Cincinnati Bengals DE Joseph Ossai was reduced to tears after their agonizing defeat to Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. With the win, the Chiefs advanced to Super Bowl LVII.
Some attention, however, turned to Ossai toward the end of the game.
On the final snap, Mahomes scrambled on third-and-4 with Joseph Ossai in hot pursuit. The Bengals DE then proceeded to hit Mahomes, who was pushed out of bounds and tumbled onto the bench.
The play was flagged for a 15-yard penalty, allowing Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker to seal the win with a 45-yard game-winning field goal.
With that, the Chiefs advanced to the Super Bowl where they will face the Philadelphia Eagles.
Ossai broke down on the bench after the Bengals’ loss, visibly distraught.
“That’s not the only one,” quarterback Joe Burrow said, in response to what cost them the game.
Head coach Zac Taylor also had his say on Ossai’s late play:
“It’s tough. One play. Didn’t come down to that.”
Joseph Ossai’s post-game reaction invites sympathy
After the game, Ossai was asked about the very same play.
The Bengals DE said:
“I gotta learn from experience and I gotta know not to get close to that quarterback when he’s close to the sideline if it’s anything that could possibly cause a penalty.”
Ossai’s teammate Jermaine Pratt, however, took a different route.
“Why the f–k would you even touch the quarterback?” Pratt was reportedly heard saying on his way to the locker room.
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