November 16, 2025 • 35 mins
Dan Hoard recaps Sunday’s loss in Pittsburgh with radio replays and locker room comments. Then, in this week’s “Fun Facts” conversation, you’ll get to know Bengals quarterback and Cincinnati native Sean Clifford.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Hi, get everybody.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
I'm Dan Hord and thanks for downloading The Bengals Booth Podcast.
The key pulling on audition as the Bengals come up
short in Pittsburgh, losing to the Steelers thirty four to twelve.
Coming up radio replays and locker room comments. Then in
(00:25):
this week's fun Facts Conversation, you'll meet the local kid
on the Bengals roster, quarterback Sean Clifford from Saint X
High School. The Bengals Booth Podcast is brought to you
by pay Corp, proud to be the Bengals official HR
software provider, by Alta Fiber future proof fiber Internet designed
to elevate your home, business and community to a new level,
(00:47):
and by Kettering Health the best care for the best fans.
Kettering Health is the official healthcare provider of the Bengals.
Now here's a quick reminder that you can have the
latest edition of this podcast delivered right to your phone, tablet,
or computer by subscribing wherever you get your podcasts. It's
the greatest thing since randomly seeing Joe Flacco references on Veep.
(01:13):
HBO recently ran a Veep marathon. That's the show where
Julia Louis Dreyfuss aka Elaine from Seinfeld plays a bumbling,
scheming and conniving vice president who is surrounded by equally bumbling,
scheming and conniving staff members. I thought the show was hysterical,
(01:33):
so when HBO recently replayed all seven seasons, I wound
up catching a few episodes, including one where Vice President
Selina Meyer makes two references to Joe Flacco. The gist
is that the vice president is going on Meet the
Press and wants to appeal to regular folks, so her
staff convinces her that she should talk about football. They
(01:56):
remind her that she's supposedly a Baltimore fan, so she
goes on TV and expresses her confidence in Joe Flacco
since he was the Ravens quarterback at the time. She
knew the sports.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Yes, we're not nervous at all with Flacco.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Forget about it.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
I'll bet you a beer that we win by.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
A TV I asked Joe Flacco about it in the
locker room this week, and he said he's aware of
the name drop, but has never.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Watched the show.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
He should, especially season one, episode four. Now let's get
to the radio replays from Sunday's game in the steel City.
In a normal year, the first place team in the
AFC North would reach mid November with one of the
best records in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
But this is not a normal year.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
The first place Steelers are just five and four and
the Bengals are still in the hunt at three and six. Today,
Cincinnati looks to sweep Pittsburgh to pull within one game
a first and it is time for.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
The Big Skin to fly.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Here at Akrishore Stadium and second and nine at the
Cincinnati eleven shotgun Snap Rogers from the pocket screens it
left caught by Gainwell running away from Barrett Carter, and
he launches himself over the pylon into the end zone
for an eleven yard touchdown. Flacco changing the play as
he touches both sides of his helmet and backs up
into the shotgun.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
TODs Brooks to his left.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Flacco catches the forty year old QB for the five
step drop penalty flag down. Flacco throws it deep, caught
at the seven. T Higgins runs into the end zone,
but there's a penalty flag in the offensive backfield.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
Looks like it's holding against Pittsburgh.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
The Bengals are celebrating so that's going to be a
twenty eight yard touchdown pass as the faith second and
ten low snap handled by Rogers. Now he's pressured, goes backward,
pump fakes and gets sacked Oo Miles Murphy and bj
Hill combining for the sack at the thirty on eleven
yard loss. Chris Boswell into attempt a twenty five yard
(04:04):
field goal from the left hash. He swings the right leg,
his kick is up. It is good, and the Pittsburgh
Steelers have a ten to six lead. With ten seconds
left in the half. Flacco under center, Chase Brown lined
up behind him. Flacco hands it off big hole up
the middle, sprinting between the hash marks, now angling toward
the near sideline at the fifty Steelers forty. Chase Brown
(04:26):
stepped out of bounds around the forty. So the first
play of the third quarter is a huge run. Chase
goes out of bounds at the Pittsburgh forty.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
One yard line.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
How about thirty five yards on a run for Chase Brown.
This will be a forty three yard try into the
open end of the stadium at Akroshore Stadium, notoriously difficult
for NFL kickers. Forty three yards away on a windy day.
From the right, Hash Rico ready for the snap, catches
a high one, gets the ball down. The kick is
(04:57):
up and it is good yes for Evan McPherson. He
makes it from forty three yards away and Cincinnati is
pulled back within one third down and nine at the
thirty five of Pittsburgh.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Here comes a blitz.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Flaco throws opn the medal intercepted at the thirty yard line.
Tugger running it back near sideline at the thirty cuts
back to the twenty five twenty ten five touchdown Pittsburgh
seventy two yards On the run back, flack Go threw
it right to Kyle Dugger and he runs it back
(05:34):
for his third career pick six. Wagner, the rookie long snapper,
ready to fire it back to Ryan Rico. The snap
is good. Here comes the right footed kick on its
way and good yeah. Evan McPherson drilled it into the
wind from forty eight yards out and the Bengals make
(05:54):
it a one score game. They're down by eight with
ninety one to go. Then goal from the five Rudolph
throws it is caught by Gainwell, touchdown. Pittsburgh Orrin Burks
greeted him around the two, but Gainwell crouched down low.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Burks failed to make the tackle.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
And Kenneth Gainwell has his second touchdown catch of the game.
Bengals have it at their own twenty nine. They have
scored twelve points today. They had been averaging thirty two
with Joe Flacco at quarterback. He catches a shot gun
Snappy's back to throw, fires to the right, caught it
the twenty eight by Noah Fant and the Bengals tight
end loses the ball scooped up by Pierre running down
(06:34):
the far sideline. He goes into the end zone for
a Pittsburgh touchdown.
Speaker 5 (06:39):
And he does a front flip to celebrate that touchdown.
He took off the goal line and did a gymnastic
move that front flip in full football equipment. It almost
stuck the landing.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
The Steelers taking knee.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
The final few seconds run off the clock and it
is a split in this run. I will read this
year each home team winning, the Bengals winning thirty three
thirty one at home and the Steelers winning thirty four
to twelve. Here at Akroshore Stadium. Last month, when the
Bengals beat the Steelers in Cincinnati. Joe Flacco threw for
(07:15):
more than three hundred and thirty yards and three touchdowns
and completed sixteen passes to Jamar Chase Pittsburgh was not
about to let that happen again. They took away the short,
easy passes to Jamar and kept a safety on his
side for anything longer. He was targeted ten times and
finished with three catches for thirty yards. Flacco went twenty
(07:39):
three for forty for one hundred and ninety nine yards,
with one touchdown, one pick six, and a passer rating
of sixty eight point six.
Speaker 6 (07:49):
These games, you know they are going to be battles,
and even though this looks like a lot, it looks
really bad. It's one of those typical games that you
come playing here all this sudden it breaks loose and
it goes the other way. But this you felt it today.
It was a hard, physical game. You knew they were
going to make it tough, tough for it for us,
(08:11):
and we just didn't come through. In those couple of
little moments. You know, they got two touchdowns on defense
and got everybody excited and were able to pin their
ears back and do their thing. And you know, that's
what this game comes down to. It's it's one or
two plays that you can look back on, and obviously
(08:32):
there's more than that and just the consistency of it,
but there's always those plays. And it comes down to
just playing and winning football and and kind of waiting
for your opportunity and you know, not letting not letting
yourself get too far out ahead of yourself and trying
to make things happen when they're not going to. And
I don't really think we were doing that today, but
we obviously, you know, just we weren't able to wait, wait, wait,
(08:55):
wait and strike. We we made mistakes and they capitalized.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Chasero ran for ninety nine yards and added twenty eight
receiving It's his fourth straight game with one hundred or
more scrimmage yards, but that didn't help the Bengals score
many points. After averaging thirty two plus in Flaco's first
four starts, the Bengals only scored twelve on Sunday. As
a result, their chances of winning the AFC North are slim.
Speaker 6 (09:21):
Listen to and we're halfway through the season. Basically it's
a little bit more now, but it really is so
tough to look at it that way. I think it's
easy to get caught up in that stuff. I really
try to remove myself from those situations and just go
play football. And I think if you do that, that's
when you give yourself the best chance to be in
(09:41):
the best position you want. Obviously, that's there lingering and
you know, the opportunity and all that stuff, but you
got to try to avoid getting caught up in those things.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Now, let's get to the defense. For much of the game,
the Bengals d played as well as it has at
any point this season. After Pittsburgh's scored on its opening drive,
the Bengals forced three straight punts and didn't allow the
Steelers to cross the fifty. But on the final drive
of the half, two roughing the passer penalties helped Pittsburgh
(10:12):
kick a field goal to take a ten to six lead.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
Still you'll take it.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
But in the second half, with Mason Rudolph in at
quarterback after Aaron Rodgers hurt his wrist, the Bengals allowed
the Steelers to pick up first downs on third and eleven,
third and seventeen, and third and eleven again. In each case,
Pittsburgh threw a short pass and the Bengals were not
able to close on the receiver and tackle him short
(10:40):
of the sticks. Rogers and Rudolph combined for two hundred
and forty three yards passing. Two hundred and twenty five
of those yards came after the catch. That's ninety three percent.
