WEBVTT - Bengals Booth Podcast: Homeward Bound 0:00:03.720 --> 0:00:06.519 Hi, get everybody. I'm Dan Horde and thanks for downloading 0:00:06.559 --> 0:00:13.840 The Bengals Booth Podcast, the Homewood Bound edition. As the 0:00:13.920 --> 0:00:16.200 Bengals earned the right to open the playoffs in the 0:00:16.320 --> 0:00:20.239 Jungle by beating Baltimore twenty seven to sixteen, they'll face 0:00:20.280 --> 0:00:25.079 the Ravens again next weekend. Coming up, you'll hear radio replays, 0:00:25.160 --> 0:00:28.120 one on one locker room interviews and analysis from my 0:00:28.160 --> 0:00:32.040 broadcast partner Dave Lapham. Then, in this week's fun fact segment, 0:00:32.320 --> 0:00:36.239 you'll get to know Bobby Jane Hill Junior. You know 0:00:36.360 --> 0:00:39.920 him as b J. Hill. The Bengals Booth Podcast is 0:00:39.920 --> 0:00:42.800 brought to you by Paycres. More than twenty nine thousand 0:00:42.840 --> 0:00:47.159 customers trust paycor to help them recruit, pay engage, and 0:00:47.280 --> 0:00:52.320 retain employees. Learn more at paycorp dot com. Now here's 0:00:52.320 --> 0:00:54.800 a quick reminder that you can have the latest edition 0:00:54.880 --> 0:00:57.880 of this podcast delivered right to your phone, tablet, or 0:00:57.920 --> 0:01:02.320 computer by subscribing wherever get your podcasts. It's the greatest 0:01:02.360 --> 0:01:07.319 thing since the generosity of Bengals fan Phil am Rin. 0:01:08.160 --> 0:01:11.080 Every season, each NFL team picks a Fan of the 0:01:11.160 --> 0:01:14.320 Year based on their commitment to the franchise and nomination 0:01:14.440 --> 0:01:18.080 letters from friends and family. The Bengals winner this year 0:01:18.440 --> 0:01:21.080 is Phil am Rin, who served as the Ruler of 0:01:21.120 --> 0:01:24.400 the Jungle on Sunday. He's been a season ticket member 0:01:24.400 --> 0:01:27.440 for roughly thirty years and has attended more than one 0:01:27.560 --> 0:01:30.800 hundred road games. The prize for the Fan of the 0:01:30.920 --> 0:01:34.200 Year is two tickets to the Super Bowl, plus airfare 0:01:34.319 --> 0:01:38.200 and lodging. Well, here's the interesting twist with Phil. He 0:01:38.280 --> 0:01:40.559 and his wife Shelley have gone to the Super Bowl 0:01:40.640 --> 0:01:44.720 for the last twenty one years. Sometimes they get game tickets, 0:01:44.920 --> 0:01:48.440 other times they just enjoy the super Bowl related activities 0:01:48.520 --> 0:01:51.800 in the host city. Well, this year they had already 0:01:51.840 --> 0:01:55.680 made their Super Bowl plans, so they are raffling off 0:01:55.960 --> 0:01:58.760 they're Fan of the Year super Bowl trip for charity. 0:01:59.280 --> 0:02:02.440 All pro seeds go to a variety of causes, including 0:02:02.760 --> 0:02:06.400 the Ken Anderson Alliance, the Sam Hubbard Foundation, and the 0:02:06.560 --> 0:02:11.040 Anthony Munio's Foundation. The drawing is Monday at two in 0:02:11.080 --> 0:02:14.079 the afternoon, so depending on when you listen to this podcast, 0:02:14.400 --> 0:02:18.080 you might still have time to purchase a ticket. For details, 0:02:18.440 --> 0:02:22.399 go to Phil am Rin's Facebook page. His last name 0:02:22.480 --> 0:02:28.600 is spelled am R e I N. Now let's get 0:02:28.639 --> 0:02:31.920 to the highlights. Of Sunday's win over Baltimore. It'll be 0:02:31.919 --> 0:02:36.000 a thirty four yard attempt for Evan McPherson, cal Adamitas 0:02:36.080 --> 0:02:39.519 High school and college teammate of Damar Hamlin, will snap 0:02:39.520 --> 0:02:43.399 it back. Chrispin puts the ball down. Evan McPherson's kick 0:02:43.760 --> 0:02:47.400 on its way and good, and the Bengals have scored 0:02:47.480 --> 0:02:50.440 first here at pay Course Stadium. It's a play action 0:02:50.480 --> 0:02:55.360 fake Brown looking throws before gage and accepted by Jesse Bates. 0:02:55.639 --> 0:02:57.959 He has it at the fifty looking to run it back. 0:02:58.040 --> 0:03:01.000 Now he has grabbed and he'll be tackled at the 0:03:01.040 --> 0:03:05.400 forty seven yard line of Baltimore. B J Hill put 0:03:05.400 --> 0:03:09.200 the hit on the quarterback Anthony Brown, who floated it 0:03:09.320 --> 0:03:11.359 right to Jesse Bates. He did, he hit him and 0:03:11.480 --> 0:03:15.160 jack knifed him. It comes a blitz. Burrow somehow gets away, 0:03:15.520 --> 0:03:17.839 throws over in the middle, caught at the thirty by 0:03:17.880 --> 0:03:21.360 Tyler Boyd and he gets tackled at the twenty six 0:03:21.440 --> 0:03:26.040 yard line by Marcus Williams. Joe Burrow got out of 0:03:26.040 --> 0:03:29.840 a strait jacket there. Kyle Hamilton. Kyle Hamilton came on 0:03:29.880 --> 0:03:33.239 the blitz and he missed him first in goal. Inside 0:03:33.280 --> 0:03:36.760 the one. Zach Taylor was running down the sideline to 0:03:36.840 --> 0:03:39.880 call a time out. The Pengals run ahead and ran 0:03:40.000 --> 0:03:43.880 a play and Joe Mixon runs it in from inside 0:03:43.880 --> 0:03:47.800 the one. Zack Taylor didn't run fast enough to get 0:03:47.840 --> 0:03:50.320 the time out, and it works out just fine for 0:03:50.440 --> 0:03:54.040 Cincinnati's Brookie quarterback Anthony Brown one for three with an 0:03:54.040 --> 0:03:58.720 interception so far today. This pass intercepted off a ricochet. 0:03:59.080 --> 0:04:02.440 It's picked off by Mike Hilton, and that was not 0:04:02.600 --> 0:04:06.560 Anthony Brown's fault. It was a good throw. The intended 0:04:06.640 --> 0:04:11.000 receiver allowed it to glance right off his arms into 0:04:11.000 --> 0:04:14.200 the hands of Mike Hilton and the Bengals will take over. 0:04:14.520 --> 0:04:18.480 At the thirty two of Baltimore, Joe catches the shotgun snap, 0:04:18.640 --> 0:04:21.320 he throws it deep down the left side, the leaping 0:04:21.440 --> 0:04:25.680 catch in the end zone. Jamar Chase paulls it in 0:04:26.400 --> 0:04:32.159 and the Bengals have scored again, Chase beating Warlie. And 0:04:32.400 --> 0:04:37.679 with that throw, Joe Burrow has set the new single 0:04:37.839 --> 0:04:42.560 season record for touchdown passes in a season, breaking the 0:04:42.640 --> 0:04:46.080 mark that he set last year. It's his thirty fifth 0:04:46.279 --> 0:04:51.039 of the year, and what a performance of strength at 0:04:51.040 --> 0:04:54.240 the eight pecks of the catch, but Jamar Chase second 0:04:54.279 --> 0:04:56.920 and goal from the five, Brown hands it off. It's 0:04:56.920 --> 0:04:59.359 a run to the left and Drake will take it 0:04:59.360 --> 0:05:04.200 into the endz o for a Baltimore touchdown. Empty backfield. 0:05:04.200 --> 0:05:07.960 Brown's going to throw from the zone and brought down 0:05:08.839 --> 0:05:13.359 the ball. The ball comes down recovered for a touchdown. 0:05:14.200 --> 0:05:18.280 Trey Hendrickson stripped it away from Anthony Brown and a 0:05:18.400 --> 0:05:21.840 three covered in the end zone for a Cincinnati touchdown. 0:05:22.040 --> 0:05:24.400 Third down and eight, the Ravens at their own thirteen, 0:05:24.880 --> 0:05:27.680 brown back to throw. Here comes a blitz nice and 0:05:27.800 --> 0:05:33.040 he will be sacked Trey Hendrickson With Mike Kilton coming, 0:05:33.520 --> 0:05:36.760 they bring down Anthony Brown at the nine yard line. 0:05:37.000 --> 0:05:40.839 Ten seconds to go. The Bengals backing up into a 0:05:40.880 --> 0:05:45.240 prevent defense, brown back to pass. He throws a leaping 0:05:45.360 --> 0:05:49.920 catch made likely will be tackled and that will end 0:05:50.120 --> 0:05:58.599 the game. The Cincinnati Bengals are not only AFC North champions, 0:05:59.560 --> 0:06:02.920 but the NFL can keep the change. Yeah, there will 0:06:02.960 --> 0:06:06.679 be no coin flip required, as the Bengals will open 0:06:06.720 --> 0:06:11.560 the playoffs in the jungles and rightfully and deservedly sown. 0:06:12.600 --> 0:06:15.599 The final score was twenty seven to sixteen and Normally, 0:06:15.680 --> 0:06:20.280 an eleven point win over a division rival is very satisfying. However, 0:06:20.720 --> 0:06:25.160 there were causes for concern. First and foremost, Alex Kappa 0:06:25.320 --> 0:06:28.200 injured his left ankle late in the third quarter and 0:06:28.360 --> 0:06:31.320 left the field on a cart. More on that later 0:06:31.480 --> 0:06:35.280 with Dave Lapham. Secondly, after opening the game with two 0:06:35.320 --> 0:06:38.080 touchdowns in a field goal on their first three possessions, 0:06:38.360 --> 0:06:42.200 the Bengals had ten more drives and only added one 0:06:42.240 --> 0:06:45.720 more field goal. On offense, there were seven punts, a 0:06:45.839 --> 0:06:50.080 loss fumble, and they got stopped on fourth and one. Still, 0:06:50.320 --> 0:06:53.360 the Bengals broke out celebratory cigars in the locker room 0:06:53.400 --> 0:06:56.080 after the game, and I caught up with one of 0:06:56.120 --> 0:06:59.160 the game ball recipients, who was headed to the playoffs 0:06:59.360 --> 0:07:04.000 for the fourth time in his six NFL seasons. The 0:07:04.120 --> 0:07:07.640 Heiress stick with cigars smoke inside the Bengals locker room, 0:07:07.680 --> 0:07:11.280 and we're with Mike Kilton. Congratulations, champions of the North 0:07:11.320 --> 0:07:13.520 for the second year in a row. You will open 0:07:13.560 --> 0:07:16.800 the playoffs at home against Baltimore. How's that sound? Oh man, 0:07:16.840 --> 0:07:18.760 it's big, you know, number one, just getting to the playoffs, 0:07:18.760 --> 0:07:21.440 you know, giving ourselves a chance and us winning the division. 0:07:21.720 --> 0:07:23.760 You know, obviously getting the home playoff game is big. 0:07:24.320 --> 0:07:26.480 You know, having a division upon it, coming to with 0:07:26.560 --> 0:07:28.080 a lot on the line is gonna be big, so 0:07:28.560 --> 0:07:30.080 we we gotta get rid of We know it's gonna 0:07:30.080 --> 0:07:32.040 be another tough game, but we know it's at stake 0:07:32.080 --> 0:07:35.400 and we'll be prepared. The offense scored on the first 0:07:35.400 --> 0:07:39.240 three possessions. It was seventeen nothing. Brandon Allen started warming 0:07:39.280 --> 0:07:41.200 up on the sideline. I think a lot of us thought, 0:07:41.200 --> 0:07:44.080 all right, the route is on. It didn't play out 0:07:44.160 --> 0:07:46.600 that way. How are you guys feeling about how the 0:07:46.600 --> 0:07:48.960 rest of the game went? Oh all right? You know, 0:07:49.200 --> 0:07:50.880 even if they've been they had people down. You know, 0:07:50.880 --> 0:07:53.160 it's a division game. They know us and we know them, 0:07:53.160 --> 0:07:55.239 so it's not gonna be easy. We knew they weren't 0:07:55.320 --> 0:07:57.480 us gonna lay down, but we found a way to 0:07:58.240 --> 0:08:01.000 just do what we do best get to win. And 0:08:01.000 --> 0:08:03.240 now we're here celebrating getting ready for a playoff game. 0:08:03.680 --> 0:08:05.880 Takeaways we're a big part of it. I think. For 0:08:06.240 --> 0:08:08.760 if if I'm not mistaken and you had an interception, 0:08:09.080 --> 0:08:12.760 tell me about that play. It was third down. He 0:08:13.080 --> 0:08:15.440 ran ag a drag route, so he went right down 0:08:15.440 --> 0:08:17.920 the line. Quarterback kind of threw it behind him and 0:08:18.000 --> 0:08:19.320 it tipped up and I having to be in a 0:08:19.440 --> 0:08:22.320 right spot. So I love how it worked out. Now, 0:08:22.360 --> 0:08:24.840 now we just gotta keep caring the turnovers to the 0:08:24.880 --> 0:08:28.600 next couple of weeks. It was obviously a weird week. 0:08:28.880 --> 0:08:32.000 We're all thrilled that tomorrow Hamblin is doing well. But 0:08:32.160 --> 0:08:33.760 what was it like to go back out there and 0:08:33.800 --> 0:08:36.439 play today. It was definitely a little tough at first, 0:08:36.520 --> 0:08:39.280 but once we just really gathered in this locker room 0:08:39.280 --> 0:08:41.199 before we came out, were just like, do what we do, 0:08:41.400 --> 0:08:44.319 play our game. You know, don't don't play slow because 0:08:44.320 --> 0:08:47.120 of what happened. Just be yourself and enjoy the moment 0:08:47.160 --> 0:08:50.720 and play every dawn like it's your last. Twelve wins 0:08:50.840 --> 0:08:54.160 ties a franchise record, an eight game winning streak, ties 0:08:54.200 --> 0:08:57.080 a franchise record. Do you feel like you're going into 0:08:57.120 --> 0:09:00.360 the postseason and a good place? Oh yeah, absolutely, Well 0:09:00.679 --> 0:09:02.960 we're rolling right now. You know, we're a hot seeing 0:09:03.440 --> 0:09:05.320 but you know, nothing that means nothing. We can't finish 0:09:05.320 --> 0:09:07.520 the job, and that's getting to the super Bowl, and 0:09:07.600 --> 0:09:10.040 this weekend is our first step. So guys got a 0:09:10.160 --> 0:09:12.760 reset and just get ready before a top of phone. 0:09:12.960 --> 0:09:15.480 Are you a cigar guy? I am, I really am, 0:09:15.640 --> 0:09:19.520 so I'm enjoyed this one today. Congratulations, thank you. That's 0:09:19.520 --> 0:09:23.760 Mike Kelton. As Mike noted in that interview, Baltimore had 0:09:23.800 --> 0:09:26.520 people down. Lamar Jackson missed his fifth straight game with 0:09:26.559 --> 0:09:30.200 a knee injury, and second string quarterback Tyler Huntley sat 0:09:30.240 --> 0:09:33.480 out with a shoulder injury. Rookie Anthony Brown made his 0:09:33.559 --> 0:09:36.840 first career start and finished with a passer rating of 0:09:36.880 --> 0:09:41.760 forty six point two. The Ravens also rested several key players, 0:09:41.760 --> 0:09:46.600 including running back JK. Dobbins, tight end Mark Andrews, cornerback 0:09:46.720 --> 0:09:51.680 Marcus Peters, and offensive lineman Kevin Zeitler with a possibility 0:09:51.720 --> 0:09:54.760 of earning the number two playoffs. See The Bengals played 0:09:54.800 --> 0:09:59.079 their regulars only to see Alex Kappa go down. There's 0:09:59.080 --> 0:10:01.800 no word yet the severity of his injury, but it 0:10:01.840 --> 0:10:05.720 obviously did not look good. Max Sharping, who has claimed 0:10:05.720 --> 0:10:08.440 off waivers just before the start of the season, took 0:10:08.480 --> 0:10:11.680 over at right guard. He started thirty three games in 0:10:11.720 --> 0:10:15.200 the past for Houston. Here are Ted Carriss and Joe 0:10:15.240 --> 0:10:18.920 Burrow on the injury to Alex Kappa. Well, I've gotten 0:10:18.920 --> 0:10:20.839 a lot of credit this year, and I just want 0:10:20.880 --> 0:10:24.160 to make it clear that Alex Kappa is the singular 0:10:24.240 --> 0:10:27.280 force that drives this old line. He's like having another 0:10:27.280 --> 0:10:30.240 center on the field. He's my number one confidant and 0:10:30.280 --> 0:10:34.920 he's extremely talented, and that my heart broke when that happened. 0:10:34.960 --> 0:10:37.320 I don't know the details. I have all the comments 0:10:37.400 --> 0:10:39.000 in the world in Max if that's what has to 0:10:39.040 --> 0:10:41.080 do going forward, but I just want to make it 0:10:41.080 --> 0:10:44.400 clear how much Alex means to this team, means this 0:10:44.520 --> 0:10:47.000 offensive line and to this offense. He's been a huge 0:10:47.000 --> 0:10:49.760 contributor and a big factor of our success this season. 0:10:49.960 --> 0:10:54.920 He's really been playing unbelievable all year. Kappa's one guy 0:10:54.960 --> 0:10:57.680 you love to be around, great locker room guy. Two 0:10:58.120 --> 0:11:02.400 unbelievable player, smart, physical, tough, everything you could ask for 0:11:02.640 --> 0:11:06.280 in and into your guy. You know, I don't I 0:11:06.360 --> 0:11:08.400 don't know the severity of the injury, but you know, 0:11:08.400 --> 0:11:11.080 I have a lot of confidence in the guys behind him. 0:11:11.120 --> 0:11:13.640 Max has played a lot of football and you know 0:11:13.679 --> 0:11:16.560 he knows the stuff, so he's gonna have to step up. 0:11:16.559 --> 0:11:17.880 But we got all the faith in the world. In 0:11:17.960 --> 0:11:21.080 a the Bengals lost l Collins with a knee injury 0:11:21.120 --> 0:11:24.720 two weeks ago against the Patriots, So after having the 0:11:24.840 --> 0:11:27.520 same five starters on the offensive line for the first 0:11:27.640 --> 0:11:31.120 fifteen games, it looks like they'll head into the postseason 0:11:31.480 --> 0:11:35.520 with Sharping and Hakim Identagy starting on the right side. 0:11:36.040 --> 0:11:38.720 The Bengals Booth podcast is brought to you by Bengals 0:11:38.760 --> 0:11:42.200 Picks and Ultimate Bengals. They're free to play, with tickets 0:11:42.200 --> 0:11:46.120 and signed merchandise up for grabs. Find both inside the 0:11:46.200 --> 0:11:50.160 Bengals app. Joe Burrow told reporters after the game that 0:11:50.280 --> 0:11:53.600 he didn't play well and miss throws that he usually makes. 0:11:54.040 --> 0:11:57.480 He was twenty five for forty two. That's sixty percent 0:11:57.920 --> 0:12:00.880 for two hundred and fifteen yards, one touch down, no picks, 0:12:01.160 --> 0:12:05.040 and a passer rating of eighty one. The Ravens stuffed 0:12:05.040 --> 0:12:08.040 the Bengals running game, holding Joe Mixon to twenty seven 0:12:08.120 --> 0:12:11.120 yards on eleven carries and holding the Bengals as a 0:12:11.160 --> 0:12:15.960 team to fifty five yards on the ground. Fortunately for Cincinnati, 0:12:16.080 --> 0:12:20.240 the defense was outstanding, coming up with two interceptions and 0:12:20.320 --> 0:12:24.280 two fumble recoveries. The deal allowed one touchdown but also 0:12:24.440 --> 0:12:26.959 scored one And I talked to the guy who came 0:12:27.000 --> 0:12:32.760 away with Cincinnati's first defensive touchdown of the year. I 0:12:32.920 --> 0:12:35.800 feel like I am now smoking a cigar inside the 0:12:35.800 --> 0:12:38.800 locker room. I'm standing next to Joseph Osai after he 0:12:38.920 --> 0:12:42.080 just got a nice light from a teammate. You scored 0:12:42.120 --> 0:12:45.360 a touchdown the Bengals one or twelfth game of the year. 0:12:45.559 --> 0:12:48.120 Describe how you're feeling right now. Feeling great. You know 0:12:48.240 --> 0:12:51.080 last year I didn't get to experience these guys, just 0:12:51.200 --> 0:12:53.960 feeling with you guys firsthand. But I'm just happy. I do. 0:12:54.040 --> 0:12:56.960 Am very thankful. I'll go over to God. I won't 0:12:57.000 --> 0:13:00.400 be here without him. So Trey Hendrickson stripped the ball 0:13:00.440 --> 0:13:03.320 away from Anthony Brown. We saw how long your reach 0:13:03.480 --> 0:13:06.160 is as you reeled that ball in good serve. I 0:13:06.240 --> 0:13:08.080 just I felt the ball. I saw him strip it, 0:13:08.360 --> 0:13:10.200 and I felt the ball hit hit my feet and 0:13:10.240 --> 0:13:11.880 I was just trying to scramble to find it because 0:13:12.160 --> 0:13:14.360 without trying to alert the other guy to the ball 0:13:14.400 --> 0:13:17.839 was on the ground too. So it was it was 0:13:17.880 --> 0:13:19.840 a bit safety, but I'm just gonna I was able 0:13:19.840 --> 0:13:21.320 to get it. I was able to. Really. Then, when 0:13:21.320 --> 0:13:26.000 did you score your last touchdown high school? My junior 0:13:26.040 --> 0:13:29.920 in high school. Um, it was a fumble recovery and 0:13:29.920 --> 0:13:32.120 I and I ran it in for a touchdown. We're 0:13:32.200 --> 0:13:35.559 visiting the Joseph side. So with this win, you'll be 0:13:35.600 --> 0:13:39.840 back here next week against Baltimore in a rematch. How 0:13:39.880 --> 0:13:42.880 are you guys feeling about that? Um? Those got that. 0:13:43.000 --> 0:13:45.200 That's a tough team. All credit to them, all credit 0:13:45.240 --> 0:13:47.960 to their coaches. Um, they were down early and they 0:13:48.040 --> 0:13:51.360 stuck in there and they fought. So I'm looking forward 0:13:51.400 --> 0:13:53.320 to it. Man. It feels a lot better when you 0:13:53.320 --> 0:13:55.319 win when you work hard like that for it. So 0:13:55.679 --> 0:13:57.440 if it's gonna be a dog fight, we're prepared for it. 0:13:57.480 --> 0:14:00.400 Were Um, we've been there before and we're to win. 0:14:01.040 --> 0:14:04.439 It was seventeen nothing as you alluded to, did the 0:14:04.480 --> 0:14:07.760 way the game ended with them at least sticking in it. 0:14:08.640 --> 0:14:11.520 Take anything away from the victory today, No, sir, win 0:14:11.679 --> 0:14:14.120 is a win in this league. They're a great team too. 0:14:14.120 --> 0:14:16.480 What what's the record? Ten and ten and seven? Then 0:14:16.559 --> 0:14:18.080 and seven? They're a great team too. It's hard to 0:14:18.080 --> 0:14:22.000 win in this league, especially in AFC North, and UM, 0:14:22.040 --> 0:14:23.560 every win you gotta be thankful for it, and you 0:14:23.560 --> 0:14:26.640 gotta be appreciated for way, no matter how it comes. Ugly, beautiful, 0:14:26.680 --> 0:14:29.800 you gotta be happy of to win. And we're back 0:14:29.840 --> 0:14:32.240 to the drawing board and we'll see him again. Twelve 0:14:32.320 --> 0:14:35.160 wins ties a franchise record. An eight game winning streak 0:14:35.240 --> 0:14:37.720 ties a franchise record. How do you feel about the 0:14:37.720 --> 0:14:40.280 way you guys are going into postseason play? Let's make 0:14:40.320 --> 0:14:43.520 it thirteen love the sound of that. Break it. We're 0:14:43.520 --> 0:14:47.040 tied right now, Let's break it. So with the events 0:14:47.080 --> 0:14:50.640 of the last week, everybody felt a lot better as 0:14:50.640 --> 0:14:52.760 the week went along, as we got good news about 0:14:52.800 --> 0:14:55.640 tomorrow Hamlin's recovery. But what was it like for you 0:14:55.720 --> 0:15:00.720 to take the field today? Um, you know, when it happened, 0:15:00.840 --> 0:15:04.000 it was darned on us how violent this game truly is. 0:15:04.040 --> 0:15:05.920 You have that you know in the back of your mind, 0:15:05.920 --> 0:15:10.320 and this is a violent sport. But seeing that truly manifested, 0:15:11.120 --> 0:15:12.680 and it just made me more thankful. I don't know 0:15:12.720 --> 0:15:15.040 about anybody else but me personally, made me more thankful, 0:15:15.480 --> 0:15:18.240 more appreciative that at any point in time something like 0:15:18.280 --> 0:15:20.840 that could happen to me. But it hasn't. So I 0:15:20.920 --> 0:15:23.040 thank God for that, and I respect the game a 0:15:23.040 --> 0:15:27.200 lot more and every sense I get I gotta go 0:15:27.240 --> 0:15:28.760 out there and give it all I have because you 0:15:28.840 --> 0:15:30.280 never know when which one is your last. You know, 0:15:30.360 --> 0:15:32.120 you're saying what I'm saying. You gotta you gotta play 0:15:32.160 --> 0:15:33.760 hard for Damar and his family because he got the 0:15:33.800 --> 0:15:35.720 game taken away from him. Now. We don't know yet 0:15:35.760 --> 0:15:38.080 if you'll get to play again, but just to get 0:15:38.080 --> 0:15:39.440 the game taken away from you like that, you just 0:15:39.480 --> 0:15:42.000 gotta be respectful of the game and appreciative of every 0:15:42.040 --> 0:15:45.240 chance you get, every opportunity you get. I've interrupted your 0:15:45.240 --> 0:15:50.200 celebration long enough. Congratulations, appreciate the time. That's Joseph Osid. 0:15:51.520 --> 0:15:55.880 Bengals Booth podcast is presented by Alta Fiber future proof 0:15:55.960 --> 0:16:00.080 fiber Internet capable of delivering multi gigabit speeds because I 0:16:00.080 --> 0:16:02.400 had to take your home, business and community to a 0:16:02.440 --> 0:16:07.160 new level, elevate your connection with all to Fiber. This 0:16:07.200 --> 0:16:09.680 is Zach Taylor's fourth year as the Bengals head coach, 0:16:09.760 --> 0:16:13.120 and he has upped his win total every season, from 0:16:13.160 --> 0:16:16.360 two in year one to four in year two to 0:16:16.640 --> 0:16:21.000 ten in year three to twelve. This season, Zach spent 0:16:21.120 --> 0:16:25.240 four minutes with Dave Lapham after the game black Room. 0:16:25.280 --> 0:16:26.960 There's a lot of cigar smoke in there. It is 0:16:26.960 --> 0:16:28.720 there's a lot of work that goes into this, you know, 0:16:28.800 --> 0:16:30.960 and I know we've got bigger first to fries we 0:16:30.960 --> 0:16:33.960 get into the playoffs, but to finish off with eight 0:16:34.000 --> 0:16:36.520 straight wins in the back half of the season to 0:16:36.600 --> 0:16:38.960 win the first time in franchise history back to back 0:16:39.080 --> 0:16:42.960 divisional