And just like that, the Chiefs are inside the Bengals 40. Mahomes finds Kelce for the third time on this drive for 18 yards.

That was the first third-down conversion of this half for Kansas.

Strong start to this drive from Mahomes, connecting with Travis Kelce twice as the Chiefs move towards the Bengals' half.

That's 21 unanswered points for Cincinnati and that drive ate up nearly six minutes of clock.

Patrick Mahomes gets the ball with just over six minutes left and he needs to get the Chiefs offense going.

Field goal - Cincinnatipublished at 22:44 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2022

22:44 GMT 30 January 2022

Kansas City Chiefs 21-24 Cincinnati Bengals

A promising drive stalls on the Chiefs' 34-yard line so the Bengals bring out Evan McPherson - their ice-cool field goal kicker - who nails it from 52 yards.

Bengals ahead for the first time.

This drive has been all about Burrow's feet. This time he runs for 11 yards on third and long to keep the drive alive.

Image source, Reuters

Burrow comes up with a crucial first down, somehow evading the attention of Chris Jones, who gets a hand on the quarterback, to scramble for seven yards on third and six.

The Chiefs fail to take advantage of that crucial turnover.A short run, an incomplete pass and them Mahomes is sacked by Trey Hendrickson. Kansas are forced to punt from their own 43.

This game is turning into a topsy-turvy affair as the momentum shifts immediately.

On their first play since sacking Mahomes, Joe Burrow is intercepted by L'Jarius Sneed and the Chiefs get the ball back straight away.

The Bengals sack Patrick Mahomes to start the final quarter and it's three and out for the Chiefs.

Not the start the home side wanted at all.

Greg Brady
NFL pundit on Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

"I can't help thinking about those three points [just before half-time]. You had to get at least a field goal out of that. We wouldn't have a tie game right now if they had.

"Thrilling, strap yourselves in. What a fourth quarter we have to come."

It looks like we are heading for more fourth-quarter drama.

We all remember the mayhem of last week’s divisional games, with every one won on the final play.

This one seemed like it would be more straightforward after that flying start from the Chiefs, but the Bengals have slowly ground their way back and that Mahomes interception was a huge momentum shift.

I’m still thinking about the Chiefs passing up the chance for a field goal at the end of the first half. That could end up being a huge talking point.

Since that decision by Andy Reid, the Bengals have scored 18 points with no reply.

Just a few seconds left in the third quarter as the Chiefs look to regain the lead.

Patrick Mahomes finds Travis Kelce to calm some Kansas City nerves but this one is in the balance.

The Bengals are in the red zone thanks to that pick but Joe Mixon's run is stopped short and then Joe Burrow throws an incomplete pass.

Wow. Patrick Mahomes will want that one back.

The pocket breaks up and he's under a bit of pressure but it's still a very poor throw for a quarterback of his calibre, straight at Bengals tackle BJ Hill, who tips it in the air and then grabs it.

Always love the panoramic views of NFL stadiums - are there any steeper sporting arenas in the world? Does no one in the States suffer from a fear of heights?

Anyway, the Chiefs are bidding to close in on the heights of a third consecutive Super Bowl.

But, uh-oh....

Image source, Reuters

Field goalpublished at 22:07 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2022

22:07 GMT 30 January 2022

Kansas City Chiefs 21-13 Cincinnati Bengals

That sack forces the Bengals back quite considerably and they cannot make up the ground.

Evan McPherson nails a field goal straight down the middle and Cincinnati, who were 21-3 behind at one point, remember, are back within eight points.

A big pass interference call on Chiefs cornerback Rashad Fenton as he wraps an ar around Ja'Marr Chase.

Joe Mixon follows up with a 20-yard run but then, boom, Joe Burrow is sacked on the next play. That might be the game's first sack.

Andrew Priestley: The refs missed x2 clear penalties against the Bengals defence on that drive before they forced the punt. That’s now two Chiefs punts in succession after the goal-line stop at the very end of the first half. Are things starting to swing in the Bengals favour?

A Bengals touchdown on this drive would really throw this wide open.

It's a decent start but then running back Joe Mixon gets stuffed on a first-down dart - second down and 10 upcoming.

Oh, and what a play by Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow - he evades a sack and locates superstar rookie wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase for a 22-yard gain.