The Cincinnati Bengals have a young, unproven offense, and a fan base that had pored over All-22 film breakdowns long enough to demand the team draft an offensive lineman last April to shore up its future. Riding high off a Week 16 win over the Baltimore Ravens, the Bengals figured that facing Patrick Mahomes and a savvy Kansas City Chiefs team on Sunday would remind them how much growing they would need to reach the A.F.C.’s golden standard.
In a 34-31 upset, the Bengals (10-6) proved that choosing wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase in the 2021 N.F.L. draft was the gap closer the team needed.