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The Kansas City Chiefs were in control of the game until the Cincinnati Bengal produced a stunning comeback to win 27-24.
The Cincinnati scored 21 unanswered points after they were down by 21.
Patrick Mahomes was picked off in overtime and Evan McPherson kicked Cincinnati to victory.
The San Francisco 49ers will play the Los Angeles Rams later on Sunday.
Kansas City was heavy favorites to book a third successive Super Bowl appearance and appeared to be cruising to victory when they opened up an 18-point lead.
The Bengals made a crucial stop just before half-time to limit their deficit, which quarterback Joe Burrow clawed back during the second half as his opposite number began to go awry.
Cincinnati, who were the worst team in the NFL two years ago with a 2-14 record, had not won a play-off game in 31 years, but they have now won three in a row.
This year has marked the first post-season campaign for the Cincinnati quarterback and he has already won two titles.
The difference in experience appeared to be telling in the first half as the Chiefs scored three times on their first three drives as the other team struggled to get a foothold.
A 10-yard pass to Tyreek Hill opened the scoring for the Chiefs and they quickly added two more scores.
Mecole Hardman was central to both, reeling in a 44-yard Mahomes pass on a drive that ended with a touchdown for tight endTravis Kelce before scoring himself with a smart catch from an improvised close-range bullet.
Cincinnati has been the most improved team in the league this season, and their 41-yard catch and run by Samaje Perine reduced their deficit to 11 points.
The game turned on the brink of half-time as, with five seconds remaining, Kansas City turned down the chance of a close-range field goal to go for a touchdown and Hill was tackled short of the line.
The decision proved costly as Kansas City were unable to regain their footing after the interval with the previously-unflappable Mahomes coming under constant pressure.
After Cincinnati tied the game with a touchdown and a two-point conversion, after Mahomes was picked off by Hill, Cincinnati took the lead with a field goal and a touchdown.
After the Bengals took the lead for the first time on a 52 yard kick from McPherson, the Chiefs responded with a 44 yard field goal by Harrison Butker.
Butker had forced overtime the previous week as Kansas City beat the Buffalo Bills in overtime, but there was to be no repeat as Mahomes was picked off by Vonn Bell.
In the previous post-season wins over the Las Vegas Raiders and TennesseeTitans, the rookies had kicked the game winning field goals, but this time it was the rookies who proved the hero by kicking the decisive field goal.
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