In this week’s review, the Cincinnati Bengals advance to the AFC Championship Game. Kerry Coombs comes back to Cincinnati Football. While two streaks continue for two local women’s College Basketball teams.

Cincinnati Bengals advance to the AFC Championship Game

Cincinnati Bengals fans didn’t have to wait another 31 years for their next playoff win. Instead, the Bengals and fans had to wait just one week. After the Bengals beat the AFC No.1 seed Tennessee Titans 19-16 last Saturday. Advancing through a last-second field goal from Evan McPherson. Clinching the Bengals first road playoff win in franchise history. Along with their first AFC Championship appearance since January 1989. Sunday’s title game will mark the furthest the Bengals have ever played into the month of January.

Cincinnati won despite quarterback Joe Burrow being sacked nine times. Despite Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill being sacked just once. Tannehill gave up three interceptions compared to Burrow’s one. The Bengals also managed to challenge Titans star running back Derrick Henry. Returning after missing several games due to an injury.

Jesse Bates III’s interception in the opening play from scrimmage was an early tone-setter. Bates, Logan Wilson and Mike Hilton all snagged interceptions for the Bengals. Beyond that, McPherson scored all of the Bengals points in the first half. As the Bengals took a 9-6 lead into halftime. Joe Mixon bounced back after missing the regular season finale on the COVID-19 reserve list. Then having an atypically sluggish game in the Wild Card round. Mixon scored the Bengals lone touchdown last Saturday in the third.

Now the Bengals turn their attention towards the AFC Championship Game. The Bengals will face the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City. In the Bengals’ first AFC title game on the road. Kansas City advanced to Championship Sunday through an overtime win against the Buffalo Bills. In the culmination of a spectacular divisional round weekend.

The divisional round could be dubbed the weekend of the kicker. All four games featured field goals to wrap up regulation. A shift after four of the six wild card games were blowouts. The KC vs Buffalo game was the only one that didn’t feature a game-winning field goal. Instead, University of Cincinnati alum and KC tight end Travis Kelce snagged the game-winning touchdown.

This coming Sunday’s AFC title game will be a rematch of their Week 17 game in Cincinnati. Decided through Evan McPherson’s game-winning field goal, securing the AFC North title for the Bengals. Cincinnati will face the task of winning the rematch in the fourth-consecutive AFC Championship game hosted by Kansas City. As the Chiefs strive for their third-consecutive Super Bowl appearance. While Cincinnati hopes to party like it’s early 1989. After exceeding many expectations in the early weeks of 2022.

Kerry Coombs returns to Cincinnati Football staff

Former Colerain High School Football coach Kerry Coombs is returning to Cincinnati. To be Cincinnati Football’s cornerbacks coach and special teams cooridinator. Succeeding Perry Eliano, who was recently hired to be Ohio State Football’s safeties coach. Coombs was most recently Ohio State’s defensive cooridinator. Rejoining Ohio State’s staff in 2020 after two seasons with the Tennessee Titans coaching staff.

He and Cincinnati Football head coach Luke Fickell were colleagues. During part of Coombs’ initial tenure with Ohio State from 2012-2017. Before joining Ohio State, Coombs was a defensive coach, special teams coach and associated head coach for Cincinnati. In a stretch from 2007-2011 after his sixteen years as Colerain’s head coach. Coombs’ hiring could provide Cincinnati with a defensive and recruiting boost.

The local college basketball roundup

Men’s Basketball

Going into Monday morning ranked No.20 in the AP Top 25. Xavier Basketball had a gritty 68-67 win at DePaul Basketball last Wednesday. Xavier trailed for most of that game but took a late lead thanks to a Jack Nunge free throw. Then managed to fend off an attempted buzzer beater from DePaul. Through a near steal and a missed three-point attempt from DePaul’s Jalen Terry.

Xavier subsequently stumbled with a 75-64 loss at Marquette Basketball last Sunday. While Xavier trailed closely behind or had small leads for most of the game. Marquette broke away with the lead midway through the second half. Keeping the lead through the rest of the game. Joining a few other top 25 teams that lost last week.

In their lone game of the week, Cincinnati Basketball beat Tulsa Basketball 90-69 last Thursday in Cincinnati. Led by Jeremiah Davenport’s game-leading 24 points. David DeJulius also outpaced Tulsa’s leading scorer with 22. One ahead of Tulsa’s leading scorer in this game Darien Jackson. Mika Adams-Woods also had a game-leading performance with seven assists.

Northern Kentucky Basketball won both of their games last week. Joining Xavier in the club of local teams having close wins in Chicago. Through beating UIC Basketball in overtime 74-70 last Thursday. Northern Kentucky also joined the Bengals in the local winning on the road last Saturday club. Wrapping up a four-game road trip through beating IUPUI Basketball 60-41.

Women’s Basketball

The Bengals aren’t the only local team on a roll so far in 2022. Northern Kentucky extended their winning streak to nine last week. Through sweeping rival and defending Horizon League Tournament champions Wright State. Winning 77-59 last Thursday at NKU and 82-79 at Wright State Basketball last Saturday. Moving up to 13-3 overall and 7-2 in Horizon League play.

Meanwhile, Xavier is still striving for their first win of 2022. Extending their losing streak to five games over the weekend. Losing at home 46-65 to Marquette last Friday. On Sunday, Xavier lost at home to DePaul 74-94. Cincinnati moved up to .500 overall after winning both of their games last week. Beating Houston Basketball on the road 71-56 last Wednesday. Then beating UCF Basketball in Cincinnati 61-57 last Saturday.

What to watch this week (barring COVID-19 postponements)

AFC Championship Game

Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday at 3:05 PM Eastern on CBS.

Men’s College Basketball

Northern Kentucky vs. Wright State, Tuesday at 7 PM Eastern on ESPN+ and WSAI-AM (1360).

Cincinnati at Temple, Tuesday at 7 PM Eastern on ESPNU and WLW-AM (700).

No.21 Xavier vs. Providence, Wednesday at 6:30 PM Eastern on CBS Sports Network and WLW-AM (700).

Northern Kentucky vs. Purdue Fort Wayne, Friday at 7 PM Eastern on Bally Sports Ohio and WCKY-AM (1530).

No.21 Xavier at Creighton, Saturday at 2 PM Eastern on FS1 and WLW-AM (700).

Cincinnati at East Carolina, Sunday at Noon Eastern on ESPNU and WLW-AM (700).

Northern Kentucky vs. Cleveland State, Sunday at 2 PM Eastern on Bally Sports Ohio and WKRC-AM (550).

Women’s College Basketball

Cincinnati at Temple, Wednesday at 7 PM Eastern on ESPN+.

Northern Kentucky vs. Milwaukee, Thursday at 7 PM Eastern on ESPN+.

Xavier at Georgetown, Friday at 7 PM Eastern on FloSports.

Northern Kentucky vs. Green Bay, Saturday at 2 PM Eastern on ESPN+.

Cincinnati vs. Tulsa, Saturday at 2 PM Eastern on ESPN+.

Xavier at Villanova, Sunday at 2 PM Eastern on FloSports.