TYLER BOYD

Three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald.

Nearly every time the Kansas City Chiefs got pressure on Joe Burrow in the AFC championship game, he managed to pull off a surprising escape.

Across both Super Bowl rosters, there is a great divide.

(AP Photo/AJ Mast) (AJ Mast)CINCINNATI — (AP) — What mostly was a tense game between teams with long playoff droughts was disrupted Saturday by some problematic officiating. The Bengals beat the Raiders 26-19 in an AFC wild-card matchup that ended Cincinnati's 31-year run without a postseason victory. The margin was Joe Burrow's 10-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Boyd late in the second quarter on which the quarterback barely was in bounds when he threw the ball. Players on the field for the Raiders, who haven't won a playoff game since taking the 2002 AFC championship, protested a bit — to no avail. The network's officiating analyst, Terry McAulay, believed the play should have been negated and the ball placed back at the Raiders 10.

A mostly tense game between teams with long playoff droughts was disrupted by some problematic officiating.

Joe Burrow led an efficient offense that scored on six drives, including two of his touchdown passes, and rookie Evan McPherson made four field goals as the Cincinnati Bengals finally advanced in the playoffs with a 26-19 win over Las Vegas in Saturday’s wild-card game.

Evan McPherson kicked a 20-yard field goal as time ran out, and the Cincinnati Bengals earned their first AFC North title and postseason appearance in six years with a wild 34-31 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Joe Burrow threw for a franchise-record 525 yards and four touchdowns, and the Cincinnati Bengals took sole possession of first place in the AFC North with a 41-21 win over the depleted Baltimore Ravens.

The Tennessee Titans lost to a winless team last week.

Evan McPherson kicked a 35-yard field goal as time ran out to give the Cincinnati Bengals a 24-21 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night, spoiling Urban Meyer’s Ohio return.

Bengals Steelers Football Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd (83) dives past Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Joe Schobert (93) for a touchdown during the first half an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar)PITTSBURGH — (AP) — Joe Burrow threw for 178 yards and three touchdowns, including two to rookie Ja'Marr Chase, and the Cincinnati Bengals handled the listless Pittsburgh Steelers 24-10 on Sunday. The Bengals did it by protecting Burrow. The Steelers failed to register a sack, ending their NFL-record streak of 75 games with at least one quarterback takedown. The Bengals beat up the 39-year-old Roethlisberger, sacking him four times and knocking him down a handful of others.

Joe Burrow threw for 178 yards and three touchdowns and the Cincinnati Bengals handled the listless Pittsburgh Steelers 24-10.

(AP Photo/Ron Schwane, File)The NFL cites outside influences for the most recent set of positive coronavirus tests, including exposures during the holiday season. There were 21 new confirmed positive tests among players and 37 among other personnel in the league’s latest round of testing for COVID-19. Dr. Allen Sills, the league's chief medical officer, referred to three sources of exposure: household, outside medical providers, and community/social settings. "They apply for seven days following (a team's) elimination, and include daily testing and other protocols that will remain in place. It expects to have seven games with fans in the stadium on Sunday when every team finishes the regular season.

(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)Dwayne Haskins gets his second consecutive start for Washington with quarterback Alex Smith out again because of a right calf injury. Philadelphia receiver DeSean Jackon is active against Dallas after missing two months with an ankle injury. Harrison being inactive against the Rams comes as the Seahawks welcome defensive tackle Bryan Mone back from injured reserve following a lengthy stint because of an ankle injury. The Rams were without rookie running back Cam Akers, who had already been ruled out with an ankle injury. Washington: QB Alex Smith, RB Lamar Miller, WR Terry McLaurin, OT David Steinmetz, LB Kevin Pierre-Louis, LB Thomas Davis.

There was pushing and shoving, and Bengals safety Shawn Williams and Miami receivers DeVante Parker and Mack Hollins were ejected. He threw for 167 yards in the pivotal third quarter, when the Dolphins rallied from a 7-6 halftime deficit to mount three scoring drives. The Bengals, leading 7-3, were also penalized 15 yards on the play for unnecessary roughness by Boyd, which may have cost them points. Miami then moved 27 yards in the final minute and kicked a field goal to trail 7-6 at halftime. Bengals: Left tackle Jonah Williams (right knee) was carted off the field in the fourth quarter.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) talks with wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones after Peoples-Jones' touchdown reception during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)CINCINNATI – Baker Mayfield overcame a terrible start to throw for five touchdowns, including a 24-yard go-ahead score to Donovan Peoples-Jones with 15 seconds left, and the Cleveland Browns outdueled the Cincinnati Bengals 37-34 on Sunday. Nursing sore ribs, Mayfield started 0 for 5 — including an interception on his first attempt of the game. Rashard Higgins had six catches for 110 yards, and tight end Harrison Bryant had two touchdown catches. MISSING PIECESThe Bengals had lost Mixon (foot) and cornerback William Jackson III (concussion) to injuries during the week.

Cincinnati Bengals outside linebacker Jordan Evans (50) celebrates late in the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Cincinnati, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020. The Bengals defeated the Jaguars 33-25. After linebacker Jordan Evans intercepted a tipped Gardner Minshew pass, the Bengals started on Jacksonville’s 40 and got nowhere, Burrow overthrowing an open A.J. The Jags added a field goal with 8 seconds left, but the ensuing onside kick was unsuccessful. He missed a 48-yard field goal in the first quarter but converted on four others, including a 50-yarder in the second half.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020, in Cleveland. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow, who threw three TD passes and showed incredible poise in just his second game. Burrow's third TD pass — a 9-yarder to Tyler Boyd with 43 seconds left — pulled the Bengals within five, but the Browns recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock. But the reigning Heisman Trophy winner matched Mayfield pass for pass and showed why the Bengals believe he can turn them around. Uzomah in the second quarter, but Cincinnati's defense couldn't slow down the Browns and Mayfield tossed a 6-yard TD pass to a wide-open Hunt gave Cleveland a 21-10 lead.

FILE - In this Dec. 1, 2019, file photo, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. The Bengals used their franchise tag on A.J. Green signed his one-year, $17.9 million contract Friday after the deadline passed for agreeing to a long-term deal with the Cincinnati Bengals. The club used its franchise tag on Green, who missed all last season with an ankle injury. After nine years of Green teaming with quarterback Andy Dalton, the Bengals made a clean break following a 2-14 finish.