ZAC TAYLOR
Head Coach
On his thought process calling the two-point conversion: "We came here to win. [We came] here to win."
On the second half performance: "We lost the turnover battle 1-0. I think that was big, you know, it was 21-7 at that point when we gave them seven points right there on the fumble, they had the big play, and then it kind of went back-and-forth from there. [The Ravens] are just a good football team, but we expected to come in here and win. We did everything we could to do that. [The loss] doesn't change the fact that I'm proud. I think everyone on the field fought [and] gave us a chance. We also came on the road to a good team, and it is sickening that this has happened twice to us. That's what it is."
On the HB Chase Brown fumble: "Every time you play [the Ravens], it's a one-score game. Whoever wins the turnover battle wins the game. That's what it came down to."
On why the team seems to struggle in big moments: "We've got to figure that out. We've got to find a way to close out these games. We had our opportunity. We got down there, went for two, and it just didn't work out for us. This team is going to continue to put us in good positions, there's going to be a point in the season where that turns. We will respond the right way from this game. We've got a one game season next week against the Chargers before the bye. We will get our bodies right and get ready to go fight them."
On why the team isn't finishing: "I mean, finishing, there were a lot of great plays by both teams at the end of the game. I know that's the easy answer, but we've just got to find a way to make that last play to win."
On the decision to throw deep balls on third-and-2 and fourth-and-2: "It was just part of the plan. Those are progressions, and if you get a one-on-one shot, we are taking that all the time. Otherwise, there is a progression that comes across. We've made a lot of plays in those situations where we take those shots. Just because it is third-and-2 or fourth-and-2, they are dropping everybody underneath trying to take away the underneath stuff, so you either take your shot, or you wait for other stuff to clear out over the top."
On watching the three missed tackles on the WR Tylan Wallace touchdown: "That one I can't see very well. That's on the farthest point of the field that I can see. We will watch the tape and evaluate how that play went."
On how their defensive play changed in the second half: "The turnover gave them great field position because we got a three-and-out there to start the half. I was really pleased with how the defense started the half. Then, obviously that big play on third-and-2, for however many yards that was, put them right back in it. It gave them some hope, and they responded the right way. It just became a back-and-forth game from there."
On WR Ja'Marr Chase: "Incredible. That's a good defense. They've got a ton of talent over there. I thought Ja'Marr [Chase] stepped up in a major way anytime we could find ways to get him the ball, [and] I thought [Joe Burrow] did a great job of that. Ja'Marr finished all those plays for us. I thought [Chase and Burrow] played excellent."
On his level of frustration of not winning: "It's frustrating because of the work we put in. We sit up here every week and pour our hearts and souls into this thing. We've got a good football team. Our record doesn't yet show that. There's still time. This team is going to hang in there. We are going to be there at the end. This is a tough one because you are right there, and it felt like [you] kind of let that one slip away. But at the same time, I still believe in these guys. They believe in each other. There's a lot of football left to play."
On his decision to call timeout during the first two-point conversion attempt: "We were just trying to get a free yard there. So, it was a no-snap, no-play situation. [We were] trying to get a free play. If they jump, then snap it, and just get a free shot on the two-point conversion. We didn't have a situation to do that, so we called timeout and then got the play we liked, and it just didn't work out for us."
On if a play was there for their second two-point attempt: "I've got to watch it. It's hard for me to tell right now."
On whether the two-point attempt was designed for WR Ja'Marr Chase: "There's always a progression to it. Most of our stuff is geared to go to Ja'Marr Chase. Again, the progression starts, and he was in that progression. I'd say [Joe Burrow] makes pretty good decisions. I trust we went there, but we've got to watch the tapes to see what happened."
On the decision not to attempt long field goals with K Evan McPherson: "That direction was less [of the number]. So, I think we passed up a 58-yard field goal, when our defense had given up seven points at that point of the game. So, we pinned them down there on the 10. Obviously, it didn't work out. They scored three plays later. That was that decision. That was an aggressive game for us, going for it. You know, that was right there just given how the game unfolded, with how our defense was playing at that moment. A 58-yard field goal, just pin them down there and try to get that ball back at the same field position and punch it in on offense."
On if he projected a game with 56 pass attempts by QB Joe Burrow: "It's hard to know how many snaps you're going to get, but yeah, I knew that it was going to be that type of game."
On QB Joe Burrow taking 13 QB hits tonight: "It's a really talented defense. When you throw the ball that many times, it's going to happen. [Joe Burrow] does a great job buying time until the end to give his guys a chance. So often, probably, some of those hits came on huge completions because he waited until that last second and was willing to take the hit. It's going to unfortunately reflect negatively on the offensive line, when in reality, it's just Joe hanging in there, making plays versus tight coverage and giving [Ja'Marr Chase] and those guys a chance for that extra second."
On if knew the Bengals would go for two if they scored on the final drive: "Yes. There is a time situation where, I can't get into specifics, but there is a chance maybe you get a three-and-out, get the ball back if you just tied it, and you go kick a game-winning field goal. It didn't feel like we were going to get the ball again."
On trying to figure out how to close out games: "You've just got to find a way to win."
On their aggressiveness throughout the game: "We came in here to fight them. We fought them, and we just came up one play short."
MIKE HILTON
Cornerback
On what the Bengals did differently in the second half on defense: "No, we didn't do anything different. I mean, I guess they made adjustments, and we didn't make plays when we needed to."
On if this is the most frustrating season he's been a part of: "Yeah, I mean, you look at our losses. Pretty much one-possession games outside of that Philly game. It's frustrating, but there's nothing we can do about it except just get ready for next week."
On if there's anything that sticks with him from the final Ravens touchdown drive: "No, we just have to make plays."
On what the conversation was among the defense on their last drive: "Finish. I mean, everybody knows that we were in the game, and we had a chance to close it out. We just didn't and it came back to bite us. Yeah, one of those tough losses."
On QB Lamar Jackson in the final drive: "Yeah, man, I mean that's what he's been doing his whole career, just making plays on the ground, through the air. We didn't make enough tonight."
LOGAN WILSON
Linebacker
On the feeling in the locker room after the game: "A game we made enough plays to win, we just didn't come out on top. That's just kind of how these division games go and credit to them."
On how the emotions from this game will carry on the rest of the season: "We've got a short week, a little mini bye. So, we need to just get recouped and refreshed and find a way to go beat the [Los Angeles] Chargers."
On if the loss shakes their confidence: "We still have work to do and we knew that. We just didn't come out on top today. So, we just need to learn from it and move on."
On if the Ravens made second-half adjustments offensively: "I mean, they're going to find ways to move the ball. They're one of the best, if not the best offenses in the league. We knew that and we just didn't make enough plays."
On the frustration of almost beating the Ravens twice, but losing twice: "Yeah, that's kind of how these things go. AFC North division rivals. You know they're going to be tough games, hard-fought games, and unfortunately, we didn't come out on top. So, we just need to keep moving forward."