The Steelers weren't targeting the Bengals cornerbacks. They were going
after the linebackers and safeties over and over and over again.
(11:03):
Here's rookie Barrett Carter.
Speaker 7 (11:06):
We just got to get eleven half to the ball
and just find a way to get get get the
guy down, whoever it is. We're in great play calls.
Play calls setting us up for success. So for us
as a defense, we just gotta get eleven half to
the ball and just find a way to get off
the field. You know, it may not look pretty all
the time, but just we just gotta.
Speaker 8 (11:25):
Find a way. Washington a big tight end, he catches
that ball.
Speaker 9 (11:28):
What was your view of that play hours to trying
to get him down in the space.
Speaker 8 (11:32):
Of that size.
Speaker 7 (11:33):
Yeah, just I just gotta do better just knocking the
stiff him down and just find a way to get
him down.
Speaker 8 (11:37):
So he's a.
Speaker 7 (11:38):
Good player, obviously he's a large human being, so just
just gotta knock the stiff arm down and just get him,
find a way to get him down.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
They went heavy to the screen game.
Speaker 8 (11:47):
Went's the key to playing those.
Speaker 7 (11:48):
Men getting eleven half of the football. That's that's really it.
I mean, as frank as that age is. Eleven guys
just doing their job and once the ball get thrown,
just flying around, just trying to get them down.
Speaker 6 (12:02):
You know, there's no quid we're helping moralizings at third
and eleven, third and eleven, thirty and seventeen, they keep
picking up those big ones where those artipically high percentage ways.
Speaker 8 (12:10):
Yeah, it's frustrating.
Speaker 7 (12:11):
You know, those are favorable situations for the defense, and
you know we expect to get off the field really
every single time we're in that situation.
Speaker 8 (12:20):
So it's super frustrating.
Speaker 7 (12:23):
So we just gotta just watch the film and find out,
you know, what exactly went wrong and just do better
with tackling, do better just forming to the football, taking
better angles, and just finding a way to get the
runner down. So it's frustrating, but we just gotta.
Speaker 8 (12:35):
Find a way to not let it happened. In the
next few weeks and.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
Those third and lungs, it seemed like the strategy was,
you know, if they catch it short close to the
line of scrimmage, we gotta rally up and make the play,
which is pretty common, and unfortunately there were several plays
where you just weren't able to.
Speaker 8 (12:50):
Execute that way.
Speaker 7 (12:51):
Yeah, you know, we try to try to keep everything
in front of you and just like I said, just
rally and tackle them. So we just need to do
a better job of that. Frustrating that we add them in.
You know, so many of those situations today and.
Speaker 8 (13:03):
We weren't able to get off the field.
Speaker 7 (13:04):
But you know, those, like I said, those are favorable
situations for the defense, and we can get 'em in
a third down and long every single time, then you know,
that's that's playing good football. So we just gotta find
a way to just correct those mistakes and now that
to happen again, three straight.
Speaker 8 (13:17):
Games without a turnover. What's the key to get a
news going?
Speaker 7 (13:21):
Just seeing the ball, Just having a knack for it,
you know, whether that's punching, ripping, stabbing, picking the ball off,
whatever it is, just just gotta see the ball better.
You know, our offenses, you know, fighting and scratching, carn
doing everything they can for us, and you know, we
just gotta we gotta compliment them and give them some
turnovers and return.
Speaker 8 (13:39):
So we're just we're building towards that.
Speaker 7 (13:42):
You know, it's frustrating that we haven't done that in
the past three games, but we work at it every
single day so that that worm, that turnover worm is
gonna turn.
Speaker 8 (13:50):
So it's gonna turn very soon.
Speaker 9 (13:51):
You've used the word frustrating a lot. Just how much
more frustrating.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
Is it knowing where you guys are in the division
and knowing how much win here could have tightened.
Speaker 9 (13:59):
Things in the re.
Speaker 7 (14:01):
It's frustrating again. You know, this division is still there's
still a lot of ball have to be played. Still
gotta play Baltimore twice, Cleveland, Aga, Cleveland again. So I
mean there's it's still a lot of room to for
us to you know, rise and you know take that
top spot. So it, like I said, it is frustrating,
but uh, they don't they don't call the season after
(14:22):
the same game. So we we got we got work
to do, but we'll we'll respond for sure.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
The rofense did only score twenty were their positive things
on defense, and if Selwich stood out.
Speaker 7 (14:33):
To you, Yeah, for sure there were positives, and you know,
twenty is still too much in in my opinion and
our whole defense opinion like that that's they shouldn't they
shouldn't have had twenty points. But I thought we played well,
just never never wavering. You know when things got hard,
you know, we stayed together. You know, the energy was great.
(14:53):
So you know, we we we're we're building a family
on this defense, and we we know that we're gonna
fight til the last second. And now things may not
be pretty, but you know we're going to finish all
four quarters or however long. It takes so a lot
of positives to take away, but you know, the main
positives that we just got to get a win, and
that's what we fail to do today. So just you
got to look forward to next we try to do that.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
The loss drop the Bengals to three and seven. There
are three games behind the Steelers and two games behind
the Ravens with seven games to go. Now, let's hear
from head coach Zach Taylor, who spoke to Dave Lapham
after the game in.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
The Bengals locker room. With Bengals head coach Zach Taylor
tough today coming to Pittsburgh. You knew you were going
to be playing a really good football team, a sound
football team. Just didn't didn't work out. What do you
think with the biggest reasons that didn't win this football game?
Speaker 3 (15:44):
Turner re battle, that's the number one starting point. Two
to nothing. Two of them led to fourteen points. You're
rarely going to win in this league when you have
one for touchdown, two for touchdown is going to really
set you back, you know. So you an opportunity twenty
to twelve, you're in field goal range, worst case, you
feel like going to kick a field goal, and then
Joe's hit as he throws and picked six and then
(16:05):
turned around with a fumble, you know, right away on
the next one for a touchdown. So that's not winning football.
That's not what I was supposed to look like. Credit
to them for taking advantage of that, running away with
it and again losing the turn of balltitude. Nothing's the
best starting point there is for that.
Speaker 4 (16:18):
Yeah, the final score really doesn't dictate or show what
the game was like. I mean, for three quarters it
was a battle. I mean a battle where I was
you know, fighting for every inch, tooth and nail, every
inch of the football field. What were you thinking? Did
you feel like you were not in control, but you
feel like going to win this football game.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
Absolutely. We've been in a lot of these dog fights
and had opportunities right until the very last player to
win the game, so that that's not unique. Being down
eight points felt like at halftime we were in a
fine spot. We're gonna get the ball start the half,
came out, scored points and just never never took control
of the game. There was not a point where we
ever took control of the game, and they did in
(16:59):
the fourth quarter. They to control of it. And that's
that's the difference.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
You hold a team to twenty eight percent third down conversion,
I think it was like twenty eight points six percent
or something like that Pittsburgh Steelers on third down, usually
that is in the winning column of a football game.
How rare is it to hold a team to that
kind of a performance on third down and not win
the game?
Speaker 3 (17:18):
Yeah, the plan was good. Again, it's it comes down
to that's great, we got to get a turnover. You know,
we've had several games now with no turnovers created, and
offensively we give him fourteen points. That's that's just there's
no chance you're gonna win that.
Speaker 4 (17:30):
Yeah, I mean turnover third down. What about the running
game offensively? He Chase Brown ran the ball effectively before
he ran hard. I mean he always does. He gives
every effort that he has a total effort every snap
that he runs the football. Other than him, do you
feel like the running game was proficient enough?
Speaker 3 (17:50):
Yeah, I think he's right now, especially with small JL,
he's the main running point. We're gonna give Taj and
Kendle reps. We got confidence in those guys, so I
thought we got way we needed. It's not always going
to be pretty. When you're playing any team in the North.
You're gonna have some you feel really good about their
effishent they're explosive. You're gonna have some that are no
gains or one game and you're just you're gonna have
to rally behind that because that's just when you're playing
(18:11):
a great front like they have. That's part of the
part of the process, and that doesn't catch a soff guard.
And we just got to handle the next down as
well as we can.
Speaker 4 (18:19):
I bet when you were traveling to Pittsburgh, and thinking
about this football game. Mason Rudolph wasn't a name that
was in the top of everybody's mind that he was
going to come and play in a football game. What
did you obviously study everybody? Everybody just go out in
department coach, everybody studies everybody. What does Mason Rudolph do
to help his football team win? Oh, he's a veteran quarterback.
(18:40):
He's he's been in this building before. We played against
last year in Tennessee. You just got to managing their offense,
you know, and they were running the ball well, and
he was getting the ball in the perimeter. He was
getting the ball in some nakeds. They didn't try to
put too much on him, you know, in a windy,
cold environment where he's coming in the second half, and
he did a good job managing what they want.
Speaker 8 (18:59):
Him to do.
Speaker 4 (19:00):
Everybody in the National Football League has at least two losses,
so I mean the season is not over. I mean
there's plenty to play for. What do you do to
make sure that your your football team stays focused and
takes it one game at a time.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
Yeah, we go back to work and we keep fighting.
And that's what this locker room has been about through
thick and thin, and so I trust that that's that's
the message they've received, that's the message they want to
receive and follow. I've got full trust that will do that.
We have to find a way to win a football game.
That's there's you can't run from that. These these losses
they take it out of you, you know, they do.
They beat you up. But in this profession, you got
(19:35):
no choice or professionals, we got to bounce back the
next day, find a way to have a great attitude,
fix the things we got to fix, and come back
ready to fight and go find a win.
Speaker 8 (19:43):
And that's exactly what we're going to do.
Speaker 4 (19:45):
Jamar Chase and Tiggans are going to get a lot
of attention every time they play. They're great. I mean,
I think they're the best duo of the best tandem
in football any level of football. Pittsburgh Steelers did a
pretty good job. I mean, Jamar and t they're going
to make plays. They did make plays, but but overall,
I think the Pittsburgh's deal has handled things pretty well.
What did did they do anything? Difference coverage wires.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
They just weren't going to give you any access, you know,
they were going to make sure that there was no
access there. A little bit different than the first time
we played them. Not to be expected. You didn't expect
the exact same point when you played them again and
and again.
Speaker 8 (20:15):
We just didn't.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
We didn't find a way enough to get points on
the board early in the game when our defense was
getting some stops.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
Next a home game against the New England Patriots, who
are nine and two with an eight game winning streak
after beating the Jets on Thursday night. The Patriots open
is a five and a half point favorite. The Bengals
Booth Podcast is brought to you by Pai Core, Proud
to be the Bengals official hr software provider, by Alta
Fiber future proof Fiber Internet designed to elevate your home, business,
(20:46):
and community to a new level, and by Kettering Health
the best care for the best fans. Kettering Health is
the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. Now time for
this week's fun Facts conversation featuring a Cincinnati kid who
is currently on the Bengals roster. Time for some fun
(21:06):
facts with quarterback Sean Clifford, a local kid out of
Saint Xavier High School here in Cincinnati, you haven't had
the opportunity to play in a game yet for the Bengals,
but describe what it's been like for you to go
to work every day at pay Course Stadium.
Speaker 10 (21:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (21:19):
I think it means lots of my family first and foremost.
Speaker 10 (21:22):
You know, the the Cliffords have been living here for
over twenty years now, and you know, we really truly
call this place a home. So just being able to
go to work with a great group of guys, great
coaching staff, and great front office. I think that all together,
it just means a little extra. I know it means
a lot to the guys in this locker room, but
for me personally, you know, it is personal. So it's
(21:46):
been a pleasure to be here so far and looking
at some wins in the future.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
Did you attend a lot of Bengals games when you
were young, and if so, do any specific memories stand out.
Speaker 10 (21:56):
We would go to games all the time, But my
senior year, my parents actually got my brother and I
season tickets four just for my senior year and his
eighth grade year. And if you know brother, the brother connection,
obviously you bicker and you fight each other for so long,
and it was actually funny because in my last year
(22:16):
before I left for college and his first year going
into high school. You know, it was that opportunity to
go to the Bengals games where I feel like we
really developed that best friendship and it carries on today.
Speaker 9 (22:27):
You know, that's my right hand man.
Speaker 10 (22:28):
So I owe a lot to this team just from
being a fan first and foremost.
Speaker 9 (22:33):
My brother and I would always talk about it.
Speaker 10 (22:35):
I was able to the first game point out to
Zach the exact spot where I was sitting, you know,
almost a decade ago. So it's really cool to be
back on the field contributing to a team, maybe not
on the field, but from a week to week perspective,
just giving it.
Speaker 9 (22:50):
My all and trying to find a way to win.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
We're visiting with Sean Clifford. One of the most memorable
moments in the Bengal Super Bowl run in twenty twenty
one was the playoff game in Tennessee where Joe Burrow
got sacked nine times and the Bengals still won the game.
You did that in the state championship game for Saint
X back in twenty sixteen. Describe that season because it
was not a smooth ride for the Bombers.
Speaker 10 (23:11):
Yeah, very similar to this year. I think, you know,
the at least the opportunity. You know, we went five
and five in the regular season. Steve Speckck actually wrote
a book about that season. But when five and five,
I had injuries. We had injuries going into the season.
I think that we had five starters out by the
first week. So you know, it was a lot of
ups and downs, but put together some good wins in
(23:32):
the back end, made it into the playoffs, is a
very late seed, and then rode that momentum all the
way to the state championship. And I think that you know,
you in those situations, you know, I compare it, you
can compare it in every level.
Speaker 9 (23:45):
You know, you just got to find a way to
string together wins.
Speaker 10 (23:48):
But then once you get to the big dance and
it's one game at a time, anything can happen. So
I think that that's always been my mindset is you know,
a season's long, it's gonna be tough, and there's gonna
be ups and downs, but weathering that story and being
able to at least get to the final that you know,
that final show, then anybody can win every single week.
So it's just about putting putting enough together, you know,
(24:09):
because you're gonna face adversity. But if you can put
enough together to get to that point, then you can
catch a hot streak.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
From a state championship at Saint X, it was on
to Penn State, where you spent six years. Why did
you choose the Nittney Lions.
Speaker 10 (24:23):
It really came down to James Franklin and I hate
to see him go. It was tough to see him go,
for sure, and I know a lot of guys in
that locker room are still feeling that just because you know,
James was such a great guy, a family man, somebody
who really preached, you know, the same mantra similar to
Saint X men for others. You know, it was kind
(24:43):
of the same way at Penn State, and my mom
really fell in love with the idea of me going
to that school. Thank god she did, because I really,
you know, she she was a big proponent of going
to Penn State. Uh, staying committed the whole way through
committing early and staying committed. So I owe a lot
to my parents for kind of steering me in that direction.
I always loved Penn State, but once I got there,
(25:05):
it's around the people, you know, Pennsylvania. I really consider
Pennsylvania and Ohio to be the two spots that I
really love Midwest kid through and through.
Speaker 9 (25:14):
That's for sure.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
You were a Rose Bowl MVP and a win over Utah.
Was that the highlight of your time at Penn State
or was there something else?
Speaker 9 (25:21):
I think it's always gonna be a highlight.
Speaker 10 (25:22):
It's the last game whenever you can walk have have
a walk off where you really you know, I did
not expect it, but you know, we get a standing ovation.
I know it's not about one person, but I thought
that when I walked off the field at the Rose
Bowl and got that standing, Oh, it.
Speaker 9 (25:41):
Wasn't It wasn't about me for the for the moment.
Speaker 10 (25:44):
It was the village that it took of, all those
different people and all those teammates and captains that and
coaches that poured so much into me throughout my career
that you know, it really brought me to tears just
thinking about it, and it will always give me kind
of chill.
Speaker 9 (25:56):
So I think the Rose Bowl is one of them.
Speaker 10 (25:57):
And then you know, you can never kind of kind
the white out as well.
Speaker 9 (26:01):
You know, I think that.
Speaker 10 (26:02):
That unbiasedly, I've I've talked to a lot of guys
who have played in a lot of big games, and unbiasedly,
I think that everybody can say that the white out.
Speaker 9 (26:10):
Is a special moment, a special game.
Speaker 10 (26:13):
But between those those few games that I played that,
you know, Rose Bull's definitely up there as well.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
After a record setting career at Penn State, you were
a fifth round draft pick by the Green Bay Packers.
Describe your draft experience.
Speaker 9 (26:25):
It was a crazy one.
Speaker 10 (26:26):
I you know, I didn't get invited to the combine,
was counted out a bunch of different times. And then
as I kind of told my story through the draft
process the scouts and kind of worked my way up
to to to the the GM level and the coaches level,
I think that my story is all about heart and
will and what I can provide from a value perspective.
Speaker 9 (26:44):
To a team. And it's it's a day to day thing.
Speaker 10 (26:47):
You know, You're gonna get my best every single day,
doesn't matter. You know, if it's if it's a Monday
or Tuesday off day, or if it's game day. You know,
I'm gonna give it my all because I'm I always
like to think I'm an ulti competitor. You know, I
want to win as much as the next guy, and
I'll do whatever it takes for my teammates to be
able to get that done.
Speaker 9 (27:07):
I think that, you know, green Bay heard that. I
know that in the process.
Speaker 10 (27:11):
Cincinnati, you know, I was talking to brad Our, quarterback
coach as well, and he even reminded me that, you know,
they weren't taking a quarterback in the draft, but if
I did slip outside of the draft, you know, since
he was gonna try to be the first call that
they make to get me here. So I always appreciated them,
but Green Bay, you know, took that shot in the
fifth round. You know, I was able to back up
(27:31):
Jay Love for a couple of years, and I thought
that the bonds that I created in that locker room.
I have a lot of respect for how the Packers
run their organization. It's just a it's a it's a
well run show, and I think that it really helped
me early in my career to be able to see
how it's done. So that way, you know, I can
bring that that energy and that mindset into places like.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
This we're visiting with Sean Clifford. You join the Bengals
in September following Joe Burrow's injury, do all of your
Cincinnati friends and family members ask you what's Joe Burrow Like?
Speaker 10 (28:03):
I think it's it's both Joe's now, obviously, you know,
being in the in a room full of Joe's and
Jake uh, you know, we have three great minds in
that room that that all contribute in different ways. You know,
I think that Joe Burrow is somebody who has a
lot of experience early He's an elite, elite talent and
somebody who I've I it's funny if we we lost
(28:26):
the game into Minnesota my in twenty nineteen in a
in a very controversial game that I won't get into
because referees in my opinion, but if we win that game,
in which we should have, we actually would have played
Joe and the l and the LSU Tigers in in
the first week of that that playoff.
Speaker 9 (28:45):
So I've always seen him as a great competitor.
Speaker 10 (28:47):
I've seen him as somebody who you know, I have,
I have a lot of respect for, and so you know,
he provides so much value to that room.
Speaker 9 (28:56):
And then you add Joe Flacco in the mix.
Speaker 10 (28:58):
His experience and all the stories that he can tell
different looks and different players he's played with and how
to scheme certain ways. It truly is incredible to just
see the full picture and then you later and a
get a guy like Jake who's done such a good
job of backing up Joe and coming into big situations
and winning games. Very blessed to be a part of
this room, and I think it's competitive. I think it's exciting,
(29:20):
and someone that really pushes not only our room but
the players around us as well to be their best
version of the selves and really elevate the competition.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
Give us the quarterbacks perspective for what Flacco has been
able to do to come in under those circumstances and
play the way he has, I.
Speaker 10 (29:39):
Think it just it's incredible because I know you can
point to, Oh, it's tough to get the terminology, and
it's tough to just understand a game plan that quickly,
and you know, you take nothing away from that, but
the way that he goes out and executes I think is.
Speaker 9 (29:55):
The most impressive.
Speaker 10 (29:56):
It's so simple, the way he plays, but it's so
it's so intensely accurate. Every single throw is so intentional
when he's getting through his progression, it's so intentional.
Speaker 9 (30:09):
You know, he knows exactly where his checkdowns are.
Speaker 10 (30:12):
He knows, honestly, He's studied so quickly how our receivers
act between Jamar and t and the different nuances of
how to throw them the ball on different routes. And
I think it's been really cool as a young guy
coming into this, seeing his preparation and then turning that
preparation and really really making it into reality when the
game's hit and you're seeing that come full circle game
(30:35):
after game after game as he puts up big numbers.
Speaker 2 (30:37):
A few wildcard topics now for Bengals quarterback Sean Clifford,
Who is your all time favorite athlete in any sport
and why?
Speaker 10 (30:45):
I think Kobe is probably an old timer for me,
just because the mindset, the mentality, the mama mentality of
I think he was such a servant leader outside the community.
I think that he did a lot as you study
kind of his life and what he did with his family.
I think from a business perspective, he did so much
off the field that really really left a mark. From
(31:06):
a community perspective, he was always pouring back into kids,
and being able to to really give back to that community.
Speaker 9 (31:12):
But then when you turn.
Speaker 10 (31:13):
On the tape and you watch him in a game,
he turns into a complete nutter savage, And I think.
Speaker 9 (31:18):
That that's I think that there's time and place for
all that.
Speaker 10 (31:20):
You know, I think that you have to be an upstanding,
an upset and a citizen and a good man in
the community. And I always try to be that, especially
now being back in the community that gave me so much.
But really for a guy like that, you know, when
when when it's time to play ball, I think it.
You know, there is a switch that you can turn
on and it's okay to to kind of get aggressive
in that situation because you know, all that hard work
(31:42):
and dedication that you put in to be able to
to win and to you know, have the chance to win.
Speaker 9 (31:48):
It's it's it's.
Speaker 2 (31:50):
Meaningful aside from throwing a football. Tell us something you
do well.
Speaker 10 (31:55):
Oh, man, I you know, I do a lot of
business on the side.
Speaker 9 (31:58):
I really enjoy.
Speaker 10 (31:59):
Venture cap but I really enjoy private equity. I enjoy
the the nuances there. I really just have a mind
that loves to learn. You know, it doesn't really matter
what it is It's more just the fact of how
can I expand my perspective on on everything, because I
feel like everybody that comes into the locker room you
(32:20):
want to have different ways to connect, and different guys
are into different things.
Speaker 9 (32:24):
So I've always just been.
Speaker 10 (32:26):
An ultimate learner and and an ultimate question question asker
because I think that that's the best way to as
a quarterback, to be able to get to know your teammates,
especially in an interesting situation where you come in the
middle of the year.
Speaker 9 (32:38):
You still want to be able to lead, and.
Speaker 10 (32:40):
The best way to be able to lead is to
actually know the people around you and know what makes
them tick, knows know what makes them play well. And
that's through conversation, you know, at lunch tables in the
locker room. So I always like to just try to
to learn as much as I possibly can about a
bunch of different topics, so that way, if a guy
brings something up, I can I can hold a conversation.
Speaker 2 (33:01):
Penn State famously whears the most plain uniforms in college football,
perhaps all of sports. So bland that they're cool or
time for an update, Oh they're cool.
Speaker 10 (33:11):
I'm an old school type guy anyway, So I don't
think that they need any sort of update. I've always
appreciated the tradition and I think that you know, I
I grew up watching I wasn't a huge NFL guy
until I really started fall in love with the Bengals,
but I always appreciated watching college ball and specifically college players,
(33:32):
and I just always loved I followed a lot of
Nerdame traditional program, you know, with a lot of a
lot of good guys, good community guys.
Speaker 9 (33:41):
And I don't think.
Speaker 10 (33:42):
I I knew the importance of that when I was
just a kid.
Speaker 9 (33:45):
You know, you're just watching them, busy that they're on TV.
Speaker 10 (33:49):
But you know, I followed some some some great players
just because I was just attracted to the way that
they held themselves.
Speaker 9 (33:57):
And I think that you find that at Penn State.
I think you find that in Our Dame. You find
it at schools that are traditional. So to answer your question,
long story short, Yeah, I love the uniforms.
Speaker 8 (34:07):
All right.
Speaker 2 (34:07):
Final fun fact for Sean Clifford. This one's kind of deep.
If you could meet anybody in history, living or deceased,
who would that person be.
Speaker 10 (34:17):
You know, I'm a Christian man, and I think that
Jesus would be somebody who I'd love to meet. You know,
I think that it's he's the ultimate messenger and he's
the ultimate you know, warrior when it came to doing
good in this world. And I think that the conversations
that you know, I would have and will have one
day in my in my opinion, will be magical and
(34:39):
really life changing. So, you know, always trying to dive
into the word and finding different ways to talk to
him in different ways, but having an actual sit down conversation,
maybe over at dinner, it would be really cool.
Speaker 2 (34:51):
Sean, appreciate your time. It's great to have you on
your hometown team. Best of luck the rest of the year.
Thank you, who da that's going to do it for
this episode of the Bengals Boot podcast brought to you
by pay Core.
Speaker 8 (35:02):
Proud to be the Bengals.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
Official hr software provider, by Alta Fiber future proof fiber
Internet designed to elevate your home, business, and community to
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please subscribe to this podcast and if you have a minute,
(35:24):
give it a rating, or share a comment that helps
more Bengals fans find us. I'm Dan Hord and thanks
for listening to the Bengals Booth podcast
Hi, get everybody.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
I'm Dan Hord and thanks for downloading The Bengals Booth Podcast.
The key pulling on audition as the Bengals come up
short in Pittsburgh, losing to the Steelers thirty four to twelve.
Coming up radio replays and locker room comments. Then in
(00:25):
this week's fun Facts Conversation, you'll meet the local kid
on the Bengals roster, quarterback Sean Clifford from Saint X
High School. The Bengals Booth Podcast is brought to you
by pay Corp, proud to be the Bengals official HR
software provider, by Alta Fiber future proof fiber Internet designed
to elevate your home, business and community to a new level,
(00:47):
and by Kettering Health the best care for the best fans.
Kettering Health is the official healthcare provider of the Bengals.
Now here's a quick reminder that you can have the
latest edition of this podcast delivered right to your phone, tablet,
or computer by subscribing wherever you get your podcasts. It's
the greatest thing since randomly seeing Joe Flacco references on Veep.
(01:13):
HBO recently ran a Veep marathon. That's the show where
Julia Louis Dreyfuss aka Elaine from Seinfeld plays a bumbling,
scheming and conniving vice president who is surrounded by equally bumbling,
scheming and conniving staff members. I thought the show was hysterical,
(01:33):
so when HBO recently replayed all seven seasons, I wound
up catching a few episodes, including one where Vice President
Selina Meyer makes two references to Joe Flacco. The gist
is that the vice president is going on Meet the
Press and wants to appeal to regular folks, so her
staff convinces her that she should talk about football. They
(01:56):
remind her that she's supposedly a Baltimore fan, so she
goes on TV and expresses her confidence in Joe Flacco
since he was the Ravens quarterback at the time. She
knew the sports.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Yes, we're not nervous at all with Flacco.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Forget about it.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
I'll bet you a beer that we win by.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
A TV I asked Joe Flacco about it in the
locker room this week, and he said he's aware of
the name drop, but has never.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Watched the show.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
He should, especially season one, episode four. Now let's get
to the radio replays from Sunday's game in the steel City.
In a normal year, the first place team in the
AFC North would reach mid November with one of the
best records in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
But this is not a normal year.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
The first place Steelers are just five and four and
the Bengals are still in the hunt at three and six. Today,
Cincinnati looks to sweep Pittsburgh to pull within one game
a first and it is time for.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
The Big Skin to fly.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Here at Akrishore Stadium and second and nine at the
Cincinnati eleven shotgun Snap Rogers from the pocket screens it
left caught by Gainwell running away from Barrett Carter, and
he launches himself over the pylon into the end zone
for an eleven yard touchdown. Flacco changing the play as
he touches both sides of his helmet and backs up
into the shotgun.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
TODs Brooks to his left.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Flacco catches the forty year old QB for the five
step drop penalty flag down. Flacco throws it deep, caught
at the seven. T Higgins runs into the end zone,
but there's a penalty flag in the offensive backfield.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
Looks like it's holding against Pittsburgh.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
The Bengals are celebrating so that's going to be a
twenty eight yard touchdown pass as the faith second and
ten low snap handled by Rogers. Now he's pressured, goes backward,
pump fakes and gets sacked Oo Miles Murphy and bj
Hill combining for the sack at the thirty on eleven
yard loss. Chris Boswell into attempt a twenty five yard
(04:04):
field goal from the left hash. He swings the right leg,
his kick is up. It is good, and the Pittsburgh
Steelers have a ten to six lead. With ten seconds
left in the half. Flacco under center, Chase Brown lined
up behind him. Flacco hands it off big hole up
the middle, sprinting between the hash marks, now angling toward
the near sideline at the fifty Steelers forty. Chase Brown
(04:26):
stepped out of bounds around the forty. So the first
play of the third quarter is a huge run. Chase
goes out of bounds at the Pittsburgh forty.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
One yard line.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
How about thirty five yards on a run for Chase Brown.
This will be a forty three yard try into the
open end of the stadium at Akroshore Stadium, notoriously difficult
for NFL kickers. Forty three yards away on a windy day.
From the right, Hash Rico ready for the snap, catches
a high one, gets the ball down. The kick is
(04:57):
up and it is good yes for Evan McPherson. He
makes it from forty three yards away and Cincinnati is
pulled back within one third down and nine at the
thirty five of Pittsburgh.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Here comes a blitz.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Flaco throws opn the medal intercepted at the thirty yard line.
Tugger running it back near sideline at the thirty cuts
back to the twenty five twenty ten five touchdown Pittsburgh
seventy two yards On the run back, flack Go threw
it right to Kyle Dugger and he runs it back
(05:34):
for his third career pick six. Wagner, the rookie long snapper,
ready to fire it back to Ryan Rico. The snap
is good. Here comes the right footed kick on its
way and good yeah. Evan McPherson drilled it into the
wind from forty eight yards out and the Bengals make
(05:54):
it a one score game. They're down by eight with
ninety one to go. Then goal from the five Rudolph
throws it is caught by Gainwell, touchdown. Pittsburgh Orrin Burks
greeted him around the two, but Gainwell crouched down low.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Burks failed to make the tackle.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
And Kenneth Gainwell has his second touchdown catch of the game.
Bengals have it at their own twenty nine. They have
scored twelve points today. They had been averaging thirty two
with Joe Flacco at quarterback. He catches a shot gun
Snappy's back to throw, fires to the right, caught it
the twenty eight by Noah Fant and the Bengals tight
end loses the ball scooped up by Pierre running down
(06:34):
the far sideline. He goes into the end zone for
a Pittsburgh touchdown.
Speaker 5 (06:39):
And he does a front flip to celebrate that touchdown.
He took off the goal line and did a gymnastic
move that front flip in full football equipment. It almost
stuck the landing.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
The Steelers taking knee.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
The final few seconds run off the clock and it
is a split in this run. I will read this
year each home team winning, the Bengals winning thirty three
thirty one at home and the Steelers winning thirty four
to twelve. Here at Akroshore Stadium. Last month, when the
Bengals beat the Steelers in Cincinnati. Joe Flacco threw for
(07:15):
more than three hundred and thirty yards and three touchdowns
and completed sixteen passes to Jamar Chase Pittsburgh was not
about to let that happen again. They took away the short,
easy passes to Jamar and kept a safety on his
side for anything longer. He was targeted ten times and
finished with three catches for thirty yards. Flacco went twenty
(07:39):
three for forty for one hundred and ninety nine yards,
with one touchdown, one pick six, and a passer rating
of sixty eight point six.
Speaker 6 (07:49):
These games, you know they are going to be battles,
and even though this looks like a lot, it looks
really bad. It's one of those typical games that you
come playing here all this sudden it breaks loose and
it goes the other way. But this you felt it today.
It was a hard, physical game. You knew they were
going to make it tough, tough for it for us,
(08:11):
and we just didn't come through. In those couple of
little moments. You know, they got two touchdowns on defense
and got everybody excited and were able to pin their
ears back and do their thing. And you know, that's
what this game comes down to. It's it's one or
two plays that you can look back on, and obviously
(08:32):
there's more than that and just the consistency of it,
but there's always those plays. And it comes down to
just playing and winning football and and kind of waiting
for your opportunity and you know, not letting not letting
yourself get too far out ahead of yourself and trying
to make things happen when they're not going to. And
I don't really think we were doing that today, but
we obviously, you know, just we weren't able to wait, wait, wait,
(08:55):
wait and strike. We we made mistakes and they capitalized.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Chasero ran for ninety nine yards and added twenty eight
receiving It's his fourth straight game with one hundred or
more scrimmage yards, but that didn't help the Bengals score
many points. After averaging thirty two plus in Flaco's first
four starts, the Bengals only scored twelve on Sunday. As
a result, their chances of winning the AFC North are slim.
Speaker 6 (09:21):
Listen to and we're halfway through the season. Basically it's
a little bit more now, but it really is so
tough to look at it that way. I think it's
easy to get caught up in that stuff. I really
try to remove myself from those situations and just go
play football. And I think if you do that, that's
when you give yourself the best chance to be in
(09:41):
the best position you want. Obviously, that's there lingering and
you know, the opportunity and all that stuff, but you
got to try to avoid getting caught up in those things.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Now, let's get to the defense. For much of the game,
the Bengals d played as well as it has at
any point this season. After Pittsburgh's scored on its opening drive,
the Bengals forced three straight punts and didn't allow the
Steelers to cross the fifty. But on the final drive
of the half, two roughing the passer penalties helped Pittsburgh
(10:12):
kick a field goal to take a ten to six lead.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
Still you'll take it.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
But in the second half, with Mason Rudolph in at
quarterback after Aaron Rodgers hurt his wrist, the Bengals allowed
the Steelers to pick up first downs on third and eleven,
third and seventeen, and third and eleven again. In each case,
Pittsburgh threw a short pass and the Bengals were not
able to close on the receiver and tackle him short
(10:40):
of the sticks. Rogers and Rudolph combined for two hundred
and forty three yards passing. Two hundred and twenty five
of those yards came after the catch. That's ninety three percent.
The Steelers weren't targeting the Bengals cornerbacks. They were going
after the linebackers and safeties over and over and over again.
(11:03):
Here's rookie Barrett Carter.
Speaker 7 (11:06):
We just got to get eleven half to the ball
and just find a way to get get get the
guy down, whoever it is. We're in great play calls.
Play calls setting us up for success. So for us
as a defense, we just gotta get eleven half to
the ball and just find a way to get off
the field. You know, it may not look pretty all
the time, but just we just gotta.
Speaker 8 (11:25):
Find a way. Washington a big tight end, he catches
that ball.
Speaker 9 (11:28):
What was your view of that play hours to trying
to get him down in the space.
Speaker 8 (11:32):
Of that size.
Speaker 7 (11:33):
Yeah, just I just gotta do better just knocking the
stiff him down and just find a way to get
him down.
Speaker 8 (11:37):
So he's a.
Speaker 7 (11:38):
Good player, obviously he's a large human being, so just
just gotta knock the stiff arm down and just get him,
find a way to get him down.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
They went heavy to the screen game.
Speaker 8 (11:47):
Went's the key to playing those.
Speaker 7 (11:48):
Men getting eleven half of the football. That's that's really it.
I mean, as frank as that age is. Eleven guys
just doing their job and once the ball get thrown,
just flying around, just trying to get them down.
Speaker 6 (12:02):
You know, there's no quid we're helping moralizings at third
and eleven, third and eleven, thirty and seventeen, they keep
picking up those big ones where those artipically high percentage ways.
Speaker 8 (12:10):
Yeah, it's frustrating.
Speaker 7 (12:11):
You know, those are favorable situations for the defense, and
you know we expect to get off the field really
every single time we're in that situation.
Speaker 8 (12:20):
So it's super frustrating.
Speaker 7 (12:23):
So we just gotta just watch the film and find out,
you know, what exactly went wrong and just do better
with tackling, do better just forming to the football, taking
better angles, and just finding a way to get the
runner down. So it's frustrating, but we just gotta.
Speaker 8 (12:35):
Find a way to not let it happened. In the
next few weeks and.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
Those third and lungs, it seemed like the strategy was,
you know, if they catch it short close to the
line of scrimmage, we gotta rally up and make the play,
which is pretty common, and unfortunately there were several plays
where you just weren't able to.
Speaker 8 (12:50):
Execute that way.
Speaker 7 (12:51):
Yeah, you know, we try to try to keep everything
in front of you and just like I said, just
rally and tackle them. So we just need to do
a better job of that. Frustrating that we add them in.
You know, so many of those situations today and.
Speaker 8 (13:03):
We weren't able to get off the field.
Speaker 7 (13:04):
But you know, those, like I said, those are favorable
situations for the defense, and we can get 'em in
a third down and long every single time, then you know,
that's that's playing good football. So we just gotta find
a way to just correct those mistakes and now that
to happen again, three straight.
Speaker 8 (13:17):
Games without a turnover. What's the key to get a
news going?
Speaker 7 (13:21):
Just seeing the ball, Just having a knack for it,
you know, whether that's punching, ripping, stabbing, picking the ball off,
whatever it is, just just gotta see the ball better.
You know, our offenses, you know, fighting and scratching, carn
doing everything they can for us, and you know, we
just gotta we gotta compliment them and give them some
turnovers and return.
Speaker 8 (13:39):
So we're just we're building towards that.
Speaker 7 (13:42):
You know, it's frustrating that we haven't done that in
the past three games, but we work at it every
single day so that that worm, that turnover worm is
gonna turn.
Speaker 8 (13:50):
So it's gonna turn very soon.
Speaker 9 (13:51):
You've used the word frustrating a lot. Just how much
more frustrating.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
Is it knowing where you guys are in the division
and knowing how much win here could have tightened.
Speaker 9 (13:59):
Things in the re.
Speaker 7 (14:01):
It's frustrating again. You know, this division is still there's
still a lot of ball have to be played. Still
gotta play Baltimore twice, Cleveland, Aga, Cleveland again. So I
mean there's it's still a lot of room to for
us to you know, rise and you know take that
top spot. So it, like I said, it is frustrating,
but uh, they don't they don't call the season after
(14:22):
the same game. So we we got we got work
to do, but we'll we'll respond for sure.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
The rofense did only score twenty were their positive things
on defense, and if Selwich stood out.
Speaker 7 (14:33):
To you, Yeah, for sure there were positives, and you know,
twenty is still too much in in my opinion and
our whole defense opinion like that that's they shouldn't they
shouldn't have had twenty points. But I thought we played well,
just never never wavering. You know when things got hard,
you know, we stayed together. You know, the energy was great.
(14:53):
So you know, we we we're we're building a family
on this defense, and we we know that we're gonna
fight til the last second. And now things may not
be pretty, but you know we're going to finish all
four quarters or however long. It takes so a lot
of positives to take away, but you know, the main
positives that we just got to get a win, and
that's what we fail to do today. So just you
got to look forward to next we try to do that.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
The loss drop the Bengals to three and seven. There
are three games behind the Steelers and two games behind
the Ravens with seven games to go. Now, let's hear
from head coach Zach Taylor, who spoke to Dave Lapham
after the game in.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
The Bengals locker room. With Bengals head coach Zach Taylor
tough today coming to Pittsburgh. You knew you were going
to be playing a really good football team, a sound
football team. Just didn't didn't work out. What do you
think with the biggest reasons that didn't win this football game?
Speaker 3 (15:44):
Turner re battle, that's the number one starting point. Two
to nothing. Two of them led to fourteen points. You're
rarely going to win in this league when you have
one for touchdown, two for touchdown is going to really
set you back, you know. So you an opportunity twenty
to twelve, you're in field goal range, worst case, you
feel like going to kick a field goal, and then
Joe's hit as he throws and picked six and then
(16:05):
turned around with a fumble, you know, right away on
the next one for a touchdown. So that's not winning football.
That's not what I was supposed to look like. Credit
to them for taking advantage of that, running away with
it and again losing the turn of balltitude. Nothing's the
best starting point there is for that.
Speaker 4 (16:18):
Yeah, the final score really doesn't dictate or show what
the game was like. I mean, for three quarters it
was a battle. I mean a battle where I was
you know, fighting for every inch, tooth and nail, every
inch of the football field. What were you thinking? Did
you feel like you were not in control, but you
feel like going to win this football game.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
Absolutely. We've been in a lot of these dog fights
and had opportunities right until the very last player to
win the game, so that that's not unique. Being down
eight points felt like at halftime we were in a
fine spot. We're gonna get the ball start the half,
came out, scored points and just never never took control
of the game. There was not a point where we
ever took control of the game, and they did in
(16:59):
the fourth quarter. They to control of it. And that's
that's the difference.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
You hold a team to twenty eight percent third down conversion,
I think it was like twenty eight points six percent
or something like that Pittsburgh Steelers on third down, usually
that is in the winning column of a football game.
How rare is it to hold a team to that
kind of a performance on third down and not win
the game?
Speaker 3 (17:18):
Yeah, the plan was good. Again, it's it comes down
to that's great, we got to get a turnover. You know,
we've had several games now with no turnovers created, and
offensively we give him fourteen points. That's that's just there's
no chance you're gonna win that.
Speaker 4 (17:30):
Yeah, I mean turnover third down. What about the running
game offensively? He Chase Brown ran the ball effectively before
he ran hard. I mean he always does. He gives
every effort that he has a total effort every snap
that he runs the football. Other than him, do you
feel like the running game was proficient enough?
Speaker 3 (17:50):
Yeah, I think he's right now, especially with small JL,
he's the main running point. We're gonna give Taj and
Kendle reps. We got confidence in those guys, so I
thought we got way we needed. It's not always going
to be pretty. When you're playing any team in the North.
You're gonna have some you feel really good about their
effishent they're explosive. You're gonna have some that are no
gains or one game and you're just you're gonna have
to rally behind that because that's just when you're playing
(18:11):
a great front like they have. That's part of the
part of the process, and that doesn't catch a soff guard.
And we just got to handle the next down as
well as we can.
Speaker 4 (18:19):
I bet when you were traveling to Pittsburgh, and thinking
about this football game. Mason Rudolph wasn't a name that
was in the top of everybody's mind that he was
going to come and play in a football game. What
did you obviously study everybody? Everybody just go out in
department coach, everybody studies everybody. What does Mason Rudolph do
to help his football team win? Oh, he's a veteran quarterback.
(18:40):
He's he's been in this building before. We played against
last year in Tennessee. You just got to managing their offense,
you know, and they were running the ball well, and
he was getting the ball in the perimeter. He was
getting the ball in some nakeds. They didn't try to
put too much on him, you know, in a windy,
cold environment where he's coming in the second half, and
he did a good job managing what they want.
Speaker 8 (18:59):
Him to do.
Speaker 4 (19:00):
Everybody in the National Football League has at least two losses,
so I mean the season is not over. I mean
there's plenty to play for. What do you do to
make sure that your your football team stays focused and
takes it one game at a time.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
Yeah, we go back to work and we keep fighting.
And that's what this locker room has been about through
thick and thin, and so I trust that that's that's
the message they've received, that's the message they want to
receive and follow. I've got full trust that will do that.
We have to find a way to win a football game.
That's there's you can't run from that. These these losses
they take it out of you, you know, they do.
They beat you up. But in this profession, you got
(19:35):
no choice or professionals, we got to bounce back the
next day, find a way to have a great attitude,
fix the things we got to fix, and come back
ready to fight and go find a win.
Speaker 8 (19:43):
And that's exactly what we're going to do.
Speaker 4 (19:45):
Jamar Chase and Tiggans are going to get a lot
of attention every time they play. They're great. I mean,
I think they're the best duo of the best tandem
in football any level of football. Pittsburgh Steelers did a
pretty good job. I mean, Jamar and t they're going
to make plays. They did make plays, but but overall,
I think the Pittsburgh's deal has handled things pretty well.
What did did they do anything? Difference coverage wires.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
They just weren't going to give you any access, you know,
they were going to make sure that there was no
access there. A little bit different than the first time
we played them. Not to be expected. You didn't expect
the exact same point when you played them again and
and again.
Speaker 8 (20:15):
We just didn't.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
We didn't find a way enough to get points on
the board early in the game when our defense was
getting some stops.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
Next a home game against the New England Patriots, who
are nine and two with an eight game winning streak
after beating the Jets on Thursday night. The Patriots open
is a five and a half point favorite. The Bengals
Booth Podcast is brought to you by Pai Core, Proud
to be the Bengals official hr software provider, by Alta
Fiber future proof Fiber Internet designed to elevate your home, business,
(20:46):
and community to a new level, and by Kettering Health
the best care for the best fans. Kettering Health is
the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. Now time for
this week's fun Facts conversation featuring a Cincinnati kid who
is currently on the Bengals roster. Time for some fun
(21:06):
facts with quarterback Sean Clifford, a local kid out of
Saint Xavier High School here in Cincinnati, you haven't had
the opportunity to play in a game yet for the Bengals,
but describe what it's been like for you to go
to work every day at pay Course Stadium.
Speaker 10 (21:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (21:19):
I think it means lots of my family first and foremost.
Speaker 10 (21:22):
You know, the the Cliffords have been living here for
over twenty years now, and you know, we really truly
call this place a home. So just being able to
go to work with a great group of guys, great
coaching staff, and great front office. I think that all together,
it just means a little extra. I know it means
a lot to the guys in this locker room, but
for me personally, you know, it is personal. So it's
(21:46):
been a pleasure to be here so far and looking
at some wins in the future.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
Did you attend a lot of Bengals games when you
were young, and if so, do any specific memories stand out.
Speaker 10 (21:56):
We would go to games all the time, But my
senior year, my parents actually got my brother and I
season tickets four just for my senior year and his
eighth grade year. And if you know brother, the brother connection,
obviously you bicker and you fight each other for so long,
and it was actually funny because in my last year
(22:16):
before I left for college and his first year going
into high school. You know, it was that opportunity to
go to the Bengals games where I feel like we
really developed that best friendship and it carries on today.
Speaker 9 (22:27):
You know, that's my right hand man.
Speaker 10 (22:28):
So I owe a lot to this team just from
being a fan first and foremost.
Speaker 9 (22:33):
My brother and I would always talk about it.
Speaker 10 (22:35):
I was able to the first game point out to
Zach the exact spot where I was sitting, you know,
almost a decade ago. So it's really cool to be
back on the field contributing to a team, maybe not
on the field, but from a week to week perspective,
just giving it.
Speaker 9 (22:50):
My all and trying to find a way to win.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
We're visiting with Sean Clifford. One of the most memorable
moments in the Bengal Super Bowl run in twenty twenty
one was the playoff game in Tennessee where Joe Burrow
got sacked nine times and the Bengals still won the game.
You did that in the state championship game for Saint
X back in twenty sixteen. Describe that season because it
was not a smooth ride for the Bombers.
Speaker 10 (23:11):
Yeah, very similar to this year. I think, you know,
the at least the opportunity. You know, we went five
and five in the regular season. Steve Speckck actually wrote
a book about that season. But when five and five,
I had injuries. We had injuries going into the season.
I think that we had five starters out by the
first week. So you know, it was a lot of
ups and downs, but put together some good wins in
(23:32):
the back end, made it into the playoffs, is a
very late seed, and then rode that momentum all the
way to the state championship. And I think that you know,
you in those situations, you know, I compare it, you
can compare it in every level.
Speaker 9 (23:45):
You know, you just got to find a way to
string together wins.
Speaker 10 (23:48):
But then once you get to the big dance and
it's one game at a time, anything can happen. So
I think that that's always been my mindset is you know,
a season's long, it's gonna be tough, and there's gonna
be ups and downs, but weathering that story and being
able to at least get to the final that you know,
that final show, then anybody can win every single week.
So it's just about putting putting enough together, you know,
(24:09):
because you're gonna face adversity. But if you can put
enough together to get to that point, then you can
catch a hot streak.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
From a state championship at Saint X, it was on
to Penn State, where you spent six years. Why did
you choose the Nittney Lions.
Speaker 10 (24:23):
It really came down to James Franklin and I hate
to see him go. It was tough to see him go,
for sure, and I know a lot of guys in
that locker room are still feeling that just because you know,
James was such a great guy, a family man, somebody
who really preached, you know, the same mantra similar to
Saint X men for others. You know, it was kind
(24:43):
of the same way at Penn State, and my mom
really fell in love with the idea of me going
to that school. Thank god she did, because I really,
you know, she she was a big proponent of going
to Penn State. Uh, staying committed the whole way through
committing early and staying committed. So I owe a lot
to my parents for kind of steering me in that direction.
I always loved Penn State, but once I got there,
(25:05):
it's around the people, you know, Pennsylvania. I really consider
Pennsylvania and Ohio to be the two spots that I
really love Midwest kid through and through.
Speaker 9 (25:14):
That's for sure.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
You were a Rose Bowl MVP and a win over Utah.
Was that the highlight of your time at Penn State
or was there something else?
Speaker 9 (25:21):
I think it's always gonna be a highlight.
Speaker 10 (25:22):
It's the last game whenever you can walk have have
a walk off where you really you know, I did
not expect it, but you know, we get a standing ovation.
I know it's not about one person, but I thought
that when I walked off the field at the Rose
Bowl and got that standing, Oh, it.
Speaker 9 (25:41):
Wasn't It wasn't about me for the for the moment.
Speaker 10 (25:44):
It was the village that it took of, all those
different people and all those teammates and captains that and
coaches that poured so much into me throughout my career
that you know, it really brought me to tears just
thinking about it, and it will always give me kind
of chill.
Speaker 9 (25:56):
So I think the Rose Bowl is one of them.
Speaker 10 (25:57):
And then you know, you can never kind of kind
the white out as well.
Speaker 9 (26:01):
You know, I think that.
Speaker 10 (26:02):
That unbiasedly, I've I've talked to a lot of guys
who have played in a lot of big games, and unbiasedly,
I think that everybody can say that the white out.
Speaker 9 (26:10):
Is a special moment, a special game.
Speaker 10 (26:13):
But between those those few games that I played that,
you know, Rose Bull's definitely up there as well.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
After a record setting career at Penn State, you were
a fifth round draft pick by the Green Bay Packers.
Describe your draft experience.
Speaker 9 (26:25):
It was a crazy one.
Speaker 10 (26:26):
I you know, I didn't get invited to the combine,
was counted out a bunch of different times. And then
as I kind of told my story through the draft
process the scouts and kind of worked my way up
to to to the the GM level and the coaches level,
I think that my story is all about heart and
will and what I can provide from a value perspective.
Speaker 9 (26:44):
To a team. And it's it's a day to day thing.
Speaker 10 (26:47):
You know, You're gonna get my best every single day,
doesn't matter. You know, if it's if it's a Monday
or Tuesday off day, or if it's game day. You know,
I'm gonna give it my all because I'm I always
like to think I'm an ulti competitor. You know, I
want to win as much as the next guy, and
I'll do whatever it takes for my teammates to be
able to get that done.
Speaker 9 (27:07):
I think that, you know, green Bay heard that. I
know that in the process.
Speaker 10 (27:11):
Cincinnati, you know, I was talking to brad Our, quarterback
coach as well, and he even reminded me that, you know,
they weren't taking a quarterback in the draft, but if
I did slip outside of the draft, you know, since
he was gonna try to be the first call that
they make to get me here. So I always appreciated them,
but Green Bay, you know, took that shot in the
fifth round. You know, I was able to back up
(27:31):
Jay Love for a couple of years, and I thought
that the bonds that I created in that locker room.
I have a lot of respect for how the Packers
run their organization. It's just a it's a it's a
well run show, and I think that it really helped
me early in my career to be able to see
how it's done. So that way, you know, I can
bring that that energy and that mindset into places like.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
This we're visiting with Sean Clifford. You join the Bengals
in September following Joe Burrow's injury, do all of your
Cincinnati friends and family members ask you what's Joe Burrow Like?
Speaker 10 (28:03):
I think it's it's both Joe's now, obviously, you know,
being in the in a room full of Joe's and
Jake uh, you know, we have three great minds in
that room that that all contribute in different ways. You know,
I think that Joe Burrow is somebody who has a
lot of experience early He's an elite, elite talent and
somebody who I've I it's funny if we we lost
(28:26):
the game into Minnesota my in twenty nineteen in a
in a very controversial game that I won't get into
because referees in my opinion, but if we win that game,
in which we should have, we actually would have played
Joe and the l and the LSU Tigers in in
the first week of that that playoff.
Speaker 9 (28:45):
So I've always seen him as a great competitor.
Speaker 10 (28:47):
I've seen him as somebody who you know, I have,
I have a lot of respect for, and so you know,
he provides so much value to that room.
Speaker 9 (28:56):
And then you add Joe Flacco in the mix.
Speaker 10 (28:58):
His experience and all the stories that he can tell
different looks and different players he's played with and how
to scheme certain ways. It truly is incredible to just
see the full picture and then you later and a
get a guy like Jake who's done such a good
job of backing up Joe and coming into big situations
and winning games. Very blessed to be a part of
this room, and I think it's competitive. I think it's exciting,
(29:20):
and someone that really pushes not only our room but
the players around us as well to be their best
version of the selves and really elevate the competition.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
Give us the quarterbacks perspective for what Flacco has been
able to do to come in under those circumstances and
play the way he has, I.
Speaker 10 (29:39):
Think it just it's incredible because I know you can
point to, Oh, it's tough to get the terminology, and
it's tough to just understand a game plan that quickly,
and you know, you take nothing away from that, but
the way that he goes out and executes I think is.
Speaker 9 (29:55):
The most impressive.
Speaker 10 (29:56):
It's so simple, the way he plays, but it's so
it's so intensely accurate. Every single throw is so intentional
when he's getting through his progression, it's so intentional.
Speaker 9 (30:09):
You know, he knows exactly where his checkdowns are.
Speaker 10 (30:12):
He knows, honestly, He's studied so quickly how our receivers
act between Jamar and t and the different nuances of
how to throw them the ball on different routes. And
I think it's been really cool as a young guy
coming into this, seeing his preparation and then turning that
preparation and really really making it into reality when the
game's hit and you're seeing that come full circle game
(30:35):
after game after game as he puts up big numbers.
Speaker 2 (30:37):
A few wildcard topics now for Bengals quarterback Sean Clifford,
Who is your all time favorite athlete in any sport
and why?
Speaker 10 (30:45):
I think Kobe is probably an old timer for me,
just because the mindset, the mentality, the mama mentality of
I think he was such a servant leader outside the community.
I think that he did a lot as you study
kind of his life and what he did with his family.
I think from a business perspective, he did so much
off the field that really really left a mark. From
(31:06):
a community perspective, he was always pouring back into kids,
and being able to to really give back to that community.
Speaker 9 (31:12):
But then when you turn.
Speaker 10 (31:13):
On the tape and you watch him in a game,
he turns into a complete nutter savage, And I think.
Speaker 9 (31:18):
That that's I think that there's time and place for
all that.
Speaker 10 (31:20):
You know, I think that you have to be an upstanding,
an upset and a citizen and a good man in
the community. And I always try to be that, especially
now being back in the community that gave me so much.
But really for a guy like that, you know, when
when when it's time to play ball, I think it.
You know, there is a switch that you can turn
on and it's okay to to kind of get aggressive
in that situation because you know, all that hard work
(31:42):
and dedication that you put in to be able to
to win and to you know, have the chance to win.
Speaker 9 (31:48):
It's it's it's.
Speaker 2 (31:50):
Meaningful aside from throwing a football. Tell us something you
do well.
Speaker 10 (31:55):
Oh, man, I you know, I do a lot of
business on the side.
Speaker 9 (31:58):
I really enjoy.
Speaker 10 (31:59):
Venture cap but I really enjoy private equity. I enjoy
the the nuances there. I really just have a mind
that loves to learn. You know, it doesn't really matter
what it is It's more just the fact of how
can I expand my perspective on on everything, because I
feel like everybody that comes into the locker room you
(32:20):
want to have different ways to connect, and different guys
are into different things.
Speaker 9 (32:24):
So I've always just been.
Speaker 10 (32:26):
An ultimate learner and and an ultimate question question asker
because I think that that's the best way to as
a quarterback, to be able to get to know your teammates,
especially in an interesting situation where you come in the
middle of the year.
Speaker 9 (32:38):
You still want to be able to lead, and.
Speaker 10 (32:40):
The best way to be able to lead is to
actually know the people around you and know what makes
them tick, knows know what makes them play well. And
that's through conversation, you know, at lunch tables in the
locker room. So I always like to just try to
to learn as much as I possibly can about a
bunch of different topics, so that way, if a guy
brings something up, I can I can hold a conversation.
Speaker 2 (33:01):
Penn State famously whears the most plain uniforms in college football,
perhaps all of sports. So bland that they're cool or
time for an update, Oh they're cool.
Speaker 10 (33:11):
I'm an old school type guy anyway, So I don't
think that they need any sort of update. I've always
appreciated the tradition and I think that you know, I
I grew up watching I wasn't a huge NFL guy
until I really started fall in love with the Bengals,
but I always appreciated watching college ball and specifically college players,
(33:32):
and I just always loved I followed a lot of
Nerdame traditional program, you know, with a lot of a
lot of good guys, good community guys.
Speaker 9 (33:41):
And I don't think.
Speaker 10 (33:42):
I I knew the importance of that when I was
just a kid.
Speaker 9 (33:45):
You know, you're just watching them, busy that they're on TV.
Speaker 10 (33:49):
But you know, I followed some some some great players
just because I was just attracted to the way that
they held themselves.
Speaker 9 (33:57):
And I think that you find that at Penn State.
I think you find that in Our Dame. You find
it at schools that are traditional. So to answer your question,
long story short, Yeah, I love the uniforms.
Speaker 8 (34:07):
All right.
Speaker 2 (34:07):
Final fun fact for Sean Clifford. This one's kind of deep.
If you could meet anybody in history, living or deceased,
who would that person be.
Speaker 10 (34:17):
You know, I'm a Christian man, and I think that
Jesus would be somebody who I'd love to meet. You know,
I think that it's he's the ultimate messenger and he's
the ultimate you know, warrior when it came to doing
good in this world. And I think that the conversations
that you know, I would have and will have one
day in my in my opinion, will be magical and
(34:39):
really life changing. So, you know, always trying to dive
into the word and finding different ways to talk to
him in different ways, but having an actual sit down conversation,
maybe over at dinner, it would be really cool.
Speaker 2 (34:51):
Sean, appreciate your time. It's great to have you on
your hometown team. Best of luck the rest of the year.
Thank you, who da that's going to do it for
this episode of the Bengals Boot podcast brought to you
by pay Core.
Speaker 8 (35:02):
Proud to be the Bengals.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
Official hr software provider, by Alta Fiber future proof fiber
Internet designed to elevate your home, business, and community to
a new level, and by Kettering Health the best care
for the best fans. Kettering Health is the official healthcare
provider of the Bengals. If you haven't done so already,
please subscribe to this podcast and if you have a minute,
(35:24):
give it a rating, or share a comment that helps
more Bengals fans find us. I'm Dan Hord and thanks
for listening to the Bengals Booth podcast
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