Officiating in Raiders-Bengals problematic at times

>> REPORTER: WE TALKED ABOUT JOE THROWING THE BALL AWAY, DID YOU THINK ABOUT THAT IN THOSE MOMENTS? >> I TNKHI I JUST LEARNED. I THOUGHT IT A LOST LAST YEAR, TBU THE MORE I HAVE BEEN AROUND HIM, I LEARNED TO SHUT MY MOUTH AND LET THE MAGIC GO TO WORK. >> REPORTER: YOU AVOEDIDHE T INJURY BUG. YOU LOST TWO IMPORTANT PLAYERS, HOW HAPPY WERE YOUHE WN THE DEFENSE STEPPED UP? >> REALLY PRO.UD WE LOST MIKE DANIELS ON THE FIRST DRIVE OFHE T GAME, SO HAVING THE STRESS OF HAVING OTW D-TACKLES WHEN LARRY WENT DOWN IS DIFFICULT. IN THAT CASE, D.J. AND B.J. DOING A GREAT JOB IN HOLDINGHE T FORTN DOW AND TWO WELL-CONDITIONED GUYS WHO GO OUT THERE AND DO THEIR B.JO THE GUYS RALLYING AROUND THEM. >> REPORTER: WHAT DEFENSE WEER YOU PLAYING? >> JUST OUR BREADND A BUTTER COVERAGE. I WON'T GET INTO THE EXACT CALL, BUT IITS WHAT WE HANG OUR HAT ON. >> REPORTER: HOW MUCH HAVE YOU SEEN GERMANE IN HIS PASS COVERAGE? >> I THINK LAST YEAR WAS A GDOO STEP. I THINK THIS YEAR, HE MADE A TREMENUSDO JUMP AND SUPER RELIABLE FOR US AND AS CONSISTENT AS THERE IS. >> REPORTER: IS THERE ANYTHING THAT HELPED GET THIS ONE OUT TODAY? >> IT FEELS LIKE WE PLAYED IN A LOT OF TIGHT GAMES, WIN OR LOSE. IT IS DIFFICULT TO GET THEM A,LL BUT TH 4E9ERS GAME, THE BRONCOS GAME. THIS FELT LIKE THE BRONCOS' GAME WHERE WE HAD TO PUNT THE GAME AND WE GOT IT QUICKLY IN THE BRONCOS GAME. THIS ONE TOOK LONGER, BUT FEEL I LIKE PLAYING THE TIGHT JANUARY GAMESAY PS OFF AT THIS POT.IN >> REPORTER: 40% CONVERSION RATE, WAS THERE IS A CONSISTENT ISSUE OR DIFFERENT THINGS? >> IT IS TOUGH. IT WAS JUST TOUGH. TOUGH FOR ME TO FIND A RHYTHTOM BE QUITE HONEST WITH YOU. DISAPPOINTING, BECAU WSEE SCORED ON THE FIRST FIVE DRIVES OF THE GAME, BUT LIKE YOU SAID, IT DID NOT FEEL LIKE WE HAD ENOUGH POINTS ON THE BOARD AND I PUT THAT MORE ON ME ABOUT FINDING A RHYTHM IN THE RED ZONE. >> REPORTER: ON THE FOURTH AND SHORT WHEN YOU KICDKE IT, DID YOU PLAN TO JUMP IN? >> ONLY IF WE DHA THE RIGHT LOOK. I NAUGHT ON JOE. >> REPORTER: YOU MENTIONED BEING SO CALM, ESPECIALLY GIVINGHE T BALL BACK. WHAT IS IT ABOUT YOUR TEAM? WHAT IITS ABOUT YOU COACHING THAT MAKES YOU CALL? >> HAVINGOO T MANY TREMENDOUS PLAYERS AND THEY PLAY SO WELL TOGETHER. THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE BIG PLAYS. THEY HAVE GREAT PLAYERS. I FEEL LIKE OUR GUYS UNDERSTOOD THE MOMTEN AND THEY ARE GOING TO BOW UP AND MAKE THE PLAY AND THAT GIVES ME COMFORT. >> REPORTER: DID YOU GET THE GAME BALL? >> SURE DID. WE HAVE TWO GAME BALLS. THE FIRST ONE IS TO MEIK BROWN JUSTEC BAUSE THERE IS NOBODY WHO IS MORE PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS TEAM, ORGANIZATION, THERE IS NO OWNER THAT SITS AT ERYVE WALK THROUGH, EVERY PRACTICE IN THE RAIN, THE SNOW, THE FREEZING COLD. THIS MNSEA THE WORLD TO HIM, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE PLAYERS KNOW HIM BETTER THAN OTHERS. THE COACHES,YS MELF, WE JUST OWE SO MUCHO T THAT MAN FOR BEING PATIENT WITH US. IF I COACH ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION, I WOULD NOT BE HERE IN THE THIRD YEAR. THAT'S THE TRUTH. HE HAS THE EXPERIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING AND BECAUSE HES I AROUND AND BECAUSE PAUL AND KATIE AND TROY AND ELIZABETH HEAR YOUR VISNIO FIRSTHAND, SO WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE. THERE IS NO MISCOMMUNICATION. THEY CAN SEE WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO AND WE CAN GET THERE AND THEY BELIEVE IN THESE PLARSYE AND COACHES, SO HE IS VERY DESERVING. THE SECONDNE O IS TO THE CITY OF CINCINNATI. WE WANT TO START NEW TRADITIONS HERE WITH PLAYOFF WINS WHERE WE GIVE BALLS TO THE CITY AND LET FANS TAKE SELFIES WITH IT. HOWEVER WE'RE GOING TO DO IT, PEOPLE ARE AT THEIR GREATEST MOMENTSND A LET THEM ENJOY THE BALLS WITH US. I TOLD THIS TO THE PLAYERS, SOME OF THEM MAY NOT UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WHAT HAPPENED TODAY,UT B THOSE IN THE ROOM WHO ARE HOMEGROWN CINCINNATIIANS CERTAINLY DO. LIKE I SAID EARLIER, THIS CITY NCA EXHALE AND EOYNJ THE TEAM FOR WHAT IT IS AND TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF OF THE LAST 31 YEARS. AT THE SAME TIME, THERE IS SUCH AN INCREDIBLE HISTORY HERE AT CINCINNATI. THERE ARE SUPER BLOW APPEARANCES AND CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS AND THESE LAST TWO DECESAD THERE HAS BEEN SO MANY TREMENDOUS PLAYERS, TEAMS AND COACHES THAT COME V COME THROUGH HERE, I HOPE THEY CAN ENJOY THIS, BECAUSE THEY ALLOWED THE FUNCTION FOR US TO D --FOUNDATION FOR US TO DO THIS. I THINK TODAY WAS SIGNIFICANT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE. >> REPORTER: DIDOU Y FEEL LIKE -- WHAT WAS THE VOTE OF CONFIDENCE THAT CAME BACK AND HOW DID YOU FEEL? >> IT DOESN'T CHANGE HOW WE APPRCHOA ANYTHING. I THINK BECAUSE WE'RE ALL ON THE MESA PAGE, WE KNOW WHAT THE APPROACH IS TAKING, WHAT THE PIECES NEEDED ANDE W GOT TO STTAR WINNING MORE GAMES. THERE WAS NOT ADDED PRESSURE. WE KEPT IT BUSINESS AS USUAL AND WE HAVE THE RIGHT TEAM TO GO IN THE SECOND ROUND IN THE PLAYOFFS. >> REPORTER: DO YOU THINKOU Y CAN PROVIDE MORE ANSWER, BUT HOW BIG OF A PERFOANRMCE DO YOU THINK JESSIE BATES HAD? >>HE STOOD O AUT LOT TO ME. HE MADE A BIG PLAYN O RENFROW ON THE THIRD DOWN WHERE IT GOT OVERTURNED. HE HAD A PLAY IN THE FOURTH QUARTER ON THE TIGHT END. YOU'RE RIGHT, BETTER WHEN I SEE THE TAPE, BUT I SAW HIS PRESENCE TODAY. >> REPORTER: DO YOU HAVE AN UPTEDA ON CHIDOBE? >> I DO NOT. >> REPORTER: DID YOU EXPECT THIS WOULD BE ON THE DEFENSIVE END? >> I VISUALIZED THE SCORE BEING LIKE THE 49ERS TO BE HONEST WITH U.YO IF YOU THOUGHT ABOUT HOW YOU'RE GOING TO PICTURE THIS GAME IS GOING THE PLAY, I EXPECTED TO BE UP. BUT YOU ENVISION IT IS GOING TO BE A TIGHT GAME LIKE THIS, BECAUSE OF THE STYLE OF DEFENSE EYTH PY.LA WHOERVE WE PLAYED, LAS VEGAS, IT WAS SIMILAR AND WASN'T GOING TO SURPRISE ME IF IT CAME DOWN TO A SIMILAR ENDING. >> REPORTER: SO A GEAM LIKE THIS IN THE