Steelers - 34, Bengals - 11
JAKE BROWNING: ... the end zone in the DB's hands.
Q. Did you feel like you were pressing (indiscernible)?
JAKE BROWNING: Yeah, the first two picks, no. The third one, yes. But, like I said, I've got to find a way to turn those plays into incompletions or check-downs or something to give us a chance. I think that's the main takeaway without watching it and all that.
Q. How tough is it when -- (indiscernible) is this something specifically, when you fall behind early and then claw back, what's the challenge like trying to come back, like on this one you fell behind early?
JAKE BROWNING: Obviously they're a good defense. Anytime you get behind with any team it's going to be tough. Everybody's got edge rushers. And they can just peel their ears back and really rush the passers, kind of eliminate the threat of the run a little bit when you get down like that. Everybody in the stadium knows you have to throw.
Definitely makes it tougher. But I think the main thought there would just be I've got to, like I said, I'll say it probably hundred times, I've got to find a way to make those three picks turn into incompletions or throw-aways or check-downs or something other than turnovers.
Q. Also that sequence, second-and-one, third-and-one, fourth-and-one, it was 21-0. You had to (indiscernible). Seemed to be a key sequence there?
JAKE BROWNING: Yeah, I think in general, when I didn't turn the ball over, we moved the ball for the most part. I don't know how many punts we had but it didn't feel like a lot. I think just right off the bat, the two main takeaways would be gotta finish in the red zone and can't turn the ball over like I did.
Fortunately when you lose, it only counts as one. It's unfortunate when you win that it only counts as one. So I'm going to try and have the best week I possibly can.
I don't know what the play off and all that is. I've been kind of ignoring that in general. But I'm just really trying to find a way to improve throughout this week and learn from this and show that -- there's a lot of quarterbacks that have had bad games. I obviously had a bad game. So now it's a little bit of how do you respond. And so that's kind of where I'm at and that's where we're at as a team.
Q. What was different (indiscernible) the Steelers as opposed to your first start?
JAKE BROWNING: I didn't play very well the first time I played them either. So it wasn't a whole lot different. They do a good job of disguising stuff. And I think they kind of know if they can just get you to hesitate for a second they feel good about their pass rush.
And you kind of Rolodex calls a little more when you're up with that kind of lead. But, like I said, it felt like when we didn't turn the ball over, we were moving the ball well and just couldn't finish in the red zone. So credit to them. That's good defense.
Q. You pride yourself a lot on bouncing back, even in the middle of the game. Did that thought go through your mind, like, okay, that's an interception, I'm going to bounce back and collect myself? How hard was it for you to do that today?
JAKE BROWNING: I'm never going to have a bad play and be, all right, well, this game's over. I think a lot of my story and what I've gone through has been bounce back, bounce back.
I think the last two games I've had a pick and then ripped off a bunch of touchdown drives. And unfortunately, just for whatever reason, we just couldn't get it done today. And I think for me it's trying to learn as much as I can from the tape. And have some things I want to focus on to get better at. But the initial thing I think would be turnovers and not finishing in the red zone.
Q. The first pick, the first pick, did you think something was there?
JAKE BROWNING: No, I was trying to throw it out of the back of the end zone and I just, I don't know. I thought I did throw it away. The whole crowd went away. And I didn't even know it was picked. So, stupid.
Q. (Indiscernible) pushing the ball down the field, did you see an opportunity to be aggressive (indiscernible) or the interceptions?
JAKE BROWNING: I think the first two were just dumb decisions. Then the third one was obviously a dumb decision, too. But third one, there's a little more of you're trying to get something going and you kind of gotta be more aggressive.
But I think the first two, like the first one, we have a great drive. We stall out in the red zone. Just throw it out of bounds, take the three points and keep it pushing. And I'll just keep going back to I've got to find a way to make those three throws incompletions, because who knows how that affects the outcome of the game. But it's definitely not as bad as today was. So I think that's kind of where my focus is going to be.
Q. You said (inaudible) playoff outlook. (Indiscernible)?
JAKE BROWNING: I think it's not like this is my 200th start. Each one of these is very important to me. So I've just been really focused on trying to get ready for each game. I knew that this was not going to be some situation where we roll in here, we've been playing well, they've had some losses. I knew that didn't matter.
Like I go back to before I was even on the team. They had one loss and I think the Bengals had one win. And at home and Monday night and the Bengals beat them.
So you know this is just going to be a very physical game and it's going to go back and forth and the records do not matter. And the momentum doesn't matter.
And I think I didn't feel like it was something where they snuck up on us or anything like that. They kicked our ass and I made some dumb decisions with the ball in my hand. And I need to do better.
Q. On the topic of small sample size (indiscernible) starting quarterback, (inaudible). What did you do when you (inaudible)?
JAKE BROWNING: Nothing crazy. I think just I want to be in the situation where I feel like this after a loss. I want to be the guy in the arena. I want to be the guy playing. So just remembering that.
And also knowing that there's going to be positive takeaways from every film. Obviously there's not as many when you throw three picks. Not like I'm trying to put a positive spin on how I played, but there's going to be takeaways on both sides, good and bad. And taking those and applying it to practice and trying to continue to get better every week.
Q. Can you break down the (indiscernible) the second-and-one, third-and-one, fourth-and-one, (indiscernible) you guys tried to run the ball first and you weren't able to get any yards. Can you tell us tell us what you saw on that?
JAKE BROWNING: On the run play, I don't know. That would be a question for Joe Mixon. When they call around I have my operation -- hand it off and try to carry out a fake.
The last one, they bring pressure, we checked to a protection, and I just gotta be able to get more on the throw and get it in the back end zone. Had to throw it really early because they brought zero. And that was kind of my only throw. I need to get that in the back pylon and probably get it up earlier, too. As far as all the details of the sequence, I don't know. It's kind of hard to recollect.
Q. Did Zac tell you during the timeout you would throw it on fourth-and-inches, or was that a headset call when you got out there and saw what they were in and (indiscernible) personnel?
JAKE BROWNING: I don't know what all goes into that. Nor do I really specifically remember what all happened. I'm just going to run what's called and I wish I would have operated better and given T a better chance in the back of the end zone. And that's kind of my role in all that, and outside of that I'm not really sure.
Q. What's your level of confidence that you can lead this team to the playoffs given (inaudible)?
JAKE BROWNING: I think we just have to focus on Kansas City and learn from this game, focus on Kansas City. Have a good week of practice, and I think we just keep battling, one day at a time, one rep at a time, trying, especially for me, trying to get better.
And then wherever we end up, we end up. But for me it's really focused on trying to get some takeaways from this game that can help me improve for the Kansas City game. And the whole process of that doesn't really change whether you win or lose, but obviously it's a worse feeling when you lose and play bad.
Q. Seems like you guys tried to throw a lot of screens early. (Inaudible)?
JAKE BROWNING: I think you've just got to play that game back and forth with -- they obviously have really good edge rushers. Anytime you have that you want to call screens. And screens have been really good for us the past couple of weeks. And outside of that, I'm not really sure. It's kind of coach's call on the play, and I run the play.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports