1 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:06,480 Speaker 1: Hi, get everybody. I'm Dan Horde and thanks for downloading 2 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:12,399 Speaker 1: the Bengals Boot Podcast. Just once can we figure out 3 00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:17,360 Speaker 1: would we keep doing wrong? Edition? As we take an 4 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:19,880 Speaker 1: in depth look back at a heartbreaking twenty one to 5 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:22,759 Speaker 1: seventeen loss in Buffalo that dropped the Bengals to oz 6 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:26,799 Speaker 1: and three this season. Coming up, you'll hear radio replays, 7 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:30,360 Speaker 1: locker room comments from players and coaches, and Dave Lappam 8 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:33,560 Speaker 1: will join me for postgame analysis. Plus, in this week's 9 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:36,960 Speaker 1: fun Facts Conversation, we'll meet the person under the pads 10 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:39,040 Speaker 1: as I'll talk to one of the best stories on 11 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:42,879 Speaker 1: the team this year, Damian Willis, who went from undrafted 12 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:46,800 Speaker 1: and unknown to the opening days starting lineup. All of 13 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:49,600 Speaker 1: that is straight ahead, but first, here's a quick reminder 14 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 1: that you can have the latest edition of this podcast 15 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 1: delivered right to your phone, tablet, or computer by subscribing 16 00:00:56,640 --> 00:01:01,760 Speaker 1: on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, or Podbean. It's the 17 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:07,640 Speaker 1: greatest convention since NFL Game Pass. NFL game Pass is 18 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:10,679 Speaker 1: not cheap. It's about one hundred bucks a year, but 19 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:13,959 Speaker 1: it's awesome if you are really into the NFL. It 20 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:17,319 Speaker 1: allows you to watch replays of every game, commercial free. 21 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:20,560 Speaker 1: It gives you access to the all twenty two footage 22 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:23,520 Speaker 1: that the coaches and players watch. It allows you to 23 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 1: listen to any NFL radio broadcast live or listen to 24 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:33,880 Speaker 1: recorded broadcasts. And it gives you access to NFL Films archives. Again, 25 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 1: it costs one hundred bucks a year, but you can 26 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:39,760 Speaker 1: get a seven day free trial if you want to 27 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:43,880 Speaker 1: check out NFL Game Pass. Now let's get to this 28 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 1: week's game in Buffalo. It's no exaggeration to say that 29 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 1: the Bengals had one of the most feeble offensive halves 30 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 1: in their history on Sunday. Sample motions to the left. 31 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 1: Dalt with a short throw, John Ross with the catch, 32 00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 1: escapes the first hip, fumbles the football. Buffalo recovers at 33 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:03,720 Speaker 1: the thirty eight yard line. He's saying he's down, but 34 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 1: the officials are disagreeing. Here's what the Bengals did on 35 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:13,480 Speaker 1: their seven first half drives, punt, punt, punt, fumble, punt, 36 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:17,840 Speaker 1: punt fumble. Cincinnati did not pick up a first down 37 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:21,120 Speaker 1: until there was one fifty seven left in the half. 38 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:24,240 Speaker 1: Here's Andy Dalton. We had no rhythm in the first half. 39 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:26,639 Speaker 1: We couldn't do anything on first down. We said ourselves 40 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:30,040 Speaker 1: back third down, we weren't converting. It's hard to get 41 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:32,840 Speaker 1: first down at first half. Buffalo got on the scoreboard 42 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:35,440 Speaker 1: late in the first quarter. First down in goal from 43 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 1: the one. Three tight ends and a full back in 44 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:41,799 Speaker 1: a tight end goes in motion, then reverses direction. Alan 45 00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:45,119 Speaker 1: rolling out to the right, throws it into the end zone. Touchdown. 46 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:48,880 Speaker 1: Tosson knocks with a catch. When Buffalo lined up to 47 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:51,800 Speaker 1: kick the extra point, the Bengals had twelve men on 48 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:55,000 Speaker 1: the field. That penalty gave the Bills the opportunity to 49 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:57,640 Speaker 1: go for a two point conversion from the one yard line, 50 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:01,680 Speaker 1: and they capitalized for an eight nothing lead, So that 51 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:05,079 Speaker 1: penalty was worth a point, and on the ensuing kickoff, 52 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 1: another penalty cost the Bengals seven more. Darius Phillips waiting 53 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 1: at the goal line. This kick not deep, it's returnable. 54 00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 1: Phillips from the nine yard line, veering toward the middle 55 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 1: of the field, crosses the twenty, breaks through a tackle 56 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 1: at the thirty, comes to the forty towards the middle 57 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:22,640 Speaker 1: of the field, he's off to the races. There's a 58 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 1: penalty flag back at the forty three. Phillips goes the distance, 59 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:29,640 Speaker 1: but we don't think his touchdown is going to count. 60 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 1: Darius Phillips returned five kickoffs for touchdowns in college, but 61 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 1: a questionable holding penalty on Autumn Tate wiped out what 62 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:39,920 Speaker 1: would have been his first in the NFL. I actually 63 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 1: didn't see the holding yet. But no, like they said 64 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:45,400 Speaker 1: they said, or did, the NFL been picking up on 65 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 1: the holding cost, So I guess they just may see 66 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 1: anything they think look wrong. Gonna look, they're gonna call it. 67 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:52,600 Speaker 1: While the Bengals offense floundered in the first half, the 68 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 1: Bills drove up and down the field without adding more touchdowns. 69 00:03:57,560 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 1: They drove to the sixteen and kicked a field goal. 70 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 1: They drove to the fifteen and Sam Hubbard forced to fumble. 71 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 1: They drove to the twenty seven and settled for another 72 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:11,440 Speaker 1: field goal. Even though first half first downs were eighteen 73 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 1: to one in time of possession was twenty three minutes 74 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:18,520 Speaker 1: to seven, the Bengals only trailed fourteen nothing at the half. 75 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 1: Here are offensive lineman Andre Smith and John Miller. Coach 76 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:25,920 Speaker 1: challenged us at half time to come out and play 77 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 1: outside out style of football the way we know we 78 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:31,120 Speaker 1: can play, and we went and did that. Challenged you emotionally, 79 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:34,599 Speaker 1: I just knew we could play better. We were in 80 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:36,799 Speaker 1: a tough environment, but we've been in a tough environment 81 00:04:36,839 --> 00:04:40,600 Speaker 1: once this season already, and he just challenged us to 82 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:42,760 Speaker 1: come out and play hard and playhouse shales football. And 83 00:04:42,839 --> 00:04:44,640 Speaker 1: we did that each others, the whole team. He tries 84 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 1: the whole team to stay together because at the end 85 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:48,440 Speaker 1: of the day, no matter what we go through, you know, 86 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:51,039 Speaker 1: there's always gonna be adversity and things like that. But 87 00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:52,920 Speaker 1: you know, I thought we had I thought we did 88 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:55,320 Speaker 1: a good job of coming together, leaning on each other. 89 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 1: We leaked, linked on the defense, they linked on us, 90 00:04:57,560 --> 00:05:00,479 Speaker 1: and we got a couple of drives there, and so 91 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:03,680 Speaker 1: it was good as it was accouraging looking forward to 92 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 1: Night's week. The spark that lit the fuse in the 93 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:08,560 Speaker 1: third quarter was provided by the defense. Third down and 94 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 1: seven for Buffalo allan back to throw scrambling in trouble 95 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:15,880 Speaker 1: and he manages to fling the ball down field. That's it, ascempted. 96 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:19,480 Speaker 1: The Bengals are running it back. HiT's Phillips, Darius Phillips 97 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:22,279 Speaker 1: inside the thirty, the twelve, the twenty, and he goes 98 00:05:22,279 --> 00:05:25,400 Speaker 1: out of bounds nineteen yard passed that Tyler Reifford put 99 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:27,880 Speaker 1: the ball at the one yard line, first down and 100 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 1: goal from the one for the Bengals, trailing by fourteen 101 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:33,359 Speaker 1: points with five to fifty five left in the third quarter, 102 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 1: Dalton catches a shotgun snap, hands it to Mixon and 103 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:39,840 Speaker 1: he will lose. No, it was a fake and Andy 104 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 1: Dalton ran it in. He completely faked out me and 105 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 1: the defense with the zone read fake to Joe Mixon, 106 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:51,160 Speaker 1: and Andy Dalton runs it in for a one yard touchdown, 107 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:55,919 Speaker 1: his nineteenth career rushing touchdown, and the Bengals are on 108 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 1: the scoreboard. A great call by Zach Taylor and a 109 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 1: crow happy one by Dan Horde. The Bengals were only 110 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 1: down by seven, and just like that, they started to 111 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:09,440 Speaker 1: pick the Bills apart. Cincinnati's next drive went eighty two 112 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:12,840 Speaker 1: yards on eleven plays and ended with a tying score, 113 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 1: inches away from a potential tying touchdown. Early fourth quarter, 114 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:19,480 Speaker 1: Dalton's under center, he takes the snap, he rolls out 115 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 1: to the right, He's looking for Mixon. He throws touchdown 116 00:06:24,279 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 1: as Dalton delivers to Joe Mixon, and now the Bengals 117 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:31,360 Speaker 1: are an extra point away from tying this game. Mixon 118 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 1: finished with sixty one rushing yards in thirty four more receiving. 119 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 1: Seventy seven of those ninety five total yards came in 120 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 1: the second half. We're gonna get better. We're gonna get 121 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:44,919 Speaker 1: it right. The sex That is week three and we still, 122 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:47,719 Speaker 1: you know, talking about the same stuff. But you know, 123 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 1: like I said, we figured it out and I'll guarantee 124 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:51,839 Speaker 1: you that something will happen again. With a score tiede 125 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:53,920 Speaker 1: the Bengals got the ball back at their own fifteen 126 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:57,279 Speaker 1: yard line and drove sixty yards before stalling at the 127 00:06:57,279 --> 00:07:00,680 Speaker 1: Buffalo twenty five. A forty three yard try for the 128 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 1: lead from the middle of the field for Randy Bullet. 129 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:08,920 Speaker 1: Harris will snap, Huber will hold the snap, the put down, 130 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 1: the swing of the leg, the kick is on its 131 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:14,880 Speaker 1: way and it is good. Yeah, And the Bengals have 132 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 1: taken the lead with four minutes and fifty four seconds 133 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 1: to go on a forty three yard field goal by 134 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 1: Randy Bullet. For the second time in their first three games, 135 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:27,560 Speaker 1: the Bengals had a fourth quarter lead, but as was 136 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:31,040 Speaker 1: the case in Seattle, they could not protect it. A 137 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 1: forty nine yard pass to tight end slash freight train 138 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:38,680 Speaker 1: Dawson Knox put the Bills at the Bengals twenty two 139 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:42,280 Speaker 1: in Quarterback Josh Allen took over from there with two 140 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:45,640 Speaker 1: scrambles and a designed run that helped put the ball 141 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:48,400 Speaker 1: on the one yard line. Third down in goal inside 142 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:51,680 Speaker 1: the one, Alan takes the snap, hands off to Gore, 143 00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:53,840 Speaker 1: and he knights into the end zone for a go 144 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:57,080 Speaker 1: ahead touchdown with one minute and fifty seconds to go. 145 00:07:57,520 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 1: Seventy eight year old Frank Gore scored the go ahead touchdown, 146 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:03,679 Speaker 1: but alan scrambling was the key in the red zone. 147 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 1: Here's Sam Hubbard. Yeah, he's very big, very fast, very elusive, 148 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:10,720 Speaker 1: and he's really hard to bring down. You know, he's 149 00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 1: run all over the place. We were worn out trying 150 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:15,800 Speaker 1: to chase him down, but he's a great player. With 151 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:19,280 Speaker 1: one fifty left, the Bengals drove from their own twenty 152 00:08:19,320 --> 00:08:23,760 Speaker 1: five to Buffalo's twenty eight, needing a touchdown since they 153 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 1: were down by four. Twenty one seconds left. The Bengals 154 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:29,680 Speaker 1: down by four. On third and four, Dalton's back to pass, 155 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:34,080 Speaker 1: he fires too high, It's deflected and intercepted at the 156 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:37,520 Speaker 1: ten yard line. The fast for Autumn take was high 157 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:40,760 Speaker 1: and the ricochet goes to Tredavious White. To give the 158 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:46,360 Speaker 1: Buffalo Bills the win man the final score Buffalo twenty one, 159 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:52,520 Speaker 1: Cincinnati seventeen. Here are Andy Dalton, Joe Mixon, and John Miller. Yeah, 160 00:08:52,559 --> 00:08:54,240 Speaker 1: you know we're in these games. We put ourselves in 161 00:08:54,280 --> 00:08:56,040 Speaker 1: position to have a chance to win at the end, 162 00:08:56,400 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 1: and you know we have to make the play. You know, 163 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:02,360 Speaker 1: I've got through a better ball at the end. You know, 164 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 1: we get down there, we got another chance to Um, 165 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:07,520 Speaker 1: you know, it's score touchdown to win, to win this one. 166 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:09,400 Speaker 1: So I mean there's a couple of plays in each 167 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:11,560 Speaker 1: game that you know, if you had back, you know, 168 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:15,439 Speaker 1: you make certain plays then um, you know then that 169 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:17,400 Speaker 1: that could change the outcome of the game. And you 170 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:19,079 Speaker 1: never know when that play is gonna be the one 171 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:21,560 Speaker 1: that's gonna do it. But um, you know, for us, 172 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:24,320 Speaker 1: I think we we gotta just focus on us, focus 173 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:26,920 Speaker 1: on what we're doing, and um do everything we can 174 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:28,760 Speaker 1: to be playing our best football come next week. And 175 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:32,760 Speaker 1: I was definitely frustrating, Um it's come up short like that. 176 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:35,280 Speaker 1: I mean, it's it hurt. But at the end of 177 00:09:35,320 --> 00:09:37,400 Speaker 1: the day, we put ourselves in that bond on the offense, 178 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:40,200 Speaker 1: so you know, but I put that on ourselves the defense. 179 00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:42,760 Speaker 1: You know, they played that out today. So you know, 180 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:45,240 Speaker 1: for us, we just gotta you know, keep on trying 181 00:09:45,240 --> 00:09:48,440 Speaker 1: to start fast and you know, getting each and everybody involved. 182 00:09:48,520 --> 00:09:50,320 Speaker 1: I mean, I felt like in the second half we 183 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:51,880 Speaker 1: came out of bothering, you know what I'm saying. That's 184 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:54,640 Speaker 1: how it should have been the whole damn game. But 185 00:09:54,679 --> 00:09:56,800 Speaker 1: I mean, I mean, he's gonna put this one behind 186 00:09:56,880 --> 00:09:59,040 Speaker 1: us and you know, get on the road, get ready 187 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 1: for the whole time. I kept believing and saying goes 188 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:04,240 Speaker 1: for the rest of his team. You know, not a 189 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:05,800 Speaker 1: doubt of nine mind. We was gonna come out here 190 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:08,240 Speaker 1: would a win. And uh, you know, unfortunately that did happen. 191 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:10,320 Speaker 1: We didn't do enough early on the officer side of 192 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:13,320 Speaker 1: the ball. But that's that's that's life in the NFL. 193 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:15,720 Speaker 1: You know, you lose game by by one point, two points, 194 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:17,360 Speaker 1: three points. You know, every every game is gonna be 195 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:19,720 Speaker 1: a battle, every game is gonna be physical every game. 196 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:21,240 Speaker 1: You know, you gotta come out, you gotta bring it, 197 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:23,680 Speaker 1: and we just came up on the sort of ends. 198 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:26,400 Speaker 1: After three weeks, Zach Taylor is still looking for his 199 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:29,280 Speaker 1: first win as a head coach. He spent three minutes 200 00:10:29,280 --> 00:10:32,120 Speaker 1: with Dave Lapham after the game. They're not discouraged. I 201 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:36,480 Speaker 1: still see guys with their headhouse high and they're playing 202 00:10:36,559 --> 00:10:39,240 Speaker 1: for each other, and that's all we wanted from them 203 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:42,280 Speaker 1: at halftime around fourteen. Nothing. The offense hasn't done anything. 204 00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:45,480 Speaker 1: The defense has really played really solid, and it finally 205 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:47,600 Speaker 1: came together in the second half and and guys were 206 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 1: playing off each other, encouraging each other. We felt like 207 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:51,480 Speaker 1: we were gonna win the game. That was the brief 208 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:53,160 Speaker 1: on the sidelines that we were gonna win the game, 209 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:55,200 Speaker 1: and unfortunate at the end we didn't get it done. 210 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:57,400 Speaker 1: But it doesn't change the fact that I'm proud of 211 00:10:57,400 --> 00:10:59,240 Speaker 1: the group we got in the locker room and wouldn't 212 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:03,000 Speaker 1: change changing about for anything. The rhythm was never found 213 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:04,480 Speaker 1: in the first half, but you found it in the 214 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:06,600 Speaker 1: second half. What do you think was the impetus, what 215 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:08,600 Speaker 1: was the what was the key to find in that rhythm? 216 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:10,079 Speaker 1: Do you think you just couldn't get a first down? 217 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:11,719 Speaker 1: You know, we went an all week. Our goal was 218 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:14,480 Speaker 1: first down efficiency, and we were inefficiental first down then 219 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:17,000 Speaker 1: the first quarter. That's one of the best defenses we'll 220 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:19,960 Speaker 1: face there. They're well Coach they got great players, and 221 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 1: so if they got you behind the sticks again like 222 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 1: San Francisco did, then it's hard for us to overcome 223 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:26,160 Speaker 1: that sometimes, and we just didn't get that done the 224 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:27,920 Speaker 1: first half. Then the second half we did a great job. 225 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:29,840 Speaker 1: Everyone on the same page and doing their job, got 226 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:31,840 Speaker 1: the ball moving. You can be a little more creative 227 00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:34,480 Speaker 1: with what you want to do and attack them more 228 00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:36,000 Speaker 1: than they were bringing the fight to us in the 229 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 1: first half, and I thought the guys were spinding well 230 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:41,320 Speaker 1: in the second half. There were so many players in 231 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:44,280 Speaker 1: every game in a game like this, the kickoffer turns 232 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:46,760 Speaker 1: nullified by a dicey holding called the guy turns his 233 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 1: back on audumn tape. I don't know what the hell 234 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:51,560 Speaker 1: he's supposed to do, but they call it. And the 235 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:54,400 Speaker 1: two point conversion, you know, twelve minute in the field, 236 00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 1: they go for two. If they don't do that, you know, 237 00:11:56,880 --> 00:11:58,439 Speaker 1: you might kick a field goal there to tie the 238 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:00,400 Speaker 1: football game up. So there's so many plays you never 239 00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 1: know what play is going to be a big determining 240 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:04,720 Speaker 1: factor in the game. You can play every game if 241 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:06,880 Speaker 1: we play as hard as you can, don't you. Yeah, 242 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:09,280 Speaker 1: I mean that's if we'd won that game. Buffalo say 243 00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:10,439 Speaker 1: the same thing. You know that there's a couple of 244 00:12:10,440 --> 00:12:12,080 Speaker 1: plays I got away from him. So that's the way 245 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:14,319 Speaker 1: it goes. And our guys, we just got to get 246 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:16,880 Speaker 1: it done and it's coming. Our guys believe the dam's 247 00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:19,079 Speaker 1: gonna break. The wins are gonna come if we keep 248 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:20,880 Speaker 1: playing like we're playing and we can put it together 249 00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:23,000 Speaker 1: for the entire game. We're a good football team and 250 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:24,720 Speaker 1: I know that the players and the coaches believe that, 251 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:26,360 Speaker 1: and we're gonna stay the course and get it done. 252 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:30,040 Speaker 1: Joel Mixon ran hard today, caught that screen pass. You 253 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:31,920 Speaker 1: got him out out the gate on that screen pass. 254 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:33,960 Speaker 1: Looks like it might might go to the house. I mean, 255 00:12:34,040 --> 00:12:38,199 Speaker 1: some things started to unfold that when all assembled, you think, man, 256 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:40,400 Speaker 1: this might look pretty darn Good's We just gotta get 257 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:44,480 Speaker 1: it all assembled. That's the key. And it again goes 258 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:46,120 Speaker 1: back to we gotta play better in the first quarter 259 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:47,800 Speaker 1: and if we can get that going, then we'll be 260 00:12:47,800 --> 00:12:49,600 Speaker 1: in good shape. But again, our guys are gonna stay 261 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:51,080 Speaker 1: the course. We know that we can get these things 262 00:12:51,120 --> 00:12:53,640 Speaker 1: picks and the wins will come. Red zone, they were 263 00:12:53,679 --> 00:12:55,280 Speaker 1: really good in the red zone. You guys, you know 264 00:12:55,360 --> 00:12:57,040 Speaker 1: knocked him around a little bit in the red zone. 265 00:12:57,240 --> 00:12:59,040 Speaker 1: They were one for three at one point. I thin 266 00:12:59,040 --> 00:13:02,160 Speaker 1: guess they ended up two four. Um, your first two 267 00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:04,080 Speaker 1: times in the red zone, you guys, you guys finished 268 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:06,319 Speaker 1: and uh you were. You were taking it to them 269 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:09,520 Speaker 1: in some phases of it. But unfortunately, as you know, 270 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:11,640 Speaker 1: I mean as well as anybody in this league, if 271 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:13,800 Speaker 1: you dig a fourteen point hole in the road, that's tough. 272 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:16,720 Speaker 1: Laden it is. It was. It was a tough environment. 273 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:18,199 Speaker 1: They had a great crowd, it was allowed, it was 274 00:13:18,240 --> 00:13:19,920 Speaker 1: tough to communicate. I thought our guys did a good 275 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:21,840 Speaker 1: job hanging in there, off from some wine. Gave up 276 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:24,120 Speaker 1: two sacks, you know, and it's they got. They got 277 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:25,520 Speaker 1: a heck of a pass for us, heck of a 278 00:13:25,520 --> 00:13:28,440 Speaker 1: blitz package. Um, and they've effected a lot of quarterbacks. 279 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:29,920 Speaker 1: And I thought, I guys held in there for the 280 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:31,680 Speaker 1: for the second time in a tough environment and held 281 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:33,960 Speaker 1: their own and um again, we just we we got 282 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 1: to find a way to win one of these ones. 283 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:38,840 Speaker 1: Since their four and one start last year, the Bengals 284 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:42,360 Speaker 1: are two and twelve and they've dropped their last seven 285 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:46,240 Speaker 1: on the road. Time for postgame analysis with lap in 286 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:49,760 Speaker 1: the NFL. You can't on the road anywhere. Really in 287 00:13:49,760 --> 00:13:53,319 Speaker 1: the NFL, you can't dig a fourteen point hole at halftime. 288 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 1: And even with that said, they almost came back and 289 00:13:57,240 --> 00:13:59,200 Speaker 1: had the league and almost won the football game. But 290 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:03,560 Speaker 1: self destruction has to stop. I mean, they're they're not 291 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:05,720 Speaker 1: good enough. They don't have a margin for error to 292 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:08,160 Speaker 1: overcome some of the things, you know, that continue to 293 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:09,880 Speaker 1: happen to them. You can't have twelve men in the 294 00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:12,319 Speaker 1: field on an extra point and give them the ball 295 00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:14,079 Speaker 1: at the one yard line instead of you know where 296 00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:16,640 Speaker 1: they're going to kick the extra point and give up 297 00:14:16,679 --> 00:14:19,280 Speaker 1: two points. If they don't do that, Bengals are in 298 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:21,600 Speaker 1: position to kick a potential game tying field goal at 299 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:24,320 Speaker 1: the end of the game. You know, I feel bad 300 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:26,760 Speaker 1: for Audent Tape because I think he got hosed by this. 301 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:30,280 Speaker 1: You know, the officials, you've got to really focus on 302 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:33,360 Speaker 1: calling holding penalties. And if the official doesn't see the 303 00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 1: whole thing, he's blocking a guy. The guy turns his 304 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:39,080 Speaker 1: back to pursue Phillips who's breaking for a touchdown, and 305 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:41,480 Speaker 1: all the official sees is the hand and the Audent 306 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:43,800 Speaker 1: tass hand in his back, and it's in the framework 307 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 1: of the body that's presented to him. You know, it's like, 308 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:47,880 Speaker 1: I don't know what he's supposed to do. Really, I 309 00:14:47,920 --> 00:14:50,640 Speaker 1: don't know what else he's supposed to do, but you 310 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:53,400 Speaker 1: know they're going to call it, and I just try 311 00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:56,040 Speaker 1: not to put yourself in that situation so that that's 312 00:14:56,040 --> 00:14:59,520 Speaker 1: taken off the board, you know, a kickoff or turn touchdown. 313 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:01,880 Speaker 1: So there are so many plays in a game like this, 314 00:15:02,320 --> 00:15:04,480 Speaker 1: there's gonna be a million players. Players are gonna I 315 00:15:04,480 --> 00:15:06,720 Speaker 1: remember I did lay wake at night and look at 316 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:09,640 Speaker 1: the ceiling, and it was like I was watching film, 317 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:13,240 Speaker 1: you know, sixteen millimeter back down on my ceiling over 318 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:15,120 Speaker 1: and over again, and plays like off, I just held 319 00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:17,000 Speaker 1: that block a little longer, done this or done that. 320 00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:19,760 Speaker 1: And I'm sure everybody that played in the football game 321 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:21,240 Speaker 1: is going to have a player too where they can 322 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:25,720 Speaker 1: feel the same way. The running game was better, not great, 323 00:15:25,840 --> 00:15:28,520 Speaker 1: but at least it was somewhat productive. But stopping the 324 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:31,480 Speaker 1: run remains a huge problem. One hundred and seventy five 325 00:15:31,560 --> 00:15:34,680 Speaker 1: yards for Buffalo in this game. Yeah, and a thirty 326 00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:37,560 Speaker 1: six year old running back, you know, is hammering it 327 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:39,960 Speaker 1: up in there. I have nothing but respect for Frank Gore. 328 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 1: I mean he is. It's ridiculous to think about what 329 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:44,320 Speaker 1: that guy is still doing at the level that he's 330 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:46,480 Speaker 1: doing it at. You know, a bunch of against a 331 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:49,960 Speaker 1: bunch of young guys that are you know, playing playing 332 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:53,920 Speaker 1: in the National Football League. Good for him, Josh Allen. 333 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:56,400 Speaker 1: You know he will force things, he will make mistakes, 334 00:15:56,600 --> 00:15:58,520 Speaker 1: but his legs were a big factor in the football 335 00:15:58,560 --> 00:16:00,640 Speaker 1: game as well as the throwing arm. The guy got 336 00:16:00,680 --> 00:16:03,400 Speaker 1: him out of trouble with some scrambles. He was elusive 337 00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:05,200 Speaker 1: for such a big guy who was big and strong 338 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:07,400 Speaker 1: talking to guys and lock him. They're like, man, you 339 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:08,600 Speaker 1: know he get your hand on him. You're not going 340 00:16:08,640 --> 00:16:10,120 Speaker 1: to pull him down. Just getting your hand on him. 341 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:13,040 Speaker 1: You gotta wrap that big old bear up. And he 342 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:15,000 Speaker 1: heard him. He made made a lot of players that 343 00:16:15,160 --> 00:16:18,000 Speaker 1: keep that kept Buffalo Bills drives alive. Although you know, 344 00:16:18,040 --> 00:16:21,000 Speaker 1: he gave Phillips an opportunity and he's so much confidence. 345 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:22,920 Speaker 1: Even when he's fallen backwards, he's going to try to 346 00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:25,360 Speaker 1: fire a thing in there and he'll give guys shots. 347 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:29,560 Speaker 1: But I think he's coming on. He's advancing. But again, 348 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:31,520 Speaker 1: you have to take care of your business. You just 349 00:16:31,760 --> 00:16:34,280 Speaker 1: Buffalo is good enough to beat you in Buffalo. You 350 00:16:34,320 --> 00:16:36,560 Speaker 1: don't want to help them. You don't want to make 351 00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:39,280 Speaker 1: it easier for them. And in too many instances the 352 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:41,640 Speaker 1: Bengals made it easier for him, and I thought Dan 353 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:44,720 Speaker 1: in the first half, the defense sucked it up. They 354 00:16:44,720 --> 00:16:47,400 Speaker 1: were on the field forever, so many snaps in this 355 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:49,920 Speaker 1: heat and humidity. There was a breeze, but man, they're 356 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:52,520 Speaker 1: on the field a long time. And to hold Buffalo 357 00:16:52,560 --> 00:16:55,720 Speaker 1: to fourteen points. They were so dynamic in the red zone, 358 00:16:56,040 --> 00:16:58,760 Speaker 1: you know, for so many games now and hold them 359 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:01,880 Speaker 1: to you know, one touchdown or two touchdowns at the 360 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:04,320 Speaker 1: end they scored late, but two touchdowns and four red 361 00:17:04,359 --> 00:17:06,320 Speaker 1: zone opportunities of field goal and they didn't score on 362 00:17:06,320 --> 00:17:09,800 Speaker 1: one opportunity. I mean, that's that's that's pretty pretty good 363 00:17:09,840 --> 00:17:12,560 Speaker 1: job by the defense, really, with their backs against the walls, 364 00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:15,560 Speaker 1: sucking enough. So there there's a lot of things you 365 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:18,600 Speaker 1: can draw upon, you know, and and build upon, but 366 00:17:18,720 --> 00:17:21,600 Speaker 1: at some point got to win a game. Offensive snaps 367 00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:24,640 Speaker 1: in the first half were forty six to nineteen. Time 368 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:27,399 Speaker 1: of possession about twenty three minutes to seven minutes. So 369 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:30,040 Speaker 1: let's talk about the comeback. In the second half. We 370 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:32,000 Speaker 1: both spent some time in the locker room after the game. 371 00:17:32,040 --> 00:17:35,080 Speaker 1: It sounds like Zach Taylor was pretty fiery, both at 372 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:38,480 Speaker 1: halftime and after the game. I think so. I didn't 373 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:40,320 Speaker 1: hear any of the half of them, but I heard 374 00:17:40,359 --> 00:17:42,600 Speaker 1: some of the some of the post game, and um, 375 00:17:42,920 --> 00:17:45,000 Speaker 1: everything he said was right on the money. I mean 376 00:17:45,040 --> 00:17:47,080 Speaker 1: it was it was all fact, it was all true. 377 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:53,360 Speaker 1: And you know, obviously admonished him for building the big deficit. 378 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:56,240 Speaker 1: I mean, that's a fourteen point hole is tough to 379 00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:58,359 Speaker 1: climb out of on the road. But the fact that 380 00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:01,800 Speaker 1: they did and took a lead, and you know, if things, 381 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:06,720 Speaker 1: if things, the timing and everything falls into place, they're close. 382 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:09,520 Speaker 1: They're close to being a pretty good football team. But man, 383 00:18:09,520 --> 00:18:11,720 Speaker 1: they were so just joined it offensively in the first half. 384 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:13,879 Speaker 1: They couldn't get a first down. Literally, they could not 385 00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:17,760 Speaker 1: cobble the first down one minute and fifty seven seconds left. Incredible. 386 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:20,919 Speaker 1: You know, that's that's just not this group really and uh, 387 00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:24,400 Speaker 1: you know, but you learn something from every football game. 388 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:26,400 Speaker 1: A lot of times, you learn a bunch of things 389 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:29,040 Speaker 1: from every football game. And hopefully the lessons they learned 390 00:18:29,040 --> 00:18:30,879 Speaker 1: and this football game will stand them in good stead 391 00:18:31,080 --> 00:18:34,320 Speaker 1: when they go to Pittsburgh Monday night. You know, it's 392 00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:37,480 Speaker 1: interesting they would have had the opportunity had they held 393 00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:39,439 Speaker 1: on with the lead with less than five minutes to go, 394 00:18:39,560 --> 00:18:43,199 Speaker 1: to potentially go to Pittsburgh without Ben Roethlisberger playing, have 395 00:18:43,240 --> 00:18:45,200 Speaker 1: a home game against the Cardinals, who had the worst 396 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:47,399 Speaker 1: record in the league last year. This is really a 397 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:50,439 Speaker 1: pivotal swing game. Yeah, it was. It was. It was 398 00:18:50,440 --> 00:18:54,360 Speaker 1: a big football game. And you know, we thought Buffalo 399 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:57,160 Speaker 1: is a good football team, but they're not a dominant 400 00:18:57,160 --> 00:18:59,320 Speaker 1: football team at this point in time. I mean, they 401 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:02,800 Speaker 1: hadn't really knocked off the Chicago Bears of the eighties 402 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:05,800 Speaker 1: or you know, the SA Cisco forty nine ers of 403 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:09,080 Speaker 1: the seventies and eighties, so you know there was some 404 00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:12,920 Speaker 1: vulnerability there. But again, you're going to take yourself off 405 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:15,360 Speaker 1: the schedule. I mean, if I'm just waiting for them 406 00:19:15,359 --> 00:19:19,199 Speaker 1: to play a clean game, you know, it's never going 407 00:19:19,240 --> 00:19:22,000 Speaker 1: to be perfectly clean in the National Football League, but 408 00:19:22,119 --> 00:19:24,040 Speaker 1: it can't be as dirty as they've been. You know, 409 00:19:24,119 --> 00:19:28,800 Speaker 1: you just can't. You can't overcome so many problems that 410 00:19:28,840 --> 00:19:34,000 Speaker 1: are created by you know, yourself to yourself. Up next 411 00:19:34,200 --> 00:19:37,560 Speaker 1: a Monday night road game in Pittsburgh against the Steelers 412 00:19:37,880 --> 00:19:41,120 Speaker 1: without Big Ben. They are also oh and three after 413 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:44,760 Speaker 1: a twenty four twenty loss in San Francisco. Mason Rudolph 414 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:46,680 Speaker 1: threw for one hundred and seventy four yards and two 415 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:50,439 Speaker 1: touchdowns with one pick in his first start at quarterback. 416 00:19:51,359 --> 00:19:53,600 Speaker 1: Now time for this week's fun Facts interview, where we 417 00:19:53,640 --> 00:19:56,560 Speaker 1: get to know the person under the pads and it's 418 00:19:56,560 --> 00:19:59,320 Speaker 1: one of the best stories on this year's roster, a 419 00:19:59,359 --> 00:20:03,360 Speaker 1: guy that went from undrafted and unknown to the opening 420 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:06,680 Speaker 1: day starting lineup. Time for some fun facts with wide 421 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:10,760 Speaker 1: receiver Damian willis from Meridian, Mississippi, on the eastern edge 422 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:13,439 Speaker 1: of the state, not too far from the Alabama border. 423 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:17,240 Speaker 1: What's a kid, dude? Growing up in Meridian? Growing up, 424 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:19,840 Speaker 1: I was like a country boy, So I was always 425 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:22,920 Speaker 1: like hauling. Hey. I was always with my grandparents. They 426 00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:25,560 Speaker 1: always just like, hall, hey, take care of the horses, 427 00:20:25,600 --> 00:20:27,440 Speaker 1: take care of the cows. So it's kind of a 428 00:20:27,480 --> 00:20:30,280 Speaker 1: surprise if people don't think I'm really like, like from 429 00:20:30,320 --> 00:20:32,080 Speaker 1: the country. But like, as I talked to him, they 430 00:20:32,119 --> 00:20:33,760 Speaker 1: were like, oh, yeah, I can see it. I can 431 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:35,000 Speaker 1: see it. I can hear it in your voice. A 432 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:37,439 Speaker 1: little bit sounds like hard work to me. But you 433 00:20:37,520 --> 00:20:39,840 Speaker 1: describe it with a smile on your face. Yes, you know, 434 00:20:39,880 --> 00:20:42,000 Speaker 1: like as I was young, I didn't really look a 435 00:20:42,359 --> 00:20:44,520 Speaker 1: look at it as hard. I always looked at it 436 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:47,239 Speaker 1: as I'm having out my grandparents, Like it was just 437 00:20:47,280 --> 00:20:50,119 Speaker 1: fun for me to be around like my grandparents did 438 00:20:50,119 --> 00:20:52,560 Speaker 1: them because when I didn't like have my dad growing up, 439 00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 1: so to be around them was like a joy. But 440 00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:57,560 Speaker 1: as I realized when I got older, I realized I 441 00:20:57,600 --> 00:21:00,440 Speaker 1: was like I was really doing like farm and stuff, 442 00:21:00,440 --> 00:21:02,399 Speaker 1: like country stuff. I didn't I didn't realize until I 443 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:05,480 Speaker 1: got older. We're doing fun facts with Damian Willis. You 444 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:08,080 Speaker 1: were largely raised by your mom, who is a hospice 445 00:21:08,200 --> 00:21:11,800 Speaker 1: nurse caring for people in their final days. That's like 446 00:21:11,840 --> 00:21:14,399 Speaker 1: an angel on earth in my opinion. Tell us a 447 00:21:14,440 --> 00:21:17,320 Speaker 1: little bit about her and the biggest lessons she passed 448 00:21:17,320 --> 00:21:19,840 Speaker 1: on to you. She's like always treat people how you 449 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 1: would want to be treated, and she's always been hard working. 450 00:21:23,960 --> 00:21:27,120 Speaker 1: I've seen her like struggle struggle like that they really 451 00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:29,720 Speaker 1: like hurted me growing up. She probably didn't think I understood, 452 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:32,880 Speaker 1: but as I saw it, they really like it really 453 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:34,520 Speaker 1: was hurting me. So she always told me, like to 454 00:21:34,520 --> 00:21:37,200 Speaker 1: stay strong, like I always knew, she's like a strong person, 455 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:40,080 Speaker 1: strong woman. She always cared for everybody. She would always 456 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:42,800 Speaker 1: give her last to anybody, whether they gave their last 457 00:21:42,800 --> 00:21:45,240 Speaker 1: to her or not. I know she's always tried to 458 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:47,480 Speaker 1: make your games in the past. What about now that 459 00:21:47,480 --> 00:21:50,320 Speaker 1: you're in the NFL. I kind of made her missed 460 00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:53,119 Speaker 1: Washington game. Those were the first game she ever missed 461 00:21:53,280 --> 00:21:56,919 Speaker 1: ever from high school, elementary literally, and she was like 462 00:21:57,000 --> 00:21:59,680 Speaker 1: crying about it. She's still gonna try to make every game. 463 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:01,560 Speaker 1: I just didn't want her to drive that far by 464 00:22:01,600 --> 00:22:04,679 Speaker 1: herself because I couldn't get a no plane ticket that weekend, 465 00:22:04,760 --> 00:22:06,600 Speaker 1: so I didn't really want So that's the only game 466 00:22:06,640 --> 00:22:08,600 Speaker 1: she didn't missed so far. I think she's gonna make 467 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:12,600 Speaker 1: every other game, even London. Wow, we're visiting with Damian Wellis. 468 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:15,000 Speaker 1: You were a football and a basketball star at Southeast 469 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:19,800 Speaker 1: Lauderdale High School. Earlier this year, they retired your number fifteen. 470 00:22:19,960 --> 00:22:21,800 Speaker 1: Tell us a little bit about the ceremony and what 471 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:23,840 Speaker 1: that honor meant to you. Yeah, I was on I 472 00:22:23,880 --> 00:22:25,520 Speaker 1: don't know where I was going. I was on my 473 00:22:25,560 --> 00:22:27,800 Speaker 1: way to either school. I had to finish like my 474 00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:30,600 Speaker 1: last semester. I'm at last class, and I got a 475 00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:33,040 Speaker 1: phone call from my coach shoes like they wanted to 476 00:22:33,080 --> 00:22:36,040 Speaker 1: retire your number, I retire your jersey when up you 477 00:22:36,119 --> 00:22:38,399 Speaker 1: come back. So I set a date. So when I 478 00:22:38,440 --> 00:22:40,040 Speaker 1: got there, I didn't know how many people was going 479 00:22:40,119 --> 00:22:41,639 Speaker 1: to be there. So I was like, I want to 480 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:43,840 Speaker 1: see how much I really meant to the school. So 481 00:22:43,880 --> 00:22:45,200 Speaker 1: when I got in there, it was like it was 482 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:47,480 Speaker 1: like a lot of people, Like the gym was pretty packed. 483 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:49,760 Speaker 1: It meant a lot. It means like they really cared 484 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:52,040 Speaker 1: for me and everything. And then I know, like my 485 00:22:52,080 --> 00:22:55,000 Speaker 1: first NFL game at the Seahawks, they had a pep 486 00:22:55,119 --> 00:22:57,080 Speaker 1: rally for the football team, but they also had like 487 00:22:57,119 --> 00:22:59,280 Speaker 1: a separate pet rat like right after and they sent 488 00:22:59,359 --> 00:23:01,600 Speaker 1: me the video. It was pretty cool. You dreamed of 489 00:23:01,720 --> 00:23:04,800 Speaker 1: going to Old Miss, but you weren't highly recruited. Do 490 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:07,320 Speaker 1: you have any idea why. I look at how athletic 491 00:23:07,359 --> 00:23:09,359 Speaker 1: you are and see some of your achievements in high school, 492 00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:11,640 Speaker 1: I'm trying to figure it out. I had the same 493 00:23:11,720 --> 00:23:14,280 Speaker 1: question too. I really don't know why I wasn't highly recruited. 494 00:23:14,280 --> 00:23:17,000 Speaker 1: I can probably say because I came from a small school, 495 00:23:17,080 --> 00:23:20,159 Speaker 1: I didn't really understand like the recruiting process, like it 496 00:23:20,359 --> 00:23:22,720 Speaker 1: was like so big on like stars. I didn't have 497 00:23:22,880 --> 00:23:24,960 Speaker 1: the only thing I think I had probably like two stars. 498 00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:27,280 Speaker 1: I don't know how I got him. I went to 499 00:23:27,359 --> 00:23:30,679 Speaker 1: one old miscount, I showed out I did good. Hugh 500 00:23:30,760 --> 00:23:32,760 Speaker 1: Freeze Batman say his back office. He talked to me 501 00:23:32,800 --> 00:23:35,080 Speaker 1: and my coach, and he was just like, if de 502 00:23:35,160 --> 00:23:37,320 Speaker 1: Marcus Lidge, you know what I'm saying, doesn't pick up 503 00:23:37,359 --> 00:23:39,480 Speaker 1: the hat, then he's gonna choose me. But he ended 504 00:23:39,560 --> 00:23:41,240 Speaker 1: up picking up the hat and signing with Old miss. 505 00:23:41,520 --> 00:23:43,640 Speaker 1: So I really don't know why nobody else like really 506 00:23:43,680 --> 00:23:45,520 Speaker 1: recruited me. Oh, I had small schools. I'm not gonna 507 00:23:45,560 --> 00:23:47,440 Speaker 1: say nobody really recruited me. None of the bigger Power 508 00:23:47,520 --> 00:23:49,960 Speaker 1: five schools. I really don't know why they didn't recruit me. 509 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:53,880 Speaker 1: They're loss. You started your college career at East Mississippi 510 00:23:53,880 --> 00:23:57,439 Speaker 1: Community College, which became famous because of the TV series 511 00:23:57,560 --> 00:24:00,359 Speaker 1: Last Chance. You your first two years there were the 512 00:24:00,359 --> 00:24:02,720 Speaker 1: first two years of the TV series. Did you enjoy 513 00:24:02,800 --> 00:24:06,399 Speaker 1: having all those cameras around? Well, I wasn't like a big, 514 00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:10,040 Speaker 1: big factor, like a main character in the story. I 515 00:24:10,080 --> 00:24:13,760 Speaker 1: really didn't like being on camera because one I wasn't 516 00:24:13,800 --> 00:24:15,720 Speaker 1: like the main guy. As soon as I got into Championship, 517 00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:16,920 Speaker 1: I knew this was gonna be like doing like the 518 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:18,600 Speaker 1: drop down guys, so I really didn't want to be 519 00:24:18,640 --> 00:24:21,240 Speaker 1: in the camera. And even the second year, I signed 520 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:22,840 Speaker 1: a piece of paper saying that I didn't really want 521 00:24:22,840 --> 00:24:25,160 Speaker 1: to be the main character because one I had even 522 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:28,000 Speaker 1: played the year before a lot only played like maybe 523 00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:30,240 Speaker 1: at the most seventeen snaps out of the whole nine game. 524 00:24:30,640 --> 00:24:32,320 Speaker 1: I really didn't want to be featured in it. So 525 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:34,800 Speaker 1: it was it was pretty cool to have him around, 526 00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:37,119 Speaker 1: but I wasn't like the main character, so it was 527 00:24:37,160 --> 00:24:39,400 Speaker 1: all right, you'll be ready for hard knocks the next 528 00:24:39,400 --> 00:24:41,880 Speaker 1: time the Bengals are on it. Hopefully we never get 529 00:24:41,920 --> 00:24:43,439 Speaker 1: on it, because I heard this like the worst, the 530 00:24:43,480 --> 00:24:45,520 Speaker 1: worst teams get on hard nuts, so hopefully we'll never 531 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:48,280 Speaker 1: on it. Fair enough. After two years there, you moved 532 00:24:48,280 --> 00:24:52,439 Speaker 1: down to Troy University. But you came this close to 533 00:24:52,560 --> 00:24:56,480 Speaker 1: playing for the University of Cincinnati Bearcats right right out 534 00:24:56,480 --> 00:24:59,399 Speaker 1: of high school. They came to one of my basketball 535 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:02,760 Speaker 1: games and the coach did and after the basketball game, 536 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:05,439 Speaker 1: he said, I wanted to offer you a scholarship to 537 00:25:05,560 --> 00:25:08,639 Speaker 1: University of Cincinnati. So I was really excited, and he's like, 538 00:25:08,680 --> 00:25:11,080 Speaker 1: he wants me to take a visit this weekend. So 539 00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:13,199 Speaker 1: that Friday night, as I was packing my clothes, he 540 00:25:13,280 --> 00:25:15,679 Speaker 1: called me and then he was like, well, I'm sorry. 541 00:25:15,720 --> 00:25:18,879 Speaker 1: I really hated it. But the guy we offered two 542 00:25:18,920 --> 00:25:21,560 Speaker 1: of y'all, both of two of y'all, and the other 543 00:25:21,600 --> 00:25:24,639 Speaker 1: guy had committed already, and so I was he was like, 544 00:25:24,680 --> 00:25:26,399 Speaker 1: I still want you to come on the visit. I 545 00:25:26,440 --> 00:25:28,320 Speaker 1: just didn't see no point in going on the visit 546 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:31,919 Speaker 1: knowing that I couldn't attend at school. Khalil Lewis wound 547 00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:34,040 Speaker 1: up at Cincinnati and had a fine career, But I'm 548 00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:35,600 Speaker 1: sure they could have gotten both of you guys out 549 00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:39,399 Speaker 1: on the field. Yeah, most definitely, most definitely. So you 550 00:25:39,480 --> 00:25:42,920 Speaker 1: had a fine career at Troy and the Bengals had 551 00:25:42,920 --> 00:25:45,520 Speaker 1: a fifth round grade on you in the NFL Draft, 552 00:25:45,520 --> 00:25:48,080 Speaker 1: but you weren't selected. How disappointed were you not to 553 00:25:48,119 --> 00:25:52,280 Speaker 1: be drafted. I was kind of hurt, expecting I really 554 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:55,879 Speaker 1: wanted to get drafted. Each day I watched every selection 555 00:25:55,960 --> 00:25:58,840 Speaker 1: from the NFL Draft, thinking that the fifth round through 556 00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:00,720 Speaker 1: the seventh round I was actually gonna get a call. Actually, 557 00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:02,200 Speaker 1: the fourth round to the seventh round. I thought I 558 00:26:02,240 --> 00:26:04,280 Speaker 1: was gonna maybe get a call. I didn't get a call. 559 00:26:04,359 --> 00:26:06,000 Speaker 1: I got a call and like at the end of 560 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:08,199 Speaker 1: the seventh round from like different teams, those just for 561 00:26:08,200 --> 00:26:10,480 Speaker 1: free agents and stuff, And that's why I chose the Bengals. 562 00:26:11,160 --> 00:26:14,840 Speaker 1: You watched every pick. That's a long process. It's a 563 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:17,399 Speaker 1: very long process. Actually I watched it. It It was me, me, 564 00:26:17,560 --> 00:26:21,320 Speaker 1: my mother, my girlfriend, my grandparents, and my uncle. We 565 00:26:21,359 --> 00:26:24,120 Speaker 1: all watched different pick. So you signed with the Bengals 566 00:26:24,240 --> 00:26:27,159 Speaker 1: after the draft? What was it about Cincinnati that appeal 567 00:26:27,200 --> 00:26:29,360 Speaker 1: to you. I came on a pre draft visit here. 568 00:26:29,440 --> 00:26:31,719 Speaker 1: I mean I really enjoyed like the coaching staff and 569 00:26:31,760 --> 00:26:35,280 Speaker 1: everything like that, and they didn't select any receivers in 570 00:26:35,320 --> 00:26:37,400 Speaker 1: the draft. So I figured, if I come here, at 571 00:26:37,440 --> 00:26:39,520 Speaker 1: least have it like a decent chance of making the team. 572 00:26:39,840 --> 00:26:41,720 Speaker 1: I see, I saw what they had, like a j 573 00:26:42,280 --> 00:26:44,560 Speaker 1: John Ross and Tyler Boy So I probably knew I 574 00:26:44,640 --> 00:26:46,199 Speaker 1: was gonna be like in the first string in the 575 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:48,399 Speaker 1: first mix of it. But then I felt like I 576 00:26:48,400 --> 00:26:51,240 Speaker 1: could get into that second rotation and special teams maybe. 577 00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:53,760 Speaker 1: So you not only made it, but before the final 578 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:56,800 Speaker 1: preseason game, you were basically told you had made the 579 00:26:56,800 --> 00:26:58,520 Speaker 1: team and that you were going to start the season 580 00:26:58,520 --> 00:27:01,720 Speaker 1: open or in Seattle. Was that surreal to you? Yes, 581 00:27:01,880 --> 00:27:05,080 Speaker 1: considering that the media had told me so, I was like, 582 00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:07,120 Speaker 1: then I had to go out there in practice, and 583 00:27:07,160 --> 00:27:08,680 Speaker 1: so when I came back, I really like took it, 584 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:11,360 Speaker 1: looked at it like wow, I really I really don't 585 00:27:11,359 --> 00:27:13,680 Speaker 1: fing to start my career as a starter week one 586 00:27:13,880 --> 00:27:16,239 Speaker 1: as a free agent, so I really like, look at 587 00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:18,920 Speaker 1: all the obstacles I had to overcome. I'm not done yet, 588 00:27:18,960 --> 00:27:21,400 Speaker 1: but this has been a journey so far. A few 589 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:23,840 Speaker 1: more fun facts with Damian willis what do you enjoy 590 00:27:23,880 --> 00:27:26,000 Speaker 1: to do in your spare time. I really like talking 591 00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:29,439 Speaker 1: to my girlfriend, if that's that's that kind of sounds crazy, 592 00:27:29,560 --> 00:27:31,320 Speaker 1: But I like to play the game a lot, and 593 00:27:31,680 --> 00:27:33,400 Speaker 1: I like to hang out with people. I really don't 594 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:35,399 Speaker 1: like to sit at home just be bored. But if 595 00:27:35,440 --> 00:27:37,360 Speaker 1: I was back at home in the country, I love 596 00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:39,679 Speaker 1: to go fishing. I love fishing. Do you have a 597 00:27:39,720 --> 00:27:42,960 Speaker 1: guilty pleasure? Is there's something that you splurge on with 598 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:45,920 Speaker 1: your money. Now, I'm not really like a big, big 599 00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:48,000 Speaker 1: spending guy. I don't really like to spend my money. 600 00:27:48,040 --> 00:27:49,920 Speaker 1: I really like to see it grow, then what to 601 00:27:49,960 --> 00:27:53,520 Speaker 1: get taken away? They taught you well at Troy and 602 00:27:54,200 --> 00:27:58,240 Speaker 1: in your in your Lifetime. Final fun fact for Damian Willis, 603 00:27:58,560 --> 00:28:02,800 Speaker 1: who was your all time favorite athlete growing up any sport? 604 00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:06,280 Speaker 1: Brandon Marshall knows my favorite athlete growing up. I have 605 00:28:06,320 --> 00:28:09,720 Speaker 1: no idea why it's between Brandon Washing and lebron Jame, 606 00:28:09,960 --> 00:28:12,800 Speaker 1: but I love watching I love watching both of them, 607 00:28:12,880 --> 00:28:15,480 Speaker 1: but Brandon Washington is just like as far as like football. 608 00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:18,399 Speaker 1: I just love watching him. Since he came in and 609 00:28:18,440 --> 00:28:21,159 Speaker 1: playing with the Denver Broncos, he had a great career. 610 00:28:21,240 --> 00:28:23,919 Speaker 1: Yours is off to a great star. Congratulations, thanks for 611 00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:26,120 Speaker 1: the time, Oh thank you, thanks for having me. That's 612 00:28:26,200 --> 00:28:29,199 Speaker 1: Damian Willis. We want to remind you that you can 613 00:28:29,280 --> 00:28:32,000 Speaker 1: hang out with lapping me and meet Bengals players on 614 00:28:32,119 --> 00:28:35,240 Speaker 1: our radio shows this week. On Wednesday night, from six 615 00:28:35,280 --> 00:28:38,720 Speaker 1: to eight, we'll be at Wishbone Tavern on del High 616 00:28:38,760 --> 00:28:42,040 Speaker 1: Pike for the Bengals Game Plan Show. Our scheduled guest 617 00:28:42,120 --> 00:28:45,920 Speaker 1: from seven to eight is Alex Ericson Then on Friday 618 00:28:45,920 --> 00:28:48,600 Speaker 1: afternoon from three to six, we'll be at Buffalo Wings 619 00:28:48,600 --> 00:28:52,360 Speaker 1: and Rings in Crestview Hills, Kentucky. For the Bengals pep 620 00:28:52,440 --> 00:28:55,680 Speaker 1: Rally show. A Bengals player joins us in the final 621 00:28:55,760 --> 00:28:58,400 Speaker 1: hour and we'll know who it is later in the 622 00:28:58,440 --> 00:29:00,680 Speaker 1: week that's going to do it for this edition of 623 00:29:00,720 --> 00:29:03,760 Speaker 1: the podcast. If you haven't done so already, don't forget 624 00:29:03,800 --> 00:29:06,400 Speaker 1: to subscribe, and if you have a minute, give it 625 00:29:06,400 --> 00:29:09,719 Speaker 1: a rating or leave a comment. Those five star ratings 626 00:29:09,720 --> 00:29:14,040 Speaker 1: help more Bengals fans find this podcast. I'm Dan Horde. 627 00:29:14,280 --> 00:29:17,560 Speaker 1: Thank you for listening to the Bengals Booth Podcast.