>> Some are calling it the greatest football weekend of all time.
>> McPherson trying to kick the Bengals into the AFC championship. He's got it. Cincinnati wins.
>> Yeah.
>> We're going to win this.
>> And the Rams are in position with four seconds remaining. Hits it. It is good.
>> Moments etched in history.
>> And it is good.
>> Has kicked the 49ers to victory.
>> And the game that will define a generation.
>> Fires to the end zone, caught. Touchdown, Buffalo. Are you kidding me?
>> 13 seconds remaining. It will take a miracle for Kansas City, but it's not over yet.
>> The kick is good. It's going to overtime. For the win. He caught it. Chiefs to the championship game.
>> Gosh, I can't believe what we just saw.
>> This is the greatest playoff game I've ever seen.
>> It was the perfect script. But that was then. This is now.
>> And the Rams are blowing it open.
>> Championship Sunday. Four teams collide. For a trip to Super Bowl LVI.
JAMES BROWN: For a record fourth consecutive year, it's Championship Sunday here in Arrowhead Stadium. Hey, folks, it is a beautiful day in Kansas City, Missouri. 42 degrees with very little wind. What we call perfect weather for football.
Today the hungry 4 seed Cincinnati Bengals look to continue their improbable run as they try to conquer the Kings of the conference, the 2 seed Kansas City Chiefs. A third straight Super Bowl appearance is at stake for the Chiefs while the Bengals try to return to the biggest stage for the first time since when, Boom?
BOOMER ESIASON: That would be 1988. How about Patrick Mahomes? Welcome to Arrowhead Stadium, everyone, home of the Patrick Mahomes invitational. Four straight championship games. He's on the road to eternal greatness.
NATE BURLESON: There's Joe Burrow. We actually call him Joe Brr because he's as cold as ice. Last time he faced this defense, lit them up.
BILL COWHER: Travis Kelce. Call him Mr. Clutch. He caught the game winning walkoff touchdown from Patrick Mahomes last week.
PHIL SIMMS: Ja'Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals. Week 16, 11 catches, 266 yards, four touchdowns. J.B., he's good.
JAMES BROWN: And hello folks and welcome to "The NFL Today," presented by Ram Trucks. I'm James Brown. Thrilled to be joined by my accomplished colleagues. They've been on big stages before. Two-time Super Bowl champion, Phil Simms. Need you say more than these three words, the Hall of Fame coach Bill Cowher? The Emmy award winning and multi-talented Nate Burleson. And the former league MVP, folks behind that smile, he does have his game face on indeed.
Hey, a Super Bowl trip to Hollywood is on the line, but not to worry. The stars are out in Kansas City today as well. We've got Joe Mixon. We've got Ja'Marr Chase, Joe Burrow versus Tyreek Hill. Travis Kelce and the magician himself, Patrick Mahomes.
PHIL SIMMS: Patrick Mahomes, here we are a week after the playoff game last week, J.B., and everybody's still talking about Buffalo and Kansas City. Patrick Mahomes, the last two minutes was absolutely outstanding. Look at the numbers he put up. He led Kansas City back to the win.
Listen, he was good the whole game. His pocket movement during the game to buy extra time to throw was tremendous. Good decisions. Nobody open, don't worry. Seven rushes for 69 yards. Nate, he's a superstar.
NATE BURLESON: And Joe Burrow is a superstar in the making. Sometimes it's not the throws that he makes because we know he can make the big play. It's the throws he doesn't take because he lives to play another down. This is our NFL leader in completion percentage. That combination with him and Chase, they're fantastic.
BOOMER ESIASON: I worry about protecting Joe Burrow. Nine sacks last week, Jeffery Simmons and Harold Landry were all over them. How about Melvin Ingram last week against the Bills? Chris Jones on the right side of the offensive line of the Cincinnati Bengals are going to have their hands full today.
