HEAD COACH ZAC TAYLOR

Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, November 23, 2025

What did you like the most about your team's fight today?

"The fight, it is what it is. We don't appreciate losing. It's not fulfilling. It's sick. Our guys, they keep showing up. They keep doing a great job during the course of the week, keep practicing their tails off. They're doing everything they can on the field, we just came up short. You saw guys that have played all year, you saw guys that came in there and got their first opportunities, you saw guys that came in there on a one-play notice, and guys just kept fighting. We thought we were going to win the game and we came up short. It's a sickening feeling. You can't question the fight for one second, and at some point it's going to pay off for us."

What went into your decision to not start Joe Burrow, and do you expect him to start on Thanksgiving?

"We'll see. I'm not going to declare anything for Thursday yet. I thought he put himself in a great position to be ready to play this weekend, and the best decision for us was to wait a couple more days."

How's Tee Higgins?

"He's in concussion protocol. Tee, Tahj Brooks (is also in concussion protocol). Marco (Wilson) got a hamstring (injury) and (Joe) Flacco had an issue with his finger on his throwing hand."

Did Joe Flacco dislocate his finger?

"I don't remember. That's what it sounded like at the time. I can't remember what the trainers told me."

How did you think Joe Flacco played today?

"I think he continued to fight for us and give us a chance. Him and a lot of other guys in all three phases today, I thought just kept fighting for us, and he gave us a chance there at the end of the game. He played through a lot of pain. He just keeps giving us a chance to win, we just haven't been able to do it as a team yet."

What did you see out of Al Golden's group today defensively?

"They fought like crazy in a lot of different ways. They didn't allow things to be easy for New England. Kept fighting them in the goal line stands, I think representing who these guys are right now. Just kept coming back. We got a penalty (to make it) first-and-goal on the one, kept fighting, got a stop. There's a lot of trust when they keep playing that way. I factored that in on the fourth-and-one. We didn't go for it on fourth-and-one, kind of in our own field position. I think we were on the minus-40, and I felt like we could pin them down in there, get a stop and get the ball right back where we just kicked it from. I thought those guys fought for us, got a turnover, a pick-six. It gave us some momentum early in the game. Just keep believing in those guys, they're going to fighting for us and finding a way."

When you're trying to come back and you don't have Tee Higgins, no Ja'Marr Chase, no Joe Burrow, does that change the way you approach the calls?

"A lot of credit to those guys out there, because those personnel groupings aren't things that we've ever operated before. Guys just understanding what position they're playing, who's in the game, concepts that most of those guys have not worked all week or at least in the position they were probably playing at the end of the game. I thought the coaches did a great job on the sidelines, position coaches trying to cover every base. Some of the last plays on the move there inside the 30-yard line, none of those guys had been in that position before. We still felt we were going to find a way. He (Joe Flacco) takes an alert to Mitch (Tinsley) on that touchdown. That was the kind of game that it was, where just guys kept stepping up and believing eventually we're going to find a way to win it and just came up a couple plays short."

What did you feel like was the issue not getting into a passing rhythm?

"I think you have to give credit to New England first of all. They're a well coached group, play hard, they try to keep you off balance as much as they can. So, you have to give them credit. There were some opportunities. I felt like there was a drive there in the second quarter, some penalties just bit us where I felt like we were getting some good momentum and then ended up having to punt. I don't think there's one thing you can put your finger on that limited our rhythm. I do think you've got to give New England a lot of credit for that, and we've just got to find a way to do a better job at it."

What did you see out of Jalen Davis today?

"Nothing surprised me. That's JD. JD has had an unbelievable attitude every day that he's in this building. He's a fan-favorite in the locker room because he just competes. He loves football. He embraces every role, whether it's a scout team player in practice — whatever it is. And then, he gets his opportunity. He hasn't played in a game all season, and goes out there and fights like crazy and gets a sack. He does a great job fitting in the run game, draws a holding on a run play. There's a lot to love about JD. I thought he stepped in there and did a nice job for us."

What was your message to the team?

"The same thing I was just saying. These guys, they're working and it's important to them. They're not giving up on each other. They keep trying to find a way to win. It's just been one of those years where we haven't found a way, and that's been frustrating. It's frustrating for everybody, but guys aren't losing hope. It's important to everybody to just keep at this thing and find a way to get some momentum. It's going to start with one win, and we just haven't found a way to get that in a while, since that Thursday night game (in Week 7). That's disappointing, it's frustrating, it's heartbreaking for these guys because they've given us everything that we ask them to give us during the course of the week and out there on Sunday. We've just got to find a way to get a win so we can remember what that feels like."

How did you feel Geno Stone played today?

"Really excited to see that. Especially the turnover early in the game, finishing it in the end zone, something we've been talking about like crazy — it's going to come to us, we've got to finish it in the end zone, we've got to finish through the back of the end line. All the things we've been talking about, he did, and again, he's one of those guys that's going to keep fighting for us and find a way to find a win here at some point."

At 3-8, what are you building momentum for?

"To just find a win."

What have you appreciated the most about the way Joe Flacco has battled through some injuries?

"I mean, you can't put it into words. He didn't owe anything to this team — he just showed up. And so, he could take the easy way out and nurse an injury and say 'I need more rest,' and all that stuff. He hasn't. He just keeps walking on the field. Pops his finger out, and whatever happened there, hurting your throwing hand is not easy. To go out there and push through that, and Jake (Browning's) response, he goes out there and completes one pass for 15 yards with not a moment's notice. Just a lot of examples of guys just wanting to do whatever it takes to find a win."

Were you intending to call a pass there when Jake Browning entered the game?

"There wasn't a lot of choice there. We were down two scores, I think, at that moment when Jake did it. Jake went in there and did a great job, bought some time, found the backside crosser. Big completion. I appreciate that."

You've seen a lot of big kicks from Evan McPherson. Right before halftime, a 63-yard franchise record. Your thoughts on how that came out and how he hit it?

"He's in a great rhythm, has a lot of confidence and I think the operation has been really good. We have a lot of confidence in him, so it's not surprising for him to take that opportunity. What was it, 63 yards? I really didn't bat an eye at it. I double-checked with Darrin (Simmons) just to make sure we were in good shape there. He didn't hesitate, and then once we lined up for the kick, you just assume it's going in. That's the point you're at with Evan right now."

What was your impression of Mitch Tinsley's catch on fourth-and-seven?

"That was right in front of me on our sidelines. (Joe Flacco) layered it right over the top, I think it was a nickel (back) right there. Mitch did a great job securing it out of bounds. They didn't touch him, so they ended up putting time back on the clock. It's a big moment for us. Fourth down, you've got to make a play, and I'm happy that he stepped up for us."

What's the most frustrating part about now being able to get more wins during Joe Flacco's stint as starting quarterback?

"That is the most frustrating thing. Losing is the worst. It's the worst. We're accountable for it, we make all the adjustments we've got to make, and then you've got to turn the page and you've got to get ready for the next week. That's life in the NFL. We're going to get ready for Thursday. So, not a lot of time to sit here — we've just got to move forward and we've got to go back to work. I know these guys are going to do that and do it with great energy and belief that we're going to walk on that field and go find a win on Thursday night on the road. That's what we're going to set forth to do, starting tomorrow morning."

With the Joe Burrow situation, when did Joe Flacco know he was starting today?

"Flacco knew on Friday. He knew on Friday he was starting."

With Tee Higgins going down late in the game and Mitch Tinsley stepping up with two catches there, does that give you some assurance just for the passing game overall?

"Yeah, I thought a lot of guys stepped up. So, again, they've shown that we should have confidence in them. I think that's just what's been built up over there with a lot of the skill players on offense, is you put them in, you expect them to make a play and they keep showing up for us."

With the loss today, could you address what goes into the decision in playing Joe Burrow moving forward?

"Winning is important. We want to win, and Joe gives us a great chance to win. Again, (Joe) Flacco has given us every opportunity. We haven't lost games because of Joe Flacco. He's gone out there and given us everything, and he understands that. That being said, we'll also be excited to watch Joe Burrow. I've watched Joe Burrow now for six years and seen the things he can do as well. Again, he's worked really hard to get himself back. He's a football player. He wants to play football. We want to win football games, so that will lead into that decision."

QUARTERBACK JOE FLACCO

Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, November 23, 2025

How are you feeling physically right now?

"I feel good. I came out of the game pretty good, besides my finger. My body feels good."

Can you describe what happened?

"I just hit my finger on the helmet like you always do, and I looked down at my finger, and it was just all bent up and dislocated. I had to go get it pulled out real quick."

It feels like you've been in this position since you've been here, where there's a chance to win at the game of the game and needing to make a final play ...

"Yeah, exactly. We've been in situations on both sides of the ball and haven't been able to get it done down the stretch."

With the finger, did you get it taped?

"We tried to put tape on it, but it just made it stiff. It didn't really help it too much, so we just went without it."

Did you feel good about going back in?

"I threw on the sideline just to make sure I could after it happened."

Did you feel on the final four plays that everyone was well covered?

"We'll look at it. I'm sure ... there's always opportunities. I think we took our shots, and within those shots, we had opportunities. We didn't just quite get it done. They did a pretty good job all day of slowing us down — not allowing us to get into a rhythm. We ran the ball well, but weren't able to capitalize on that and get in a rhythm and convert some third downs. We'd get to mid-field and just couldn't keep going. There's always fault on us for not being able to make that happen, but at the same time, they just do a good job of slowing you down and not allowing you to do it. I thought our O-line played well. And they were just able to do what they do on defense and not allow us to make any big plays, and (make us) have to go the long way, and we weren't able to do it."

You had some big moments down the stretch in the passing game. Talk about that, and the inconsistency ...

"Stuff happens throughout the course of a game. It's a shame — I feel bad about the pick-six, but at the same time I didn't see the guy. It's one of those plays you want back. It's a simple play — a play action and look for Tee (Higgins), and check it down. I gave Tee all the opportunities and they just had the right coverage on him. You don't draw it up like that when that happens. It's one of the simplest plays in football. Those are going to hurt you (sometimes)."

How do you feel you played overall?

"Like I just talked about. There were some things where it felt like we were going to go put a drive together, and just where we got slowed down. I feel like the same with me. I was never able to really quite get in that rhythm and complete as many balls as I would like to."

It looked like New England did a good job of targeting Tee Higgins and take him out of the offense ...

"For sure. I feel they do a good job of playing (from the) top down, and taking away some of the quick stuff by coming up and pressing, and you're not able to get the ball out of your hands to him really quick. And then in (some) situations, they do a good job playing top down with their eyes on the quarterback and having some help. There's time they played man(-to-man), but they were able to drop some other guys underneath. I think with Tee specifically, you're always shading his way, and then just trying to throw off his rhythm, whether that's at the line of scrimmage or holding your ground 10 yards down the field with your eyes back on the quarterback and making it tough to break leverage."

How different is it running this offense without Ja'Marr Chase on the field?

"Well, I think anytime you lose not only one of the best players on the team, but one of the best players in football, guys have to step up. I think we've still got a bunch of good players, and it's a shame we weren't able to do what we wanted to today, but I definitely think we're capable of it."

Zac Taylor said you found out on Friday you were starting. Does that change preparation or was that a challenge not knowing until then?

"The good thing with my situation is, listen, I've played a lot of football and I probably wasn't going to practice a lot anyway. Had I got a couple reps on Thursday, it wouldn't have ended up mattering that much. So, no, it's just part of this business getting ready for a game. Each week presents its different challenges. Joe (Burrow) was trying to feel out his body and get back on the field. That's part of what you have to deal with."

Is it hard knowing a couple different plays and this could be a different story?

"It's all about winning in this league. I've talked about it a lot. In order to that point, in order to win football games, everybody has to focus on their job, and then the wins come and take care of themselves. I think we've done a good job of doing that. We just haven't been consistently good enough throughout 60 minutes. You can see little things getting better here, little things getting better there. We're just not producing wins with those things. It's frustrating — yes. Yes it is, especially as you look back on those. Like I've always said, when you're in the moment you've just got to do your job little by little and look up at the end of the day and see what the results are, and the results haven't been what we want them to be, but I do think we've done a lot of good things in that meantime."

Short week coming up. Do you think you'll be ready to go?

"I assume so. You never know with fingers, but I was able to get out there and do it right now. My shoulder actually feels really good — it has gotten nothing but better in the last three weeks. Everything else feels great, so ..."

On the last drive with Tee Higgins out and no Ja'Marr Chase, Zac Taylor said guys were lining up in spots they were not accustomed to ...

"Yeah, I have all the confidence in the world in everybody that we throw out there. I think you can see that. Different guys made plays on each one as we started moving down the field. Mitch (Tinsley) gets in the second-to-last drive — not that he wasn't in — and gets a chance on a go-ball and wins. It's a shame. There are always positives in games like these, but when you don't win them, it's hard to feel like it matters. That's why winning is such a big deal. It can highlight guys stepping up and doing good things in those roles. Since we weren't able to do it, it kind of goes unseen."

It is hard to deal with the situation you're going to go through the next few days with the storyline if Joe Burrow will play or not? What's it like for you behind the scenes?

"As a competitor, you always want to be out there on the field. This is what I live to do, is to go out on that field and play football. At the same time, I feel myself fortunate to be in this situation. As much as I would have loved to have seen us win games, I still have had a lot of fun here with these guys in the locker room. Going out, lacing them up with these guys has been a lot of fun. I've felt right at home, and had a blast doing it. I don't think I'm looking at anything past that. I get it. I get how certain feelings can be involved, but in this case, it's easy to to put those aside and go out and just look at the positives of the whole thing and be excited for a teammate trying to work his way back. It might sound like crap and I'm lying, and yeah, there's a tough part about not being out there — there always is — but I feel like I've put my head down and worked hard however long it's been, and I've had a lot of fun with these guys. When you're in the with guys and you make relationships with them and you're out there battling on the field with them, you can look each other in the eye and know you've been going about it the right way, then you can't really worry about the other things."

So you're saying you just go out there and let the rest take care of itself?

"I think that's ultimately the secret in terms of this league, playing football. You want things to happen, but there's got to be a piece of you that lets it happen. You can't force things — you just can't. I think as you get older and the more you plan and just experience everything, you realize that. You gain a little bit of perspective. There's times in the moment where you still want to try to do too much. The more you do it, you find out the secret is to just go out there and do what you love to do to the best of your ability and let the things fall in place. I think if you get a collective group of guys doing that, then you have what you want."

Does the lack of rhythm affect how you see the field?

"It's good defense and maybe not as good of offense as we would like. That's what good teams do. It's harder because they're just good at what they do. They make it tough for you to complete underneath passes. There's times when you drop the ball underneath and you get 25-yard gains, but these guys make it harder. They're not going to give you anything. Listen, this is type of game it ends of being when you go against good teams. It's 26-20 and you have a chance to win. It's kind of how the game against Pittsburgh probably should have went last week, but we made mistakes. We made mistakes in this game, but we kept the game within striking distance and we just weren't able to get it done at the end."

What was going through your mind as you walked off the field?

"I don't know. Probably the same thing you're always thinking when you come up a little short. You're thinking about what you could have done on the last couple of plays and can't wait to go look at it and maybe see what you could have done, and beat yourself up about it a little bit. It's the same as always."

How will you feel tomorrow opposed to maybe the Joe Flacco at age 31?

"I think playing quarterback, it's always week-to-week. Sometimes you get really beat up, and sometimes you play really physical games, and sometimes you don't. I really don't think, because I'm 40, I feel different waking up. Everybody always says that once you hit 30 or once you hit 40, wait until you get out of bed, then this happens. Yeah, I have to stay on top of things more. I'm so much better at taking care of myself and actually doing things to prepare my body for success than I was at 25 years old. I think if there is any drop off at 40, you're a little more aware on how to do things."

Have you had to pop your finger mid-game before?

"I've never done that. I've never had to do it."

How's it feel?

"It didn't know I did it until I looked down at it. I came over and Matt just popped it back into place and was like, 'Ok, I can throw.' There you go."

Were you worried how the first throw was going to go after it was popped back in?

"Yeah, I was. I threw a couple balls on the sideline and Jake (Browning) did a good job completing a ball, but I didn't want to let him have too much fun out there."

ADDITIONAL BENGALS PLAYERS

WR MITCH TINSLEY

You had a touchdown today and an opportunity late in the game to pull out the game, but couldn't. What did you think of the offense's performance late in the game to stay competitive and try to win?

"I feel like we did a good job fighting and trying to take advantage of our opportunities when we were out there. Some guys went down and some guys stepped up, and I think we just tried to fight to the end."

Your touchdown was the first that Patriots defender Christian Gonzalez has allowed all year. Describe the play ...

"It was man(-to-man) coverage, and Gonzalez is a great player, but I saw him, gave him a great release, stacked him, and Joe put the ball right where I needed it to (be), and I just made a play."

You didn't have Ja'Marr Chase all day and didn't have Tee Higgins late. How did that affect the receivers today?

"I feel like all of us do a good job of approaching (things) every single day in practice (with) just the everyday mentality like we're the starters. We have to go in knowing with confidence that we can make plays when our number is called, and just be ready for the opportunity."

You had a catch late in the fourth quarter at a key point in the game. How did you catch that?

"That was just a focus thing honestly, because I wasn't sure if he was going to get high enough to get a hand on it. When I saw it go through his hands, it was kind of a reactionary thing because (of) where I thought the ball was going to go and where it actually ended up, I just had to react to it. I just tried to make a play."

S GENO STONE

Can you take us through your interception return for a touchdown today?

"We were just in a man(-to-man) defense and just went 'empty,' and I was reading the quarterback, really. I saw the free runner go over the top and he overthrew it, and I just took it from there."

What did it mean for you to make a play like that?

"I felt like I needed it (given) the past few weeks I had. I felt like I wasn't playing up to what I should be playing at, and today I feel I showed what I'm capable of, and who I really am."

If you take that play out of the equation, do you feel like it was still a pretty solid game for you?

"Yeah. I looked up and I think (I saw) I had 13 tackles, which is the most I've ever had in my career, so I checked that box off. The only thing is we didn't win. Individually, I feel good, but at the end of the day, I want to win."

What can you say about the goal-line stands the team made today? How much can that carry this defense going forward?

"We're showing what our real identity is. It took a while — it took a lot — but we're finding guys in the right spots, and we're all just playing with heart right now. Guys are flying around, we're owning up to all the mistakes we had early in the season, and we're all just playing together right now."

How do you carry that forward heading into a short week?

"Gotta get your body ready. I know I'm hurting a little bit, but you've just got to get your body ready. You've got a short week, so I know the coaches are going to get a good game plan (ready) for us and get us ready for the Ravens. You know what type of team they are, and it's the AFC North, so we've got to get ready for them."

K EVAN MCPHERSON

Your record-setting 63 yard field goal came in circumstances you've talked about before — getting an opportunity at the end of the half and letting it rip ...

"Yeah, I felt like we had a good chance to get a shot there at the end of the half, and you're never out of it. That's kind of what I learned throughout the years — never take time off and let your mind wander, because in the blink of an eye, you can be thrown out there for a long field goal at the end of the half. I think we did a good job staying in the game and not just looking forward to halftime. We executed really well on the snap, hold (and) kick. Everybody blocked really well. It's a lot of fun to go out there and attempt those, and I'm really happy that one worked out for us."

There's not many people in the 60-yard field goal club. How satisfying was it to have made it from your previous long kick?

"You know, I've always thought about (how) it would be cool to get one from the other side of the field one day. I'm just blessed to be put in that situation. The coaches trust me to go out there and make it, and I'm just glad that they have that trust in me."

Was this a little extra special after the 67-yarder that was good but didn't count in Green Bay earlier this season?

"Yeah. I always enjoy (it). I feel like, in my rookie year, I always enjoyed the 50-plus attempts, and now it's kind of switched to 60-plus. It's a lot of fun to just go out there and swing away and see what happens. I feel like when we go out there, we're looked at to make those kicks. I felt confident going into it with how we've been hitting them in practice and the operation, so it felt good running out on the field for that one."