games, most wins in franchise history twelve tied for that. 0:16:44.000 --> 0:16:45.320 These guys should take a lot of pride in what 0:16:45.320 --> 0:16:47.480 they coomplish her today. And this is a typical a 0:16:47.640 --> 0:16:50.080 seen North football game. It's ugly. I haven't seen a 0:16:50.080 --> 0:16:52.000 pretty one yet. You just gotta find a way to 0:16:52.000 --> 0:16:54.320 be on top. And that's where guys did three and 0:16:54.360 --> 0:16:56.480 three in the division and you win the last three 0:16:56.520 --> 0:16:59.080 to do it nine and one against everybody else. That 0:16:59.240 --> 0:17:01.520 just proved how if this division is Yeah, it's it's 0:17:01.520 --> 0:17:03.800 a it's a tough division. We're a tough team and 0:17:04.160 --> 0:17:07.359 this team just keeps finding ways to win. At this point, 0:17:07.359 --> 0:17:08.960 we don't care how pretty it's going to be. We 0:17:09.040 --> 0:17:10.440 just got to be the ones to one on top. 0:17:11.320 --> 0:17:15.160 Turnovers are always a big factor in this Baltimore Raven 0:17:15.200 --> 0:17:18.880 football team only had seventeen giveaways coming into this football game, 0:17:18.920 --> 0:17:21.400 Like second few us in the league. You got them 0:17:21.400 --> 0:17:24.639 for four today, two interceptions, two finals plus two fourth 0:17:24.640 --> 0:17:27.600 down stops which in my mind possessing done in the 0:17:27.720 --> 0:17:29.920 kick it's a takeaway. I mean, six of them. That's 0:17:29.920 --> 0:17:31.960 pretty impressive. Yeah, that was awesome. You know, they gave 0:17:31.960 --> 0:17:34.960 the offense a great field position scored seven. You know, 0:17:35.000 --> 0:17:36.800 that was our first defensive such of the season, which 0:17:36.880 --> 0:17:38.320 is good to have. We needed that in this game. 0:17:38.359 --> 0:17:40.359 And so again they did a great job winning the 0:17:40.400 --> 0:17:43.160 field position battle for us and creating a lot of takeaways. 0:17:43.160 --> 0:17:46.320 That was good. So what is it that you told 0:17:46.359 --> 0:17:49.080 your football team after this game? I mean, you know, 0:17:49.160 --> 0:17:53.080 obviously they're celebrating like they should, but you got work. 0:17:53.200 --> 0:17:56.200 You have unfinished business. I guess work still to be done. 0:17:56.760 --> 0:17:59.880 What did you tell them? Congratulated them again? How hard 0:18:00.080 --> 0:18:02.359 this is to do. And this is the cherry on 0:18:02.400 --> 0:18:04.399 top of the regular season. This is this is the 0:18:04.400 --> 0:18:06.520 best we could have done after the halfway point was 0:18:06.560 --> 0:18:08.800 win all eight of them and and find a way 0:18:08.800 --> 0:18:11.280 to come out on top of a toughest division all football. 0:18:11.600 --> 0:18:13.760 And so now you you after today, we put this 0:18:13.760 --> 0:18:15.000 one behind us. We don't know if it'll be a 0:18:15.000 --> 0:18:16.760 six day week or seven day week. Coming at us, 0:18:17.240 --> 0:18:19.520 but our guys will be ready to go whatever the 0:18:19.560 --> 0:18:21.600 worst case scenario is for the Mangles. That's what the 0:18:21.680 --> 0:18:23.640 leg will do. It seems like because I mean, how 0:18:23.680 --> 0:18:28.240 big of a motivating factor was that coin tops bullcraft 0:18:28.240 --> 0:18:29.800 that went on. I think our guys did a great 0:18:29.840 --> 0:18:31.639 job handling the right way. They know that winning this 0:18:31.680 --> 0:18:34.800 game solved a lot of our problems. So that's what 0:18:34.960 --> 0:18:36.520 the that's what they focused on doing, and that's what 0:18:36.560 --> 0:18:40.520 they got done. Coach. I mean, as we talked about earlier, 0:18:41.480 --> 0:18:44.240 I thought that the fans showed up today. I thought 0:18:44.240 --> 0:18:47.240 that it was a good moment where get back to 0:18:47.840 --> 0:18:51.240 normalcy as best you can. The fans celebrate the players 0:18:51.240 --> 0:18:53.439 to the players celebrate the fans. I mean, it was 0:18:53.520 --> 0:18:56.239 like a almost like a love fest