PLAYOFFS, I'M SURE YOU'RE GOING TO TELL THE PLAYERS NTEX WEEK, GAME LIKE MIKE HILTON'S PLAY ON THE FIRST DRIVE OFHE T GAME, THE JESSIE BATES PLAY BROUGHT UP ON RENFROW ANDHE T SECOND DN,OW THOSE ARE THREE PLAYS THAT STAND OUT TO ME. EAR THOSE EXAMPLES OF HOW LITTLE THINGS MATTER? >> NO QUESTION. THEES GAME, THE KANSAS CITY GAME GAME, IT IS GOINGO T COME DOWN TO A FOOT, IT IS GOING TO COME DOWN TO A YARDAN, INCH, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO PHRASE IT. KANSAS CITY IT CAME DOWN TO THE LINE OR IT CAN MEAN A THIRD AND 1 THAT WE DID OR DID NOT GET OR DEFENSE DID NOT GET A STOP. THAT PHRASE MEANS A LOT OF DIFFERENT THING, BUT THESE GAMES ARE GOING TO BE TIGHT AND ERYVE SINGLE PLAY MATTERS AND YOU HAVE TO BE ON TOP OF THE DETAILS AND I THOUGHT WE WERE TODAY. >> REPORTER: NOT THAT YOU NEED VERIFICATION, BUT SO MANY GUYS THAT GOT PICKED UP TONIGHT, DO YOU FEEL LEIK IT WILL INFLUENCE NEXT WEEK? >> YEA IH, FELT WE WERE HEALTHY GOING INTO THE GAME. WE WILL SEEOW H THE GUYS ARE WHO ARE OUT, BUT I FEEL LIKE THE GUYS ARE HEALTHY AND GAVE US FULL FOUR QUARTERS THERE. >> REPORTER:O D YOU FEEL LIKE YOU CAN ENJOY THE RIDE? >> WE CAN BTEA ANYBODIEN IN THE LEAGUE. WE KNOW IT IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT, WHOEVER WE PLAY NEXT IS GOING TO BE A GREAT TEAM. OUR GUYS DON'T WORRY ABOUT TT.HA WE FEEL LIKE WE CAN PUT PRESSURE ON TEAMS. TEAMS HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT US, ALSO AND CERTAINLY, OUR PLAYERS FEEL THAT AND APPLY THAT. >> REPORTER: ALL RIGHT, COACH, THANK. >> THK ANYOU, ALL. MIKE: THERE HES. I FIST POUND AS ANOTHER PLAYER IS WALKINGY. B ZAC TAYLOR GIVING THE GAME BALL TO CINCINNATI. >> REPORTER: WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TOOU Y PERSONALLY? SHEREE: OUR CINCINNIAT GRADUATE. MIKE: LET'S LISTEN TO SAM. >> I FEEL LIKE WE BROKE A CURSE, BUT LOOK UP IN THE STANDS AND FEELING THE CITYE COM ALIVE. IT IS HARD TO PUT INTO WORDS WHAT IT MEANS TO EVERYBODY IN THE CITY AND I'M HAPPY TO BE RTPA OF A TEAM THAT WAS ABLE TO DO IT AND WE HAVE MORE IN STORE. >> REPORTER: WHAIST THE DEFENSE'S MENTALITY ON THE FALIN DRIVE AND URYO VANTAGE POINT ON THE FOURTH DOWN SP?TO >> I MEAN, WE HAD A LOT OF GUYS GO DOWN ON THE DEFENSIVE LINE. GUYS STEP UP AND WE HAVE TO GRIND IT OUT. TRY TO KPEE THEM IN THE POCKET, DOUBLING GUYS IN THE BACK END AND GRINDING THEM OUT AND KEEPING THEM OUT OF THE END ZONE AND DOING WHATEVER WE COULD. EVERYONE IS CLAWING TOGETHER. THE LOVE WE HEAV FOR EACH OTHER ALLOWED US TOOW BIN UP THE END ZONE AT THE END. >> REPORTER: THE REFLECTION FIELD, HOWIG B WAS THAT FOR Y?OU >> I WAS SO TIRED AT THAT POINT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT DOWITN WAS AND THEY KICKED THE FIELD GOAL AND I KNEW WE GOT THE BALL CKBA TO OUR OFFENSE, WE HAD A CHANCE. >> REPORTER: DOES IT MEAN MORE THAT THE GAME WAS DECIDED ON YOUR SIDE OF THE BALL? >> I DON'T CARE. I JUST WANTED TO WIN THE GAME R FOTHIS CITY, FOR THIS TEAM, AND WE WERE ABLE TO DOT. I I DIDN'T