BILL COWHER: Kansas City Chiefs, 11-1 those last 12 games, but that one loss was against the Cincinnati Bengals team four weeks ago. Why did the Cincinnati Bengals win, great job of containing Travis Kelce with five catches. Tyreek Hill had six catches, under 70 yards, no touchdowns. Now what happens? Let the chess match begin.
JAMES BROWN: You would think there would be just a little bit of nerves, not for that guy there, Patrick Mahomes, but certainly when you think about Zac Taylor as he prepares for the biggest game of his short career. Earlier today, our own Evan Washburn caught up with the Bengals head coach.
EVAN WASHBURN: Thanks as always for the time, good to see you. On this stage in this moment with a young team that obviously comes in here confident, how do you want them to approach the moment this afternoon?
ZAC TAYLOR: We asked for their best seven days of preparation since they've been Bengals, and they've been confident. Now we have to make more plays than they do.
EVAN WASHBURN: You saw this team, beat this team four weeks ago. You do a nice job of laying out what needs to happen to win. What does a game on the Bengals terms look like this afternoon?
ZAC TAYLOR: It comes down to somebody winning the game, not losing the game. Who's going to make the big plays down the stretch? Who's going to be better situationally? Our guys understand that and are focused on that.
EVAN WASHBURN: Thanks for the time. Enjoy it.
ZAC TAYLOR: Thanks, we will.
BILL COWHER: He will enjoy it. I went to the AFC championship game by second year. They're more relaxed. They just won four weeks ago against this team. They're coming in confident and.
JAMES BROWN: It has been a fruitful year to say the least for Zac Taylor and looks like it could get even better this off-season. For the latest news around the league, let's go to our NFL today insider Jason La Canfora.
JASON LA CANFORA: Zac Taylor has two years left on his initial deal. Ownership is thrilled with his work, and a new contract is on tap. The Bengals have an explosive young corps for years to come and want the coaching staff secured as well. Tom Brady has yet to announce his intentions for 2022, but numerous sources close to the QB expect him to retire shortly. The Buccaneers front office is bracing for his formal departure, and many of Brady's teammates anticipate him bidding a farewell soon.
And the Patriots working to make offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels their head coach. He knows Brady pretty well too, Boom.
BOOMER ESIASON: If Tom Brady does decide to retire, what a 22-year career he put up. This young man already in his fifth season, four championship games, and trying to get to a third Super Bowl.
>> Coming up on the AFC championship edition of "The NFL Today," last week Patrick Mahomes was a miracle worker, leading the Chiefs to a high wire victory against the Bills. This week he sat down with Tracy Wolfson to give his insight into the magical win.
>> He said, when it looks grim, be the grim reaper.
>> All season long, Ja'Marr Chase has been sliming some of the best cornerbacks in the NFL, so who better to sit down with him this week than Nickelodeon's own young Dylan?
Tonight Jimmy G. And the Niners look to keep on rolling as they take on Aaron Donald and company in Los Angeles. Find out who the guys think will be headed back to SoFi in two weeks to play in Super Bowl LVI. All that and more when "The NFL Today" returns on CBS.
(Break.)
JAMES BROWN: Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow are only one year apart, but there's a large gap in terms of experience. Of course, Mahomes has been here before many times, but that doesn't matter to Joe Burrow. Just like Mahomes, he's stone cold. More to come.
(Break.)
JAMES BROWN: Welcome back, folks. Certainly that gets me fired up for this matchup today and excited for halftime and the world premier trailer of an all new original series Halo streaming this March exclusively on Paramount Plus.
>> Wow, you can really dance.
[Music]
NATE BURLESON: And there's Tyreek Hill. Oh, no, that is Ja'Marr Chase. He knows how to dance, that's for sure. Throughout the season, Bengals rookie Ja'Marr Chase has been wowing fans both young and old. So this week, my friend and Nickelodeon's own young Dylan had a chance to chat with the star wideout. They covered everything from teammate nicknames to the secret of a perfect griddle.
