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Joseph Ossai was flagged for an unnecessary roughness in the final seconds as the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 to win the AFC Championship Game and advance to the Super Bowl.
Last updated: 30/01/23 12:06
Joseph Ossai chases down Patrick Mahomes
A tearful Joseph Ossai had to be comforted by his Cincinnati Bengals teammates and coaches on Sunday after giving up a penalty that would have paved the way for the winning field goal in the AFC Championship game.
Ossai was flagged for an unnecessary roughness with 17 seconds to play and the score tied at 20-20 after shoving Patrick Mahomes after going out of bounds on the sideline while trying to scramble for a third-and-four conversion.
The resulting 15-yard penalty set up Harrison Butker’s 45-yard field goal with three seconds on the clock to send the Chiefs to the Super Bowl, where they will meet the Philadelphia Eagles after a victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
“I just have to learn from experience. I have to know not to approach the midfielder when he is close to the sideline if there is anything that could lead to a penalty in such a difficult situation. I have to do better,” said Ossai post-game.
“I’m just in full hunting mode,” Ossai said. “I’m trying to push him, maybe get him to step back because I know he’s going to that sideline. I’m trying to get him to step back, let the clock run. I haven’t seen it. I don’t know. how far from our boundary it is.”
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The Kansas City Chiefs were awarded the AFC Championship when Travis Kelce scored against the Cincinnati Bengals
Ossai was accompanied by teammates supporting BJ Hill when faced with questions from local media in the locker room after the game, Hill shut down initial questions about the incident before insisting that Ossai had “played the whole game”.
Meanwhile, emotions seemed to get the better of linebacker Germaine Pratt, who was filmed yelling ‘Why are you touching the quarterback?'” as he returned to the Bengals locker room.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor offered his support to Ossai after seeing the second-year pass rusher produce five tackles, one tackle for a loss, one pass defensed, two pressures, two quarterback hits and one run.
“It’s emotional. We worked so hard to get here,” Taylor said. “Any game that people feel left out there, you’re going to have a hard time. We want guys like that, that’s really important. He cares, he cares about his teammates. Joseph comes to work. every day; he likes to be a part of this team.
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Highlights of the Cincinnati Bengals against the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL AFC Championship Game
Ossai was a third-round Draft pick out of Texas in 2021 but missed his entire rookie season with a meniscus injury suffered in the preseason.
The 22-year-old was thankful for the words of comfort he received from his Bengals teammates shortly after.
“These people mean a lot to me and knowing that they have my back, now I will be at peace,” Ossai said. “It’s great to have the support of my teammates.”
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