Kansas City, Mo. , Cincinnati Bengals Players and Coaches Defensive End Joseph Osai words of consolation and comfort after a blow that led kansas city chiefs‘ game-winning field goal in the AFC Championship Game.
but in the moments after sunday 23-20 lossOsai said that the emotion was extremely difficult to process. With red eyes and a soft tone, Osai regretted his penalty in the closing seconds that put Kansas City in position. Harrison Butters45-yard field goal on the penultimate play from scrimmage.
“I have to learn from the experience,” Osai said, relaying the advice he received from the Cincinnati defensive end Sam Hubbard, “I don’t want to get close to the quarterback when he’s that close to the sideline if that’s something that could possibly lead to a penalty in a critical situation like that. I have to do better.”
Cincinnati’s 47-yard line, with the Kansas City quarterback on third and fourth. patrick mahomes Scrambled to his right to gain the first down. As Mahomes stepped out of bounds, Osai pushed Mahomes from behind. Both fell to the ground on Cincinnati’s side, and Osai was whistled for unnecessary roughness.
“I was in full chase mode,” Osai said. “I was trying to push him, maybe going backwards because I knew he was going for that sideline. I was trying to get him going backwards, at that point Was driving. I haven’t seen it yet. I don’t know how far we were from the border.”
A 15-yard penalty put Kansas City in position for the kick with :03 remaining. After winning 10 straight games – and posting three consecutive wins against Kansas City – the Bengals were eliminated from the playoffs in a rematch of the previous year’s AFC Championship Game.
Osai said he injured his left knee in the incident with Mahomes. He or she will order an MRI to determine what damage, if any, has occurred.
He also said that Bengals coach Zach Taylor was among those who offered encouragement after the game.
Osai said, “He just told me to keep my head up.” “Told me that we had to make a bunch of different plays, that it didn’t come down to that one, and that we’d just have to keep moving forward.”
There were several issues that plagued Cincinnati in its attempt to repeat as AFC champions and return to the Super Bowl.
As a team, the Bengals committed nine punts for 71 yards. Quarterback which bad Was fired five times. kansas city wide receiver skye moore Returned Drew ChrismanKey’s punt went 29 yards, giving the home team the ball at their own 47-yard line with only 30 seconds remaining in the contest.
bengals defensive tackle bj hillwho surrounded Osai while answering reporters’ questions in the locker room after the game, said he had no qualms with Osai over that penalty.
“I don’t have [any] There were no hard feelings about that play at all because I knew what his intention was: just to play hard,” Hill said.
Hill praised Osai for his efforts in his first NFL season. 22 year old outside University of Texas Was drafted in the third round in 2021, but missed the entire campaign after suffering a meniscus injury in the preseason. when the bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson After experiencing a wrist problem at the end of this regular season, Osai’s usage increased.
Against Kansas City and Mahomes, Osai recorded a team-high two quarterback hits.
The Cincinnati defensive tackle said, “You just build that young player up and let him understand that it’s going to come down to inches in this league.” dj reader Told. “And he’ll be there to make a lot of plays.
“That play is going to rediscover him. Those roles are going to rediscover him as a player, and just be ready for it.”
Pathak said that he had no doubt about it.
“This pain is going to drive him to be great,” Reeder said. “He’ll get there.”