>> What's up? It's your boy Young Dylan, and "The NFL Today" gave me the best assignment ever. I get to interview the Bengals star rookie wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase. Let's hit him up. What's up, Jamar?
>> Good. How you feeling?
>> The Bengals look like a for real lit team. Why is that?
>> We lit because we're always having a lot of fun on the field. All that making a bond with us. Once we're bonding together as a unit, that's when the fun begins to start.
>> Ja'Marr Chase doing the griddy.
>> I love your dancing on the field. When you hit that griddy on the field, it just looks like magic.
>> Appreciate it, bro. I got more coming.
>> Can you give me some tips on how to make my griddy better?
>> When you're doing the griddy, you want to get on your heels, make sure your heel's tapping.
Basically, it's like tap dancing but you're tapping on your heels and skipping forward on it and giving a little arm swing, little B's up.
>> I play youth football, and we're always hitting the griddy when we win.
>> Burrow going deep into the end zone and caught by Chase. Oh, my goodness, what a grab.
>> Everyone calls Joe Burrow a bunch of nicknames. What is injury favorite nickname that you call him?
>> I call him J.B., but my favorite nickname what everybody call him is Joe Brrrr.
>> Oh, yeah, I was just ready to say that. I love calling him Joe Brrrr because he's ice cold on the field, man.
>> That's my favorite one.
>> Can you teach me the Bengals who dey chat.
>> Who dey, who dey, who dey think going to beat the Bengals? Noooobody.
>> There you go. Yes, sir.
>> Thank you for joining me, man. I'm definitely rooting for you guys to go to the Super Bowl. Good luck today.
>> Dylan, thank you, bro.
>> That was amazing. You see, Nate, that's how you do it. You should save me a seat at that desk.
NATE BURLESON: That's right, Young Dylan. I got you. I'm warming up your seat to take my position one day. Here's the crazy thing. Ja'Marr Chase is only ten years older than Young Dylan. He's a young superstar in this league.
PHIL SIMMS: Ja'Marr Chase has exceeded expectations when you talk about what he's done rookie year, of course teaming up with his old college buddy Joe Burrow. Let's keep it safe. Let's keep our eyes on him and let him catch the ball and rally for the tackle. Watch as he catches the football, makes the move, and outruns the Kansas City secondary as of course he has the football in his hand.
Then you change up, well, let's try to play him man to man coverage. Listen, this guy is big, he's strong, he's physical. Against Kansas City, outside against ward. At the last second, just that little push gets him out of the way. He makes the catch. Listen, this guy's got everything.
BILL COWHER: You take him away, there's more guys. This guy T. Higgins on the outside, Tyler Boyd on the outside. Great pass rush, and you get the check-down game and run the ball with this guy Joe Mixon. He can do both of those. And I can see them leaning on him to slow down the pass rush. Pass protection has been an issue for Joe Burrow.
NATE BURLESON: And how do you stop this offense? The defense for the Kansas City Chiefs has to step up. Tyrann Mathieu being back on the field helps. He's the quarterback of the defense and he'll stabilize the secondary. And Sneed is a playmaker. He has several pressures coming off the edge. When you see him coming off the line of scrimmage, he'll help to try to bring more pressure to Joe Burrow.
BOOMER ESIASON: In 2009, the Bengals hired Zac Taylor. In 2020 that led to Joe Burrow being the No. 1 overall pick. Last year in the 2021 draft with the fifth overall pick, they took Ja'Marr Chase, and they rekindled that friendship they had at LSU, and it's been unstoppable. Much like Patrick Mahomes has done here in Kansas City, Josh Allen is doing up in Buffalo, Joe Burrow is now doing it for the Cincinnati Bengals.
JAMES BROWN: Let Young Dylan know you've talked with the likes of Barry Gordie and the rest. You can interview pretty well. If you can't tell, it's a big day for our guy Boomer and the Bengals fans everywhere. Joining us now to deliver a message to the entire who dey nation, the host of Jim Rome show on CBS radio and simulcast on the CBS Sports network, Jim Rome.
JIM ROME: I'm guessing nobody besides my guy Boomer Esiason is picking the Bengals, and I can't figure out why. They have a generational talent in Joe Burrow, a phenom in Ja'Marr Chase, and a multitude of weapons that we know the Chiefs cannot cover. Plus, they just beat KC in week 17. They're utterly fearless, and they will not flinch on the big stage. Most of all, I am not leaving my guy Boomer out here on an island all by himself.
Yes, I am. I'm sorry, legend, but all good things must come to an end. Those turnstiles up front are not going to be able to protect Joe Cool. I saw what Patrick Mahomes did to the league's best defense last week. So I know what he's going to do today, and it will not be pretty. I hope I'm wrong for your sake, Boomer. But I'm usually not. Who dey, KC, today, J.B.
JAMES BROWN: Don't leave this guy out on an island by himself. He had the game-winning catch in overtime, that being Travis Kelce. Maybe even more impressively he orchestrated that 13-second drive.
(Break.)
JAMES BROWN: Time now for pregame HQ delivered by Domino's. Folks, you know what, you could write a book with all the apologies owed to Patrick Mahomes, those coming after his slow start to the season, and now he's leaving no doubt that he is that guy. Just when opposing teams start to come alive, leave it to the grim reaper to put them to rest.
And earlier this week, it was a meeting of the GOATs when the superstar quarterback sat down with our own superstar Tracy Wolfson.
TRACY WOLFSON: J.B., whether it's guiding the Chiefs in 13 seconds to a game-tying field goal or orchestrating a nearly flawless overtime, Patrick Mahomes once again showing why he's one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and also so unflappable under pressure. Now number 15 trying to take Kansas City back to the Super Bowl and regain that top spot in the NFL.
>> Kansas City wins it in overtime in one of the great divisional games of all time.
TRACY WOLFSON: Patrick, they are calling it the greatest game ever. Now you've had some time to kind of digest everything. How would you describe what went down on Sunday?
>> It was definitely pretty awesome. To be in that environment going against that team, quarterback of Josh's caliber, and to find a way to win it in the end and to be in Arrowhead and get to enjoy it with my teammates and fans that have been with us from the beginning, I'll never forget that.
TRACY WOLFSON: 13 seconds, Patrick. 13 seconds. So what did Andy Reid say to you before that?
>> He said, when it looks grim, be the grim reaper. At the time, I didn't necessarily take in what he was saying. I was just trying to find ways to win the game. But when you look back on it now, that definitely is a quote that will live on for ages.
TRACY WOLFSON: Take us through the pass to Kelce. It was a little backyard football, wasn't it?
>> Yeah, it was. Right before the play, they called time-out. Kelce just looked at me and said hey.
>> Hey, hey, they're playing like that. That seam is open.
>> I remember getting to the line of scrimmage and looking over and seeing him and thought hey, Kelce, do it, do it.
>> Down the middle. Oh, my goodness.
>> It worked out well for us.
>> The kick is good.
TRACY WOLFSON: So then you go to overtime, and then the pass to Kelce in the end zone.
>> I had Kelce on one-on-one coverage. I just threw him up the ball, and he made a great play, got his feet down. After that, it was celebration time.
>> Bowl game, Chiefs to the championship game.
TRACY WOLFSON: Celebration, elation, the place going nuts. But you still found a way to break away and sprint down the field to go find Josh Allen.
>> It was important to me because I had been in that position before, being in the overtime game and losing. To be able to go show him his respect, he deserved it after the way that he played. I pretty much told him we're going to do this a lot. This isn't going the end of our story going up against each other. There's going to be a lot of great battles for us in our career.
>> Great game.
TRACY WOLFSON: Andy Reid talked about the hunger getting back to the Super Bowl. He compared it to a piece of chocolate cake. How would you compare that hunger?
>> I'm not a huge chocolate cake fan. I'll eat it. But I'm more of a cookie cake or specialty cake kind of guy. There's definitely a big hunger. Whenever you win a Super Bowl and then you lose one, that drives you to get back to that game again and to get another chance at it. We're not looking ahead. The Bengals have already beat us once. We have to give it everything we have to beat them and get to that game again. When we have that hunger and we have that drive to do whatever it takes to get there.
PHIL SIMMS: Tracy, great interview with Patrick Mahomes. We talk about this guy, he's changing how quarterbacks are playing that position now in the NFL. Just a couple of examples as he kisses his wife good luck before the game.
How about this throw? The Dan quizenBerry submarine pitch of the Kansas City Royals. He's been doing this his whole life. On the run, drops the arm and makes the arm sore to watch it. The accuracy and power he throws it is just great. How about this? In the pocket, does a good job of standing in there. There's the pocket collapse. Buffalo has the perfect defense for this pass. Tyreek Hill's speed. Patrick Mahomes throwing the football with power and accuracy once again. Gets the touchdown for him.
Look, he has it all, Coach. Intangibles, personality, and of course great talent.
BILL COWHER: He's got a great coach. Talk about Andy Reid and what he's done through the course of time. His numbers speak for themselves, second only to Bill Belichick. He's a great judge of coaches. When you look at his coaching tree, he surrounds himself with teachers. One thing you love about him, he is a very calming influence in high stress situations. I talked to him before the game about a couple of hours ago, he said, you know what, we were 3-4. We had to regain our edge. Andy Reid is a master motivator. His players respond to him.
NATE BURLESON: Andy Reid is a great judge of talent. One of those guys is Tyreek Hill. I know he's nicknamed cheetah because of his speed, but he has great reflexes. And this man, the hybrid wide receiver/tight end, he can do it all. If you don't disrupt him at the line of scrimmage, he's going to make a big play.
BOOMER ESIASON: Patrick Mahomes hasn't changed since he got here five years ago. He's the same guy. He's so even keel. Look at these numbers. They're staggering. They're all here at Arrowhead Stadium. He's never had to go on the road. And that's where Joe Burrow's calmness and coolness is going to come in today to beat the Kansas City Chiefs.
JAMES BROWN: Even with the God given talent he brings to the table, I love the fact he wants to improve the fundamentals. If the Bengals want to make them uncomfortable, it starts with 91. Franchise record 14 sacks on the year in Trey Hendrickson. They'll need him to wreak havoc today.
(Break.)
JAMES BROWN: If last week was any indication, Chris Jones may have a chance to get reacquainted with Joe Burrow today. Jones had two sacks in the week 17 matchup, but like last week showed, when the pressure heats up, Joe Cool has ice in his veins.
>> Welcome to California.
>> Deebo 10, Deebo 5, touchdown.
>> Cooper Kupp, touchdown L.A. He is sacked. Aaron Donald.
>> He's pulled down by Nick Bosa.
>> Let's go.
JAMES BROWN: Well, all year long, the NFC West was among the toughest divisions of football, so it only makes sense for the two rivals to take it up a notch for the conference crown. Out in the city of Los Angeles with the latest on round 3 of Niners-Rams, the outstanding Melanie Collins. Hello, Melanie.
>> Hello, J.B. and thank you. Hi, guys. Let's start with two of the more pressing injury updates for this game. Rams left tackle Andrew Wentworth, full participant in practice this week. He is good to go for this game. Niners left tackle Trent Williams, on the other hand, bit more of a question mark. He missed practice all week with that high ankle sprain, and he remains a game-time decision.
The crazy stat we've been talking about all week long, 49ers have won six straight games over the Rams, and much of that success due to their do it all wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who's just been an absolute matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.
In the two games against the Rams this season, he has one passing touchdown, one receiving touchdown, and two rushing touchdowns. Guys, he is likely going to feel very much at home today in SoFi Stadium as they are predicting about 65 percent of this crowd will be 49ers fans. So hopefully, Matthew Stafford and that Rams offense have been perfecting the silent cadence all week long.
For more on this matchup, let's send it over to Jim Rome.
JIM ROME: You know that rap it's nearly impossible to beat the same team three times in one year, right? Not true. It does happen. Pretty frequently, in fact. Three in a row, as Melanie just mentioned, the Niners have beaten the Rams six times in a row. They're looking to make it seven today. And it could happen. It just better not.
As I said here earlier this season, the Rams were going to build a $5 billion stadium, and they were doing it to host and play in the Super Bowl and to win it. Today everything changes for one reason. Matthew Stafford. No, he's not Patrick Mahomes. He might not even be Joe Burrow. But he's also not Jimmy G. And they did not bring Stafford in just to get to this game. They brought him in to win it, and he will. He has to have it, and it says here, he will get it because, like I said here back in November, that is how we do it in Hollywood, J.B.
JAMES BROWN: The Hall of Famer is pretty definitive on that. As a matter of fact, time now to deliver our picks with Game Day Delivery presented by Amazon. Is Jim correct?
PHIL SIMMS: You know, look, both teams in this game have tremendous pass rushers to go, but I'm taking San Francisco over the Rams 21-20.
BILL COWHER: I like the way Jimmy Garoppolo is playing. He doesn't turn it overment I like San Francisco 27-20.
NATE BURLESON: You guys are out of your mind. Matthew Stafford is going to leave his Rams to a 24-21 victory.
BOOMER ESIASON: Jim Rome is wrong once again. I'm going with the San Francisco 49ers. I'm going to take them 27-24. Love the 49er defense.
JAMES BROWN: Folks, tell me in front of all these chief nation fans. Will Kansas City return to the Super Bowl?
PHIL SIMMS: Kansas City and Patrick Mahomes offense is on fire. Kansas 30-21 over Cincinnati.
BILL COWHER: Patrick Mahomes with a walkoff touchdown again. I like Kansas City 34-33.
NATE BURLESON: Going to be a close one. Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce step up big. KC wins 38-35.
BOOMER ESIASON: You guys are wrong. This is going to be a Cincinnati victory right at the end with an Evan McPherson three-pointer, 31-30 over the Chiefs.
JAMES BROWN: As we get closeer to the kickoff of the AFC championship, there's no question that the time is now as Tom Cruise explains.
>> Football. America's game. A sport that rewards hard work, sacrifice, dedication, and skill. A sport that challenges you to always get better, to never settle for second place. Because America doesn't root for the timid or the scared or those who back away from a challenge. We root for the bold, the brave, the risk takers who are pushed to their very limits to succeed. Because after all, life is more fun when it comes with a little action.
Today two teams take the field, two teams who have personified what it takes to make it to the top. Two teams who have outlasted their opponents, outsmarted the experts, and are prepared to prove once and for all who is the best of the best. The Kansas City Chiefs, a franchise coming off one of the most thrilling wins in playoff history with expectations as high as the sky and the talent to bring them to a third consecutive Super Bowl.
Standing in their way, the Cincinnati Bengals, a team that has spent the past year proving their critics wrong, a team who continues to shock the world. They are hungry. They're resilient. And they're determined to make this season their season. Two teams coming off heart pounding wins. Two organizations on the edge of history. Both committed to being the best of the best.
The stage is set. It's the Kansas City Chiefs against the Cincinnati Bengals in a dogfight for the AFC championship. So let's kick the tires and light the fires because the time is now.
JAMES BROWN: Well, if that doesn't get your heart pumping, a message from the Top Gun himself. A very special thank you to the superstar Tom Cruise. Folks, you can see more exciting action from him in Top Gun Maverick, that will be coming to theaters on May 27th.
Right now I see my guys. They've been on big stages before. They're all fired up and looking forward to it. It is time now for what everyone has been waiting for here at Arrowhead.
NATE BURLESON: Take a seat and buckle up. It's the AFC championship game. Bengals-Chiefs coming up next.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports