Joseph Ossai’s unnecessary hit on quarterback Patrick Mahomes set up the winning field goal for the Chiefs. Afterwards it became emotional around the “scapegoat”.

Germaine Pratt was beside himself. Angry and frustrated. His voice resounded menacingly through the catacombs of Arrowhead Stadium.

“What the hell are you doing touching the quarterback?” the Cincinnati Bengals linebacker shouted. The bad F-word came up several times.

He got no answer.

Because Joseph Ossai had none, not a satisfactory one at least. What could he have said? The 22-year-old knew best himself the consequences of his foul, the defensive end was inconsolable, agitated. For the Cincinnati Bengals missed the Super Bowl in dramatic fashion as a result. In the middle of it all, Ossai, as the fall guy.

Unnecessary hit near the end

He had unnecessarily shoved Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes out of bounds as he ran towards the sideline with 17 seconds left at 20-20 at the 45-yard line. Not a bad hit, but in terms of the rules it was “unnecessary hardship” and thus a 15-yard penalty. It put the Chiefs at the 27-yard line and in prime position for the winning field goal.

Harrison Butker converted. 23:20 for the Chiefs.

Amidst an exploding stadium, celebrating Chiefs and cheering fans, Ossai sat on the bench like a pile of misery. The fact that the 2021 third-round pick also injured his knee in the action didn’t matter at all to him in the most bitter moment of his fledgling career. An MRI should shed light on the physical malaise, while time will have to heal the mental.

the good news: teammate Pratt was the exception.

After the shower, Ossai was still taken as he spoke to the media with teary eyes, trying to explain the inexplicable. “I was just in chase mode,” Ossai said. “I was trying to push him to maybe get him to run backwards. I knew he was heading for the touchline. I tried to get him to go backwards and run the clock.” He admitted he should have done better.

Particularly bitter: he was delivering a good performance up to that point.

B.J. Hill brushes off questions

Parallel B.J. Hill moderated the interview session, brushing off questions about Ossai’s state of mind as a “stupid question. “He’s been working his ass off the whole game,” Hill said. “Ask another question.”

Support for Ossai was generally strong. “That play didn’t cost us the game, I should have made a play, I should have gotten the sack,” Hill said. “I should have taken him down somewhere, I should have fought a little bit harder. “

Not the decisive play

Quarterback Joe Burrow also pointed to other opportunities during the game, to “a lot of other plays that could have decided the game and gotten us the win. So that’s not the only one,” Burrow said. Coach Zac Taylor also “didn’t want to boil it down to one play. He loves football. He loves being part of this team. “

A team that’s behind him.

“It means a lot to me,” he said. “These guys mean a lot to me. We come every day and work hard for each other. Knowing they are behind me – gives me peace right now.”

For now. Because in the coming weeks, he’ll definitely be asking himself Pratt’s question more often.