Cincinnati Bengals Dominate Buffalo Bills in the Snow, Advance to AFC Championship

So much for home-field advantage. The Cincinnati Bengals dismantled the Buffalo Bills in snowy Orchard Park on Sunday, cruising to an easy 27-10 win and ruining the NFL's plans for a neutral-field AFC Championship game between the Bills and Kansas City Chiefs. Instead, the Bengals will travel to Kansas City to face off against a Chiefs team they've beaten in three consecutive games.

The @Bengals clinch the W with an INT! #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/bxlG9RmXJG
— NFL (@NFL) January 22, 2023

The Bengals entered the game down three starting offensive linemen, but you'd never know it. The Bengals pushed around the Bills' second-ranked scoring defense all day, piling up 172 rushing yards on 34 attempts and a colossal 30 first downs. Quarterback Joe Burrow was efficient and cool, netting 240 pass yards on 37 dropbacks and enjoying consistently clean pockets. The Bengals marched up and down the field at will, scoring on their first two possessions to take a 14-0 lead and never letting the Bills have the ball with a chance at the lead.

The Bills failed to show up on both sides of the ball. The offense opened the game with consecutive three-and-outs and struggled through the air and on the ground. Quarterback Josh Allen netted 263 passing yards on 43 dropbacks, and Bills runners totalled a mere 63 yards on 19 carries. There were no haunting if-onlys, back-breaking mistakes, or missed opportunities. The Bills were dominated; all they can do is tip their cap and hope to come back stronger next year.

The Bengals will visit the Kansas City Chiefs for the second straight postseason next Sunday. The Bengals have topped the Chiefs in three straight opportunities, including 27-24 in overtime in last year's AFC Championship.