Sport: Bengals kicker Evan McPherson called his shot on game-winning field goal, Joe Burrow says

Evan McPherson, the Bengals' rookie kicker many refer to as "Money Mac," kicked three first-half field goals against the Titans to give Cincinnati a 9-6 lead at the half in Nashville.

His fourth field goal of the game – from 52 yards away as time expired – sent the Bengals to the AFC championship game for the first time since the 1988 season with a 19-16 win.

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow said that McPherson called his shot before making the game-winning kick.

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"He was talking to Brandon (Allen) as he was going out to kick, gave a little warm-up swing and said, 'Looks like we're going to the AFC championship game,' " Burrow said.

Joe Burrow throws 2 TDs, Bengals up 20-13 at half

The Bengals are halfway to their first playoff win in 30 years. Joe Burrow threw two touchdown passes in the first half, including a 10-yard strike to wide receiver Tyler Boyd on the first play after the two minute warning. That score put the Bengals up 20-6 over the Raiders, but Las Vegas was able [more]Joe Burrow threw two touchdown passes in the first half, including a 10-yard strike to wide receiver Tyler Boyd on the first play after the two minute warning. That score put the Bengals up 20-6 over the Raiders, but Las Vegas was able to move the ball back into scoring position before the end of the half.

Evan McPherson might even have that beat. The Cincinnati Bengals kicker thought he hit a game - winning field goal in overtime against the Green Bay Packers. He jumped around and gave hugs to his teammates. Then a few seconds later, he realized that it actually missed wide left. McPherson , who missed a long field - goal attempt at the end of regulation as well, told media afterward he was surprised the kick sailed wide at the last moment. It was very close to being good.

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor wanted Joe Burrow to get the emotion out of the way. So after the Paul Brown Stadium crowd of 36,447 took care of that with an appreciative roar as Burrow checked into the huddle two minutes into the game , Taylor benched him after three plays in his comeback game Sunday during the sweltering preseason finale. Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson (2) celebrates a field goal with holder Kevin Huber in the first half of an NFL exhibition football game against the Miami Dolphins in Cincinnati, Sunday, Aug.

"Ice in his veins. Rookie kicker. Unbelievable. He came in and we knew exactly what we had in camp. You can tell how a kicker is when he walks in the building and how he walks, how he talks to people. That guy's unbelievable."

MORE: Bengals upset top-seeded Titans with last-second field goal, advance to AFC championship game

OPINION: Tennessee Titans' playoff loss to Cincinnati Bengals will sting for a long, long time

Said McPherson of his winning kick: “That’s a kicker’s dream, to have the game on your shoulders.”

McPherson kicked first-quarter field goals of 38 and 45 yards to give Cincinnati a 6-0 lead. After the Titans tied the game but failed to convert a 2-point conversion thanks to Clay Johnston's stop of Derrick Henry, McPherson kicked his third field goal – from 54 yards – to put the Bengals ahead 9-6.

Bengals end 31-year playoff drought, beat Raiders with dramatic defensive stand

The game came down to the final moments, partially thanks to a questionable roughing-the-passer call against the Bengals on the Raiders' Derek Carr and keeping alive a game replete with shaky whistles. It took three stops by the Bengals on goal-to-go from their 9-yard line to seal the win. The Bengals last won a playoff game 32 years and nine days ago, so long that it came against a now-defunct team, the Houston Oilers. Only two active Bengals players — punter Kevin Huber​​ and long snapper Clark Harris — were alive. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor was 7. The playoff losing streak started the following week against the Raiders, who were in Los Angeles back then.

If it's a regular season game , absolutely, you can kick a field goal there and go into overtime — especially with Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson (2) For what is sure to be one the few times Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow practiced with the scout team this week in his NFL career

Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson (2) hits a field goal to defeat the Minnesota Vikings during overtime of an NFL football game , Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in Cincinnati. That call worked. Burrow rolled out and hit Uzomah in stride for a 32-yard gain to set up Evan McPherson for a 33-yard field goal that gave the Bengals a 27-24 overtime win over the Minnesota Vikings in the opener Sunday. “It was a beautiful ball, and he was dropping dimes all day, so I was just another one,” Uzomah said .

“He’s got ice in his veins,” Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor said of McPherson. “There’s not much more to be said. He’s just as cool as it gets.”

Social media reactions to McPherson's remarkable game:

EVAN MCPHERSON. A ROOKIE.

THE @BENGALS ADVANCE! #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/B6QsNNNhyX

— NFL (@NFL) January 23, 2022

Money. Mac. Shooter. McPherson. Legend.

Visit https://t.co/KpeqK4RKUm for more highlights. pic.twitter.com/CIrXmzwZI0

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) January 23, 2022

MONEY MAC FOR THE WIN! ????????@McPherson_Evan | #GatorMade

???? CBS

pic.twitter.com/K6w7hWT80J

— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) January 23, 2022

Bengals QB Joe Burrow said their kicker Evan McPherson did a couple of warm up kicks before the game winner then told backup QB Brandon Allen: “Well, looks like we’re going to the AFC Championship Game.” A few moments later, he nailed a 52-yarder to win it.

Legendary ❄️

— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) January 23, 2022

Zac Taylor gave the game ball to Evan McPherson

Fourth-quarter decisions burn Mike Vrabel, Titans in AFC divisional playoff loss to Bengals

The Tennessee coach opened himself up for criticism with curious calls late in the game.Tennessee did well to erase a 16-6 third-quarter deficit to tie Cincinnati at home. That didn't matter when the Titans' disastrous final two possessions allowed the Bengals to walk off with a 19-16 divisional round victory on a game-winning field goal by rookie Evan McPherson.

Bengals advance to AFC Championship Game for first time since 1988 after stunning top seeds in Nashville. Bengals QB Joe Burrow sacked nine times but still throws for 348 yards. Field goal - Bengals win ! Cincinnati Bengals 19-16 Tennessee Titans. Evan McPherson does it! Hs splits the uprights from 52 yards out to send the Bengals to the AFC Championship game for the first time since 1988!

— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) January 23, 2022

Money Mac.

The rookie drills it from 54 yards out. #RuleTheJungle #NFLPlayoffs

????: #CINvsTEN on CBS

????: https://t.co/3uvV4E3BTI pic.twitter.com/PwS42Yl284

— NFL (@NFL) January 22, 2022

54 FROM THE YOUNG STUD @McPherson_Evan #ForTheBrand pic.twitter.com/4E6FyviqX5

— ????️at McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 22, 2022

pic.twitter.com/JdrRfGkfbf

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) January 22, 2022

SHOOOOOOOTER!

3 for 3 for @McPherson_Evan! pic.twitter.com/TvwIkwpG3g

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) January 22, 2022

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Bengals kicker Evan McPherson called his shot on game-winning field goal, Joe Burrow says