CARE HOW IT HAPPENED. >> REPORTER: WHAT WAS THE CALL ON THE FOURTH DOWN, THE LAST PLAY OF THE GAME? >> I COULDN'T TELL YOU. I DOTN' WTAN TO TALK SCHEME. WE WERE JUST RUSHING, YEAH. >> REPORTER: IT WAS ONE LAST SHOT. >> GERMAINE PRATT HAS BEEN PREACHING ALL YEAR, I GET THE BALL, SOOR F HIM TO COME ONE THE TURNOVER, IT IS NO ACCIDENT. >>EP RORTER: AFTER YOU GOT THE CALL, DOES ANYONE SAY ANYTHING IN THE HUDDLE BEFORE YOU GOUT O FOR THE SNAP FOR THE FOURTH DOWN? >> WE ALL TALK TO EACH OTHER. DIFFERENT GUY, EVERYONE IS RALLYING TOGETHER. WE HAVE A BUNCHF O GREAT LEADERS ON THIS DEFENSE AND WE SAY DIFFERENT THINGS TO EACHTHER. O HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE, BUT AS THE DEFENSIVE LINE, WE TRY TO KEEP IT IN THE POCKET. >> REPORTER: DO UYO REMEMBER ANYTHING ABOUT THE CELEBRATION? WHAT WERE YOU DOING? >> I JUST WALKED OFF, LOOKED IN THE CROWD AND SAW EVERYONE GOING NUTS. I WAS OVERCOME WITH EMOTI.ON >> REPORTER: YOU WEER DOWN ON FUMES. >> I DON'T THINK I GOT A SUB THE WHOLE SECOND HALF. JUST GRINDING IT OUT. GUYS STEPPGIN UP, SAMPLE PLAYING D-TACKLE. JUST DOING WHATEVER WEAN C TO GET THE WIN. IT WAS AN ALL OUT TEAM EFFORT. >> REPORTER: CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE LOCKER ROOM RIGHT NOW? >> I THINK YOU CAN HEART. I I'M READY TO GET DONE WITH THESE QUESTIONS, SIO AN C GO CELEBRATE. ALL RIGHT, THANK Y.OU MIKE: THAT IS NICE OF HIM. SHEREE: THAT IS ONE WAY WE'RE GOING TO GET OUT OF IT. IAS W WONDERING IF WE WERE GOING HEAR FROM SAM. HE IS OUR LOCAL G.UY HE GREW UP HERE. HE KNOWS WHAT FOOTBALL MEANS TO THIS CITY. HE KNOWS HOW MUCH WE HAVE SUFFERED DURING TSEHO YEA,RS DECADES AND FOR HIM TO BE PART OF THIS HISTORY-MAKE NIGHT. MIKE: PLAYED WITH JOE BURROW IN OHIO STATE AND HETAYED S IN CINCINNATI. IT IS AMAZING. WE'LL GET BACK TO MEOR NEWS CONFERENCES WHEN THE PLAYERS COME OUT. LET'S GO OUT TO SPORTS DIRECTOR GEORGE VOGEL. YOU HAVE BEEN HERE A LONG, LONG TI.ME YOU WERE COVERING THE TEAM 31 YESAR AGO. URYO THOUGHTS WHEN YOU SAW THE FINAL INTERCEPONTI AND YOU CAN EXHALE WITH THE REST OF THE CI.TY GEORGE: IT IS NUMBING AND THE FORMER BENGALS WIDE RECEIVER, TIM MCGEE WHOAD H THE LAST BENGALS WIN 31 YEARS AGO. I KNOWOW H I FELT, AND IIST KIND OF HARD TO DESCRIBE. WOW, THEY REALLY DID IT. HOW YDOOU FEEL AND WHAT ARE YOUR IMPRESSIONS? >> I AMO S HPYAP TO BE IRRELEVANT. OUR TEAM IS IRRELANT.EV YOCAU N PUT US IN THE BOX, STORE US AWAY. I'M SO EXCITED, NOT JUST FOR THE TEAM, BUT THE CITY AS A WHOLE. WE SUFFERED FOR A LGON TIME. JUST BEING HERE AND BEING ON THE FIELD AND WE GOT TO SEE IT. OH, MY GOSH. THIS IS WHAT FOOTBALL IS ALL ABOUT. ITAS W A JOYOUS OCCASION. GEORGE: IT WAS FOR THE FANS WHO STUCK AROUND TAKING PICTURES OF THEMSELVES IN THE FRONT OF THE FIELD. >> THEY DIDOT N WANT TO GO HOME. IT IS STILL CD.OL GEORGE: IT IS STILL COLD. NOW, WE HAVE JOEURROW B TALKING IN THE INTERVIEW ROOM. LET'S GO TO JOE. >> I THOHTUG WE PLAYED WELL IN THE FIRST HALF AND MADE PYSLA WHENE W NEEDED TO. DEFENSE STEPPED UP IN THE FOURTH QUARTER, SO IT IS AN EXCINGTI WIN. WE'RE ON TO THE NEXT ONE. >> REPORTER: ON THE TOUCHDOWN PASS TO TYLER BOYD, THE BIG THING ISHE T WHISTLE BLEW. DID YOU HEAR A WHISTLE? >> NO, I DID NOT HEAR A WHISTLE. >> REPORTER: WHAT WAS THE SENSE IN THE HUDDLE AND ON THE FIELD? >> SECOND HALF, WE KNEW WE NEEDED TO PUT POINTS ON THE BOARD AND WE KEPT KICKING FIELD GOALS INSTEAD OF SCORING TOUCHDOWNS AND THATAS W DISAPPOINTING, BUT W WEERE MOVING THE BALL AND GETTING POINTS, SO CAN'T BE TOO MAD ABOUT IT. WE COULD HAVE EXECUTED BETTER. >> REPORTER: WHEN YOU TOWHR IT OUT OF BOUNDS AND WHAT DID YOU DO WHENOU Y EXTENDDE IT? THAT. >> THEY DROPPEDIG EHT AND THEY HAD A SPY ON ME, SO I KNEW I COULD SIT IN THE POCKET A TTLELI BIT AND FIND AN ESCAPE ROU.TE I TOLD GUYS, THE BEING PLAYS WILL COME OUT. >> REPORTER: DO YOU FEEL LIKE THAT WAS THE CATALYST OR THE CUSHION THAT YONEEDEDU IN THE SECOND HALF TO PLAY THE REST OF THE GAME? >> YEAH, I THINK IT WAS AIG B PLAY IN THE GAME, A BIG TURNING POINT, BUT THERE WAS A LOTF O FOOTBALL LEFT AFTER THAT. >> REPORTER: YOU HEARD FROM FRIENDS GROWINGP U THAT BENGALS HAVEN'T WON A PLAYOFF GAME AND YOU KNEW THE HISTORY, IS THIS EXATR MEANINGFUL TO YOU? >> IT IS EXCITING. IT IS EXCITING FOR THE CITY, FOR ETH STATE, BUT WREE' NOT GOING TO DWELL ON THAT. WE'RE MOVING FORWA.RD WE'RE READY, WHOEVER WE HAVE TO PLAY NEXT, WE'RE GOING TBEO READY WITH THE GAME PLAN. >> REPORTER: WITH THE LAST FIELD GOAL DRIVE, THIRD AND 7, CAN YOU RUN US THROUGH THAT? WHAT YOU SAW, WHAT YOU D?ID >>YEAH, JA'MARR DID A GREAT JOB IN CREATING SEPARATION AN ID HAD SOMEWHERE TO PUT IT ON THE BACK SHOULDER AND WE HIT THAT ALL YEAR AND THAT WAS A BIG PLAY IN THE GAME. >> REPORTER: JOE, WHAT MASKE YOU SO CONFIDENT ON THIRD DOWN WITH THE WEAPONS THAT YOU HAVE? >> I THINK WE HAVAE GREAT PLAN COMING IN. I HAVE ANSWERS ON EVERY PLAY. COACHING STAFF DOES AAT GRE JOB WITH THE THIRD DOWN GAME PLAN AND ON THIRD DOWN, LOTS OF TEAMS LIKE TO PLAY MAN ANDO G ONE-ON-ONE. EVERYONE KNOWS THE KIND OF GUYS WE HAVE ON THE OUTSIDE, SO IT IS A TOUGH POSITION TO PUT DEFENSES IN. >> REPORTER: DID BRADLEY DO ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY THAT YOU DID NOT ANTICIPATE? DID IT UNFOLD LIKEOU Y THOUGHT YOU WOULD SEE? >> THEY DISGUISED TIRHE STUFF A LITTLE BIT MORE. THEY PLAYED THEIR STUFF, BUT THEY DISGUISED IT DIFFERENTLY, BUT THAT DEFENSE IS GOING TO PLAY THEIR STUFF. >> REPORTER: JOE, DOES IT MEAN ANYTHING THAT YOU GOT THE PLAYOFF WIN IN YOUR FIRST PLAYOFF START? >> IT IS EXCITING, BUT IT IS EXPECTED. THIS ISN'T LIKE THE ICING ON TOP OF THE CAKE OR ANYTHING. THIS IS THE CAKE, SO WE'RE MOVING ON. >> REPORTER: WHAT MADE YOU BE THE YOUNGEST QUARTERBACK IN FRANCHISE HISTORY TOIN W A PLAYOFF GAME? >> IT IS EXCITING, BUT WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM AND GATRE COACHING STAFF. LIKE I SAID, WE'RE ON TO THE NEXT WEEK. IT IS GOING TO BE FUN TOMORWRO TO WATCH THE GAMES KNOWING WE HAVE THE WIN. I WAS GLAWED WERE THE FIRST GAME, SO WE COULD GET IT OUT OF THE WAY AND WATCH THESE GAMES AND WATCH FILM TOMORROW AND GET BACK TO WORK. >> REPORTER: WHAT IS THE FINAL DRIVE LIKE FOR YOU WHERE YOU'RE AN OBSERVER AND Y'ROUE WATCHING THE DEFENSE AND IT IS OUT OF YOUR HANDS? >> IT IS TOUGH. I SWA HOPING THEY WOULD GO DOWN AND SCORE, SO I COULD GET IT BACK. I'M GLAD DEFEN MSEADE A PLAY. >> REPORTER: SIMILAR QUESTION, WHAT WAS YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND WHERE WERE YOU STANDING AND WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO GERMAINE PRATT'S PICK AT THE END? >> I THOUGHT I SHOULD STAND UP FOR THAT ONE, FOURTH AND. 9 AT GTHUY HAS PLAYED UNBELIEVABLE ALL YEAR. I'M EXCITED FORIM H TO MAKE A PLAY IN THAT SITUATION. >> REPORTER: UNTIL THE KANSAS CITY GAME, Y'ALL HAD NEVER COME BACK FROM A FOUHRT QUARTER DEFICIT. DO YOU FEEL LIKE HAVING SO MANY FIDECITS AND HAVING TO WIN A GAME LIKE THIS? >> NO, WE HAVE GONE THROUGH ADVERSITY ALL YEAR. WE HAD PRETTY BIG DEFICITS ALL SEASON AND WE HAVE BEEN A SECOND HALF TEAM ALL YR,EA AND YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT IT WHEN WE GO DOWN, I MEAN, WE DON'T FEEL -- WE NEVER FEEL LIKE WE'RE OUT OF IT. THE TEAM COULD BE UP 28 POINTS AND I FEEL LIKE WE COULD ALWAYS BE UP WITH THE WEAPONS THAT WE HAVE ON THE OUTSIDE AND JOE MIXON AND OUR COACHING STAFF. SO, I NEVER FEEL OUT OF IT. >> REPORTER: THE TRIPS THAT WERE JUST FLDIE GOALS THAT WERE OVERLY AGGRAVATING YOU OR MAKING YOU NERVOUS? >> IT IS FRUSTRATING. YOU WANT TO PUNCH THOSE IN AND GET THE TOUCHDOWNS, BUT WE KNEW WE HAD THE GAME AND WE HAD TO PUT POINTS ON ETH BOARD. WE WERE MOVING THE BALL WELL, BUT WE COULDOT N GET OVER THE HUMP AND PUNCH IT INTO THE END ZONE. >> REPORTER: YOUAD H TWO DRIVES WHERE YOU RESPONDED AND GOT TOUCHDOWNS? CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE FSTIR DRIVE OF THE GAME WHERE THEY TOOK THE 3-0 LEAD AND THE DVERI AFRTE HALFTIME? >> YEAH, THE FIRST ONE WAS A BIG, BIG DRI.VE IT SETHE T TONE FOR THE REST OF THE GAME. WE KIND OF MOVED IT UP AND DOWN ON THEM AND I WAS FEELING COMFORTABLE IN THE POCT.KE D-LINE DID A GOD JOB. -- GOOD JO C.J. MADE A GREAT PLAY ON THE FIRST DRIVE. >> YOU ARE VERY BUSINESS-LIKE AFTER A PLAY LIKE THIS. DOOU Y ALLOW YOURSELF TO CELEBRATE THIS OR STRAIGHT TO WORK ON THE NTEX GAME? >> STRAIGHT TO WO.RK OBOUVISLY, WE'RE EXCITED, BUT IF YOU DWELL ON THIS TOO MUCH, YOU'RE GOING TO GET BEAT IN THE NEXT ROUND. >> REPORTER: WERE YOU SURPRISED HOW THEY PLADYE JA'MARR? >> HE PLAYED GREAT LIKE HE ALWAYS DOES. THE KEY WHIT HIM IS, YOU DON'T GET A LOT OF ONE-ON-ONE OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE GAME, BUT WHEN YOU DO, YOU HAVE TO CAPITALIZE ON THEM AND I THINK HE CAPITALIZED REALLY WELL. >> REPORTER: FIRST TOUCHDOWN, THERE WERE THREE GUYS RIGHT THERE TOIN C.J., IS THAT A PLAY WHERE YOUR INCREASED ARM STRENGTH THAT YOU WORKED ON OFF-SEASON PAID OFF IN DIVIDENDS? >> COULD BE. I TNKHI TIMING IS A BIGGER EMPHASIS ON THAT THROW. I ELFE LIKE IUT P IT IN A