yards to tight ends on quick releases. That’s the Chris Jones effect – warping the entire offensive game plan without recording a stat.
Special Teams: The Difference
Field Goal Performance
| Kicker | 0-29 | 30-39 | 40-49 | 50+ | Total | XP | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrison Butker (KC) | 0/0 | 1/1 | 0/0 | 1/1 | 2/2 | 2/2 | 8 |
| Evan McPherson (CIN) | 1/1 | 1/1 | 1/1 | 1/1 | 4/4 | 1/2 | 13 |
The Missing Point: McPherson’s missed extra point after Cincinnati’s third-quarter touchdown. One point. One-point loss.
Field Position Battle
| Punter | Team | Punts | Gross | Net | In 20 | TB | Longest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Araiza | KC | 2 | 56.0 | 52.5 | 2 | 0 | 63 |
| Ryan Rehkow | CIN | 2 | 49.0 | 44.0 | 0 | 0 | 54 |
Araiza’s punts pinned Cincinnati deep twice. Field position matters in one-point games.
Postgame Perspective
The handshake between Burrow and Mahomes was described in the report as “brief” and “frustrated” from Burrow’s end. Quick grip, quicker release. The frustration was understandable.
Burrow’s 2024 campaign would finish with league-leading numbers: 4,918 yards, 43 touchdowns. Mahomes struggled through what the report called “a relative down year for him in terms of passing production.” Didn’t matter on September 15.
Cincinnati outgained Kansas City by 34 yards. Won time of possession by three minutes. Forced two more turnovers. Lost by one point.
The report called it “an instant classic” in their rivalry. Six straight games decided in the fourth quarter between these teams. That’s why America tunes in.
FAQ Section
What was the final score?
Kansas City Chiefs 26, Cincinnati Bengals 25. Harrison Butker hit a 51-yard field goal as time expired.
How did Burrow and Mahomes compare statistically?
Burrow: 23/36, 258 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 103.7 rating.
Mahomes: 18/25, 151 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT, 80.6 rating.
Burrow had better numbers but the costly fumble.
Who were the leading receivers?
Mike Gesicki led Cincinnati with 91 yards on 7 catches. Rashee Rice paced Kansas City with 75 yards on 5 catches plus a 44-yard TD.
What were the key plays?
Three plays decided it: Chamarri Conner’s 38-yard fumble return TD, Ja’Marr Chase’s 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and Daijahn Anthony’s pass interference on 4th-and-16.
How did the teams perform in the red zone?
Both teams scored TDs on 50% of red zone trips. Cincinnati went 2-for-4, Kansas City 1-for-2.
Was Travis Kelce injured?
No injury reported. Cincinnati’s defense limited him to 1 catch for 5 yards.
How many penalties impacted the game?
Cincinnati: 8 for 79 yards. Kansas City: 4 for 44 yards. Chase’s penalty and Anthony’s PI were the most costly.
What’s the all-time series record?
Cincinnati leads 18-17 overall but Kansas City has won 3 straight, including the 2023 AFC Championship.
The Cincinnati Bengals vs Kansas City Chiefs match player stats reveal why this rivalry captivates: elite quarterbacks, chess-match coaching, and games decided by inches. September 15, 2024 added another classic.
Sources:
Related Coverage:
