The tension was thick enough to cut with a dull knife. Honestly, by the time the Chiefs vs Bengals 2023 matchup rolled around on New Year’s Eve, the "Burrowhead" comments and the mayor’s trash talk from the previous January still felt like they happened yesterday. Fans were restless. The stakes? Massive.
For Kansas City, it wasn't just another game. They were stumbling. They had lost three of their last four, including a Christmas Day disaster against the Raiders that left everyone wondering if Patrick Mahomes had finally run out of magic. Cincinnati was fighting for their playoff lives without Joe Burrow, leaning on Jake Browning to keep the dream alive. It was messy, cold, and exactly what you’d expect from these two.
The Night Harrison Butker Became a Human Cheat Code
Kickers usually don't get the headlines. But on December 31, 2023, Harrison Butker basically decided he was the only person who needed to score. It was wild.
The Chiefs’ offense was, well, struggling. They kept getting into Cincy territory and then... nothing. Stalled drives. Frustrated looks from Mahomes. But Butker was a machine. He went 6-for-6. He hit from 54, 43, 27, 24, 48, and 46 yards. That’s 18 straight points to close out the game. Think about that for a second. The final score was 25-17. Butker accounted for nearly 80% of the Chiefs' points.
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- Career Highs: It was Butker's best game ever in terms of points (19) and makes (6).
- The Streak: He became the first kicker in NFL history to make six straight without a miss to account for the final 18 points of a win.
- Distance: Four of those kicks were from 40+ yards in blustery, freezing conditions.
It wasn't pretty. It was effective.
What Really Happened with the Mahomes-Burrow Narrative?
People forget that 2023 actually gave us two massive Chiefs vs Bengals games. Most of the hype lives with the AFC Championship game in January 2023. That’s the one where Mahomes was hobbling on one leg with a high-ankle sprain. That’s the game where Joseph Ossai’s late hit out of bounds handed the Chiefs the 15-yard penalty they needed to kick the winning field goal.
Before that game, Burrow was 3-0 against Mahomes. The media was calling it a "one-sided rivalry." But that 23-20 win in January changed everything. It broke the spell.
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Fast forward to the New Year's Eve game—the second Chiefs vs Bengals 2023 meeting. Burrow was on the sidelines with a wrist injury. Jake Browning was under center. Despite that, the Bengals jumped out to a 17-7 lead. It felt like they had the Chiefs' number regardless of who was playing quarterback. The Chiefs' defense had to wake up, and boy, did they. They recorded eight sacks. Eight. Chris Jones and George Karlaftis were essentially living in the Bengals' backfield by the fourth quarter.
Why the Animosity Still Matters
You’ve probably seen the clips of Ja'Marr Chase and L’Jarius Sneed. In the December game, they nearly came to blows. It resulted in offsetting personal fouls and a lot of pointing fingers. This isn't just "pro sports intensity." These teams genuinely don't like each other.
The Bengals feel like they are the only team that truly scares the Chiefs. The Chiefs feel like the Bengals are the loud neighbors who haven't earned the right to talk yet. Honestly, it’s the best rivalry in the AFC right now because it’s personal.
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Key Stats from the Dec 31 Matchup:
- Isiah Pacheco: 130 rushing yards (a career high at the time).
- Rashee Rice: 5 catches for 127 yards, including a massive 67-yarder that set up the lead.
- The Sacks: KC defense finished with 8 sacks, including back-to-back game-enders on the final drive.
- The Drops: KC receivers had their 40th drop of the season during this game. It was a recurring nightmare.
Moving Past the 2023 Season
So, what did we actually learn? The 25-17 win on New Year's Eve clinched the Chiefs' eighth consecutive AFC West title. It was the "ugly win" that supposedly fixed their momentum before they went on to win another Super Bowl. For Cincinnati, it was the end of the road. It eliminated them from playoff contention.
If you're looking to understand why these games always feel like a heavyweight fight, you have to look at the defensive adjustments. Steve Spagnuolo (KC's defensive coordinator) finally figured out how to stop the "explosive play" Bengals. By the second half of that December game, Cincinnati couldn't move the ball. They were held scoreless over their final seven possessions.
What to watch for in future matchups:
- The Secondary Battle: How the Bengals receivers handle the physical press coverage of the Chiefs' corners.
- Pressure Rates: Can Cincinnati's offensive line—which struggled immensely in 2023—actually hold up against Chris Jones?
- The "Kicker" Factor: Never overlook Butker. He is often the difference in a three-point game.
If you're following this rivalry, the best thing you can do is look at the film from the second half of that December game. It wasn't about flashy plays. It was about Kansas City's defense taking away the middle of the field and forcing Jake Browning into impossible situations.
Check the current injury reports and defensive schemes before the next time these two meet. The 2023 season proved that even without Joe Burrow on the field, the Chiefs vs Bengals 2023 energy remains the most volatile and must-watch football in the league.