GOOD SPOT AND C.J. DID A GATRE JOBN I READING THE COVERAGE AND HE DOES NOT HAVE TO GO ANYWHERE. HE JUST HAS TO TURN AROUND AND GET THE BALL. >> REPORTER: HOW LONDOG YOU FEEL LIKE IT IS AND WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF ETH CONFIDENCE? >> WE EXPECT TO BEAT EVERYBODY THAT WE PLAY, NOT JUST HANG THWI THEM. WE KNOW THE KIND OF PLAYERS WE HAVE AND THE COACHES ANDE W HAVE A GREAT GAME PLAN EVERY WEEK. EVERY WKEE IS GOING TO BE TIGHT. >> REPORTER: THE TYLER BOYD, DID YOU HEAR THE WHISTLE? >> I DID NOT. >> REPORTER: HOW LOUD WAS IT OUT THERE WITH A FOURTH DOWN SNAP? >> IT IS TOUGH FOR ME TO SAY. I'M TNO KEYED INTO THE CROWD NOISE TOO MUCH. I'M FOCEDUSN O MY JOB AND SO I'M PRETTY GOOD AT TUNING THAT OUT, AND I THINK THAT HELPS ME, SO THAT IS A TOUGH QUESTION TO ANSWER. I KNOW THEY HAD A LOT OF FALSE STARTS, SO IT MUST HAVE BEEN PRETTY LOUD. >> REPORTER: YOU HAVE PLAYED A LOT OF TOUGH GAMES, WHAT AREHE T SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES OF THE NFL PLAYOFF GAME? >> WE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE TOUGH, GOOD DEFENSE, TOUGH, PHYSICAL. WE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO COME DOWN TO THE LAST DRIVE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER TTHA IS HOW MOST PLAYOFF GAMES DO COME OUT. WE HAVE PLADYE IN A LOT OF BIG GAMES THIS YEAR, SO THAT SITUATION WASN'T ANYTHING NEW TO US. >> REPORTER: ZAC SAID FOURTH AND FOOT AND YOU PUT IT IN JOE'S HANDS AND GET THE LOOK AND DO WHATEVER. DID YOU WANT TO GO RFO IT? >> IT IS NOT MY DEGREES. I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD DECISION. WE TAKTHE E POINTS AND GO UP TWO SCORES IN THE FOURTH QUARTER AND OUR DEFENSE IS PLAYING WELL, SO LET THEM HANDLE IT. LET'S TAKE OUR POINTSND A MOVEON >> REPORTER: WERE YOU CLOSE TO GETTING THE LOOK YOU WERE LOOKING FOR? >> YEAH, WE WERE CLOSE. I WANTED TO GET IT,UT B I THINK SOMETIMES -- >> REPORR:TE IS THERE IS A SIGNIFICANCE -- >> HOLD ON ONE SECOND. SOMETIMEBEINGS PATIENT IN THAT SITUATION ALLOWS YOU TO WIN THAT GAME AND I'M GLAD IID D NOT SNAP IT. >> REPORTER: I TSHERE IS A SIIFGNICANCE TO THE GLASSES? >> OH, NO. I THINK THEY ARE PRETTY COOL. ATWH DO YOU THINK? >> REPORTER: SUNGLASSES? >> NO, I WOULD NOT CALL THEM SUNGLASSES. >> REPORTER: HOW MANY TEXT MESSAGES DO YOU EXPECT TO GET? >>WHO KNOWS? PROBABLY A COUPLE HUNDRED. I HAVEN'T CHEEDCK IT YET, BUT WE'LL SEE. >> REPORTER: YOU WILL START PREPARING, BUT YOU WON'T KNOW FOR 27 HOURS WHO YOU ARE PLAYING. WHAT DOESHE T PRERATIONPA LOOK LIKE UNTIL YOU KNOW WHO YOU'RE PLAYING? >> WATCH TV. LOOK AT OUR FILM AND B AE FAN FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. >> LAST ONE. >> REPORR:TE BY NOT PLAYING A COMPLETE ONE, DO YOU THINK YOU PLAYED BETTER? >> IT IS TOUGH TO SAY. MY BYOD FELT PRETTY GOOD AND WE ALL FELT FRESH COMING INTO THE GAME. EVERYONE WAS HEALTHY COMING INTO THE GAME. WE GOT SEOM INJURIES IN ISTH GAME, PEOPLE BANGED UP, BUT I THINK EVERYONE WAS FRESH. >> REPORTER: THANKS, J

Officiating in Raiders-Bengals problematic at times

Updated: 10:15 PM EST Jan 15, 2022

What mostly was a tense game between teams with long playoff droughts was disrupted Saturday by some problematic officiating.The Bengals beat the Raiders 26-19 in an AFC wild-card matchup that ended Cincinnati’s 31-year run without a postseason victory. The margin was Joe Burrow’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Boyd late in the second quarter on which the quarterback barely was in bounds when he threw the ball.But an official right at the sideline where Burrow threw appeared to blow his whistle while the ball was in the air. Players on the field for the Raiders, who haven’t won a playoff game since taking the 2002 AFC championship, protested a bit — to no avail.Walt Anderson, the NFL’s senior vice president of officiating and a former referee, spoke to a pool reporter about the decision made by Jerome Boger’s crew.“We confirmed with the referee and the crew that on that play — they got together and talked — they determined that they had a whistle, but that the whistle for them on the field was blown after the receiver caught the ball,” Anderson said. “They did not feel that the whistle was blown before the receiver caught the ball.”NBC’s telecast replays indicated the whistle was blown early. The network’s officiating analyst, Terry McAulay, believed the play should have been negated and the ball placed back at the Raiders 10.Raiders interim coach Rich Bisaccia noted that “a lot of things went both ways” with the officials.“I have enough problem doing my job, I can’t do the officiating, too,” he said. “I didn’t really talk to them about it at that time and didn’t get an explanation.”All scoring replays are reviewed. And because the play came in the final two minutes of the half, there couldn’t have been any challenges, anyway.“The ruling on the field was a touchdown,” Anderson explained. “But we still have to confirm any reviewable aspect of the play. So we did confirm that the pass was thrown before the quarterback stepped out of bounds. We also determined that the pass was caught in the end zone by the receiver, who was not out of bounds.”That was the most noteworthy incident involving officiating, though Boger’s crew had several lengthy discussions before making some calls, at times appearing confused.But neither team seemed particularly upset after the game.

CINCINNATI —

What mostly was a tense game between teams with long playoff droughts was disrupted Saturday by some problematic officiating.

The Bengals beat the Raiders 26-19 in an AFC wild-card matchup that ended Cincinnati’s 31-year run without a postseason victory. The margin was Joe Burrow’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Boyd late in the second quarter on which the quarterback barely was in bounds when he threw the ball.

But an official right at the sideline where Burrow threw appeared to blow his whistle while the ball was in the air. Players on the field for the Raiders, who haven’t won a playoff game since taking the 2002 AFC championship, protested a bit — to no avail.

Walt Anderson, the NFL’s senior vice president of officiating and a former referee, spoke to a pool reporter about the decision made by Jerome Boger’s crew.

“We confirmed with the referee and the crew that on that play — they got together and talked — they determined that they had a whistle, but that the whistle for them on the field was blown after the receiver caught the ball,” Anderson said. “They did not feel that the whistle was blown before the receiver caught the ball.”

NBC’s telecast replays indicated the whistle was blown early. The network’s officiating analyst, Terry McAulay, believed the play should have been negated and the ball placed back at the Raiders 10.

Raiders interim coach Rich Bisaccia noted that “a lot of things went both ways” with the officials.

“I have enough problem doing my job, I can’t do the officiating, too,” he said. “I didn’t really talk to them about it at that time and didn’t get an explanation.”

All scoring replays are reviewed. And because the play came in the final two minutes of the half, there couldn’t have been any challenges, anyway.

“The ruling on the field was a touchdown,” Anderson explained. “But we still have to confirm any reviewable aspect of the play. So we did confirm that the pass was thrown before the quarterback stepped out of bounds. We also determined that the pass was caught in the end zone by the receiver, who was not out of bounds.”

That was the most noteworthy incident involving officiating, though Boger’s crew had several lengthy discussions before making some calls, at times appearing confused.

But neither team seemed particularly upset after the game.