One Cincinnati Bengals player could not hold in his frustration over a legendary blunder that cost the team a chance at going to Super Bowl LVII.
The Cincinnati Bengals vs. Kansas City Chiefs AFC title battle was by far the most entertaining matchup on Conference Championship Sunday. While there were quiet moments in the first half, both teams seemed to kick things into a higher gear in the final two quarters.
They went back and forth in a titanic clash that was tied at 20 in the final minutes. After failing at their own opportunity to put points on the board and take the lead, the Bengals gave up a pivotal 27-yard punt return in the final minute that offered the Chiefs reason to believe they could win things in regulation.
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That was soon followed by the play that sealed the Cincinnati Bengals’ fate. And it had as much to do with a boneheaded decision by Joseph Ossai as it did with Patrick Mahomes extending the drive with his legs.
Cincinnati Bengals star mystified by Joseph Ossai late-game blunder
After being forced to tuck the ball and run, Mahomes ran for a short gain but was pushed to the ground, while clearly out of bounds, by edge rusher Joseph Ossai. It led to a personal foul penalty and an extra 15 yards added to the play. The penalty put Kansas City in field goal range with just seconds left, and kicker Harrison Butker was successful on a 42-yard kick that sent KC back to the Super Bowl.
Immediately following the game, a camera near the Bengals’ locker room caught starting linebacker Germaine Pratt screaming in frustration about the moment. “This is my f****** last year. Why the f*** you touch the quarterback?!” Pratt is overhead yelling in the video, which can be found below.
The four-year veteran is in the final year of his rookie contract, and after three straight seasons of 89 or more tackles, including 99 this season, there is a good chance he may become too expensive for the Cincinnati Bengals to retain in the offseason. Meaning his final memory as a part of the Bengals roster was a heart-breaking loss in the AFC Championship game.