out there, you know. 0:18:56.320 --> 0:18:58.159 I mean after what took place on Money Night, did 0:18:58.160 --> 0:19:01.080 you feel that? That's why Cincinnati's That's why we all 0:19:01.080 --> 0:19:03.680 want to be here, because we love our fans. We 0:19:03.760 --> 0:19:07.240 love this organization. The support is felt every single week. 0:19:08.119 --> 0:19:09.760 I know that the fans love this team and what 0:19:09.840 --> 0:19:12.400 we're all about. It's really cool to see you've wanted 0:19:12.440 --> 0:19:16.880 eight in a road to end the season. This football 0:19:16.920 --> 0:19:19.400 team can get it done when they needed to get 0:19:19.440 --> 0:19:21.200 it done, where they need to get it done, can't 0:19:21.240 --> 0:19:23.440 they Yeah, it doesn't matter at this point where we play. 0:19:23.480 --> 0:19:25.520 We've we've heard it play at home. Can't wait to 0:19:25.560 --> 0:19:28.280 play this. This home playoff game atmosphere that we had 0:19:28.320 --> 0:19:30.679 last year against the Raiders was second to none. I 0:19:30.720 --> 0:19:33.640 expect none, nothing less for this go around. Even more. 0:19:33.680 --> 0:19:35.800 We got the Baltimore Ravens coming in here. What more 0:19:35.840 --> 0:19:37.239 could you ask for to have a chance to end 0:19:37.280 --> 0:19:41.000 their season and continue ours? And so I know that 0:19:41.000 --> 0:19:42.640 the fans are gonna be turned out for this weekend. 0:19:42.880 --> 0:19:45.320 And finally, Coach, and appreciate your carving this time after 0:19:45.359 --> 0:19:48.400 the game last year, going through what you went through 0:19:48.640 --> 0:19:51.119 three game run in the playoffs going to the Super Bowl. 0:19:51.600 --> 0:19:54.080 How much of a carryover is there from that when 0:19:54.160 --> 0:19:58.119 you start preparing for this particular playoff run or is 0:19:58.160 --> 0:20:00.320 it like forget all about that? This is a totally 0:20:00.359 --> 0:20:02.960 different equations. I think there's an understanding of what's in 0:20:02.960 --> 0:20:04.919 front of us, how hard it's going to be. The 0:20:04.960 --> 0:20:07.600 opponents that are left are all great football teams, and 0:20:07.880 --> 0:20:10.440 each week brings its own challenges. They're all gonna be tough. 0:20:10.520 --> 0:20:13.480 These guys are mentally ready for it, they're physically ready 0:20:13.480 --> 0:20:15.400 for it. They're battle tested, they know what's in front 0:20:15.400 --> 0:20:18.760 of them, and I'm excited to see them operate. Congratulations coach, 0:20:18.840 --> 0:20:23.720 twelve and four AFC North champion, number three seed playoffs 0:20:23.920 --> 0:20:27.560 here we come. Awesome, Thank you. So here's how the 0:20:27.600 --> 0:20:30.879 playoff picture looks in the AFC. The Chiefs are the 0:20:30.960 --> 0:20:34.160 number one seed and get a first round by Buffalo 0:20:34.280 --> 0:20:37.320 is the two seed and opens at home against Miami. 0:20:37.760 --> 0:20:40.959 The Bengals are the three seed and host Baltimore. The 0:20:41.040 --> 0:20:44.720 Jaguars are the fourth seed and host the Chargers. The 0:20:44.800 --> 0:20:48.080 Steelers just missed the playoffs after beating Cleveland twenty eight 0:20:48.080 --> 0:20:52.280 to fourteen. Still, after a two and six start, Pittsburgh 0:20:52.280 --> 0:20:56.200 wound up nine and eight, extending Mike Toblin's streak to 0:20:56.320 --> 0:21:00.400 sixteen straight five hundred or better seasons as this Steelers 0:21:00.480 --> 0:21:05.440 head coach. Now time for the radio guys recap lap. 0:21:05.440 --> 0:21:07.400 I'll be honest, I wasn't sure what I was going 0:21:07.480 --> 0:21:09.720 to get when we walked into the locker room after 0:21:09.760 --> 0:21:12.280 the game. I didn't know if it would be celebratory. 0:21:12.440 --> 0:21:14.600 I didn't know if they'd feel a little disappointed. Because 0:21:14.640 --> 0:21:17.880 of the way the game ended, Clearly the mood was celebratory. 0:21:18.400 --> 0:21:21.119 I'm gonna stink like cigars for the next several days. 0:21:21.840 --> 0:21:24.439