The Cincinnati Bengals will make their first AFC Championship appearance since Jan. 8, 1989 - against the Bills in Buffalo or the Chiefs in Kansas City - after their thrilling 19-16 playoff win against the Titans on Saturday in Nashville.
The Bengals beat Buffalo in that AFC title game in 1989. And Cincinnati defeated the San Diego Chargers in the AFC Championship on Jan. 10, 1982, their only other appearance in the conference championship.
There were several key contributors to the Bengals' win. Jessie Bates III, Mike Hilton and Logan Wilson all had interceptions of Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Clay Johnston stopped Derrick Henry on Tennessee's 2-point conversion try in the first half. Joe Mixon scored the Bengals' only touchdown of the game. And Evan McPherson converted all four of his field-goal attempts, including the game-winner as time expired from 52 yards away.
"I just want to say I want to leave early so I can go to the Mt. Lookout Tavern to get the game ball," NFL analyst and former Bengals quarterback Boomer Esiason said during CBS' post-game show. "You know this whole new thing that Zac Taylor started with giving the game ball to the city of Cincinnati and to the local establishments there. Wherever he brings that ball tonight, it's gonna be one hell of a party."
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