Getty Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay.
During the second quarter of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 17 home game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay went viral on social media after he was caught on camera having a heated exchange with defensive end Charles Omenihu on the sideline.
The argument reached a point where fellow linebacker Nick Bolton and a Chiefs staffer had to restrain Gay.
The exchange took place following an 8-play, 24-yard drive by the Bengals that resulted in a touchdown via a 1-yard scramble by Cincinnati QB Jake Browning. That score, which came in the wake of a strip-sack on QB Patrick Mahomes and a fumble recovery by Cincy, put the Bengals up 17-7 at that point in the game.
Chiefs Defense Carries KC to Victory
The Chiefs scraped out a 25-17 victory over the Bengals in Week 17 to improve to 10-6 and clinch the AFC West title for an 8th consecutive season.
In a game in which Cincinnati dominated the time of possession in the first half, Kansas City’s defense shut out the Bengals in the second half. In the end, the Chiefs defense allowed 263 yards of total offense, sacked Browning 6 times — 3 of which were on Cincy’s final offensive drive of the game — and allowed 3.7 yards per play, per ESPN.
Bolton was the team’s leading tackler (13), and defensive end George Karlaftis led the team in sacks (1.5) and also had 5 tackles and 3 QB hits.
As for the Chiefs’ offense, they did just enough to win. Mahomes completed 21-of-29 pass attempts for 245 yards, 1 touchdown, and also lost a fumble. Kansas City’s leading receiver was rookie Rashee Rice, who caught 5-of-6 targets for a career-high 127 yards. Running back Isiah Pacheco was also dominant on the ground, carrying the ball 18 times for a career-high 130 yards.
Yet the player of the game was kicker Harrison Butker. He made all 6 of his field goal attempts and was the only player on either team to score points in the second half.
Twitter/X Reacts to Chiefs’ Victory
Users on X, formerly Twitter, reacted to Kansas City’s Week 17 victory.
“Minus the strip sack early in the game, this is how the Chiefs get back to the Super Bowl. No turnovers, take the FG even when it’s frustrating, play great defense,” Nick Roesch of A to Z Sports wrote.
“This game was the entire formula for the playoffs. Lean on the run game, throw deep shots, play great defense,” one user wrote.
“Never let MVS (Marquez Valdes-Scantling) [see] the field for the rest of the season and give Rice more snaps, and stop playing conservative, and we might have a shot. Happy New Year,” another user wrote.
“Been a harder year than expected but winning the AFC West 8 straight years is an insane stat. Chiefs will not be fun for anyone in the playoffs,” another user wrote.
“Congrats on barely beating a team with an undrafted back-up QB, no offensive line, and only scoring 1 TD against the 31st ranked defense in the league. Oh, and with the officials in your pocket. You’ll do great in the playoffs,” another user wrote.
“Definitely feeling the heat this football season; that title run showed some serious hustle and drive,” another user wrote. “Let’s keep that momentum going!”
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