KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Harrison Butker booted a 51-yard field goal in the final seconds of the game and the Kansas City Chiefs survived a pass interference call by Bengals safety Diane Anthony on fourth down in the final seconds of the game to beat Cincinnati 26-25 on Sunday.
Patrick Mahomes threw for 151 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, but the deciding factor was an incomplete pass to Ruchy Rice on fourth down and 16 from the Kansas City 35.
Anthony arrived just a split second early, tackled Rice from behind, the flag was waved with 38 seconds left and the Arrowhead Stadium crowd erupted.
The penalty came just after the Chiefs had a long fourth-down gain negated by a penalty of their own.
A pass interference call put the Chiefs at the Cincinnati 36, and the Chiefs ran a few plays to buy time for the long-legged Butker, who turned around and began walking off the field before the ball cleared the goalposts.
Joe Burrow threw for 258 yards and two touchdowns, both to Andre Iosivas, as the Bengals (0-2) were held scoreless in three straight games against one of their biggest rivals.
That includes a loss to Kansas City in the AFC Championship Game.
Chamari Connor returned a fumble 37 yards for a touchdown for the Chiefs, and big-bodied offensive tackle Wanya Morris, who nearly cost his team a game-winning penalty in the final minute, had a touchdown reception on a day filled with bizarre plays.
It was Kansas City's second victory decided on the final play since beating Baltimore 27-20 in the season opener.
The Chiefs struggled in their opener as Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely only had nine catches for 111 yards and one score.
And with Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins out with a hamstring injury, Burrow relied heavily on his own tight ends Drew Sample, Mike Gesicki and rookie Eric Ole Jr. to run an offense that was completely ineffective last weekend against New England.
Sample and Gesicki gained most of the yards on the opening drive that produced a field goal.
A few minutes later, Orr's catch after Mahomes was passed by Hakeem Davis-Gaither helped set up Iosibas' touchdown reception.
Mahomes eventually atoned for the interception with a 44-yard touchdown pass to Rice, tying the score, through the outstretched fingers of Cam Taylor-Britt.
But otherwise, Andy Reid's high-powered offense was held in neutral and trailed 16-10 at halftime.
All this and the mayhem was just beginning.
The Chiefs took the lead early in the second half, when Mahomes hit the tackle-eligible, 310-pound Morris for a touchdown.
The Bengals responded on fourth-and-goal when Burrow connected on a second pass with Iosibas, but a few minutes later Burrow had the ball stripped and Conner scored another touchdown on a 37-yard fumble return.
Evan McPherson's fourth field goal gave the Bengals a 25-23 lead with 5:12 left, and the defense got the ball back.
However, with 2 minutes and 59 seconds remaining, the Chiefs forced a punt, giving Mahomes and co. a chance to decide the game.
