Bengals - 22, Patriots - 18
Q. Marcus, how has it been working with both sides of the ball in terms of the way that you have handled with the team -- what meetings, as a receiver, as a defensive back, how have you been splitting time among the phases of the game?
MJ: During the week, it will be different things to where Coach need me to go to this meeting or go to that meeting. And that's just basically how it goes. I make sure I'm locked in on both sides and knowing what to do.
Ask questions whenever I don't know what to do. But usually that's how it goes.
Q. You were pretty involved in the defensive side, active, led the team in tackles. A lot of throwing from Burrow. Just talk about the day for you out there.
MJ: Burrow was doing a lot of check downs and everything. And however we were defensively and everything like that, just trying to get to the ball and make a play on the ball.
Q. How would you describe how the game was like? Obviously you were down by a big amount, came back. Had an opportunity to go up at the end. What's it like from an emotional standpoint having all these different types of things happen?
MJ: Coach talks about it's never over until it's the last buzzer, basically. Just keeping our head down and grinding. That's the main thing, controlling what we can control and just keep playing until the end.
Q. Looked like you guys mixed in some man early and pivoted to heavy zone late. How would you describe your coverage plan, how that changed, especially, as you mentioned, Burrow throwing a lot of check downs?
MJ: Just making sure we got the right keys and got our eyes in the right spot. And being in the right position to where Burrow would throw the ball, back shoulder ball down the field and everything. I definitely have stuff I need to improve on in that aspect, but that's the main thing.
Q. Take us through the pick-6 if you would. And did you feel you were coming close to stepping out of bounds?
MJ: So, we was in a certain coverage and everything. And whenever I seen him throw the ball I was, like, I gotta get there first. Make sure I get there and catch it. And then after that I seen our whole defense setting up a wall and everything. And I was running and seeing Burrow, the last man, and I was, like, let me make sure I don't step out.
Q. Involved in another takeaway when Matthew stripped the ball from Chase. Did you guys see him expose the ball on the previous -- he had another reception there, where he leaped in the air, Matthew knocks it out, you recover? Also what happened when you were down on the field after that turnover?
MJ: We know that those guys, those receivers, their ball security isn't as good as the typical team and everything. So whenever we see the ball out, we always practice things with ball security and trying to get the ball out and get it to our offense.
And I'm good. Just got the wind knocked out of me. So I'm good.
Q. When you make plays like that pick-6, how do you feel like maybe that provides a spark for your team after, like, how that first half went?
MJ: It provides a spark, definitely. But right after it happened, we got the mindset to prove ourselves again. So do it again and do it again.
Q. How much has your confidence grown now that you've been able to impact games all different kinds of ways?
MJ: It's definitely grown over time. Getting more plays and more snaps, things of that nature. But just making sure that I basically keep my head down and keep grinding because you can't be complacent when it comes to playing in the National Football League.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports