Late in the fourth quarter, Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco let a pass go down the right sideline looking for top wide receiver Tee Higgins. The pass fell incomplete with Patriots cornerback Carlton Davis
tight in coverage.
But, Davis was flagged for a 27-yard pass interference penalty — one that he did not agree with as the Bengals then went on to find the end zone the very next play.
“I didn’t agree with that call at all,” Davis said in the post game locker room. “That shit made me mad as [expletive] because it was already [the] fourth quarter, and I felt like I put my team in a bad position when it was a BS call, and now they’re in field goal range and they’re inside the red zone. And then we give up a touchdown, so I’m just mad about it because I’m understanding the position and what all transpired since that [penalty]. And so, that shit really just lit a fire under me. Like, I promise you I’m not going to let this game slip out of our hands.”
Davis stayed true to his word.
As the Bengals got the ball back with less than two-minutes left in the game needing a touchdown and extra point to win, Flacco targeted the cornerback on back-to-back plays after moving the offense into New England territory.
Davis, who appreciated the veteran QB targeting him in a key situation, broke up each pass.
“I don’t get too many targets, but that [expletive], for a corner, is kind of boring when you’re not getting targets,” Davis said. “It keeps you on point when you’re getting targets and you understand the ball is coming my way. I was kind of happy like ‘Thank God, I can finally show what I’m doing out here’.”
Forcing the Bengals into a 4th-and-10, Flacco’s next pass fell incomplete sealing a 26-20 win for the Patriots. The pair of pass breakups were Davis’ second and third of the drive as he ended the game leading the team with three.
“I want to be accountable for my team and I’m trying to get a W more than anything,” Davis said. “It lit a fire under me. I didn’t want to be that guy. When you’re on an island, it’s just you out there. The whole team is depending on you, everybody is watching you. I was like, I got to step up right now and finish this game for sure.”
