Bengals - 22, Patriots - 18
Q. Ja'Whaun, we were talking to Adrian Phillips. He said great frustration, and he felt like, in his words you blew it as a team. Where do you stand from being real close at the end but not being able to come away with the victory?
JB: We had our chances for sure, definitely in the second half, I thought we did a good job. Comes down to making the plays in the fourth quarter and getting it done and finishing the game.
Q. Ja'Whaun, how did the weather affect the game today?
JB: If you ask me, personally, not at all. Another football game for me. Honestly, it's been colder before being out here in Foxboro. I think that wasn't an issue at all.
Q. How much pride do you guys take when your defense scores a touchdown? You guys are doing this almost on a regular basis now.
JB: Definitely a goal of ours to try to get points for the team. At the end of the day just making plays, to be honest with you, and whether that's causing turnovers. But always icing on the cake when you're able to get the ball into the end zone. We've been doing a good job at that. That's one thing we definitely build off, try to take it with us as we go.
Q. Ja'Whaun, what was the big difference for you guys on defense in the second half? Obviously they moved the ball pretty well in the first half and then you shut them out the final two quarters.
JB: Just making adjustments, kind of seeing what they are seeing and what we've been giving them and kind of spinning (indiscernible) a little bit. And kind of just playing complementary defense, whether that's the pass rush and the coverage behind, just trying to get in sync.
Q. How would you describe just the mood among players in the locker room after the game?
JB: I mean, it just happened. So guys are kind of in and out. Obviously the holidays and things like that. So at the end of the day we're going to come in here, watch the film. Obviously you wanted the results to be different.
But we came in here. I like how the team fought at the end of the game for sure. Showed good toughness and grit. And it's definitely something we're going to build off of, one, because we had no choice.
That's exactly what we're going to do. That's the team we want to be and the team we've been, especially on the defensive side of the ball, is a tough football team. We'll continue to do that.
Q. How frustrating is it, you guys score on defense, hold them scoreless in the second half, to have a performance like that? You've had multiple this season. And for the result as a team not to be what you want.
JB: Obviously you want the win. So anything that doesn't result in a win, you're not -- it's not what you want because it's not what you practice for. But at the end of the day you have to put your best foot forward. And whatever the pieces lie you have to live with that.
The Cincinnati Bengals are a good team, a playoff team, a playoff team at that. Kudos to them, they got the job done today.
We wanted to finish with a victory and we didn't do that today. All we can do is move forward and build off the good things we did. Obviously you've got two games left, so we can't get down on ourselves because there's another game next week with a team that's also ready to go. We need to make sure we're ready to play tough, physical football.
Q. Do you feel as though there's a lot on the defense to carry you guys to win games?
JB: At the end of the day, when we're on the field, we're looking to make plays. Whether that's in the beginning of the game, the end of the game, whatever it takes to win the game, whenever we're out there, however long we're out there, doesn't matter. We're looking to make plays.
So all the other stuff we're not really concerned about. We're just more concerned about what's the quickest way we can get on and off the field and make a quick play.
Q. Ja'Whaun, you guys have faced elite quarterbacks this year. What were your impressions of Joe Burrow?
A. Talented guy for sure. Tough guy, sits in the pocket. Doesn't matter if somebody's in his face, he's willing to take the hit and get the job done. So he's definitely a great quarterback. And he got it done today.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports