The Week 13 “Monday Night Football” showdown between the Cincinnati Bengals and Jacksonville Jaguars ended on an away goal. Before that, it was a duel between two reserve midfielders.
Although Evan McPherson scored the winning goal for the Bengals, it was rookie quarterback Jake Browning who was the joke of the week at the conclusion of the game.
Browning’s honesty tops the best Week 13 quotes from around the NFL.
Bengals QB Jake Browning
Browning started just his second game since taking over in Cincinnati, leading the Joe Burrow-less Bengals to a dramatic overtime win on the road against the Jaguars. Browning kept things honest in his postgame on-field interview:
“It’s been a long time since I won a game.”
Bengals’ QB Jake Browning: 32 of 37 passing, 354 yards, two total touchdowns.
And his first win in the NFL. “It’s been a long time since I won a match,” he said. @saltersl.
– Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 5, 2023
The Chiefs’ 27-19 loss to the Green Bay Packers came with a controversial no-call in the final moments.
Patrick Mahomes tipped it in for Valdes Scantling with 49 seconds left, but the pass was broken up by Packers defensive back Carrington Valentine. The Kansas City sideline called a pass interference penalty that would have put the Chiefs on the Green Bay 10-yard line. The umpires did not throw the flag and the leaders failed to tie it.
Valdes Scantling asked the referee for an explanation after the match, but to no avail.
“He didn’t even acknowledge me.“
The Steelers’ offense mustered just 10 points against the Arizona Cardinals, who had given up eight of their last nine heading into Week 13. When asked if Pittsburgh let an opportunity go to waste against Arizona’s third-worst rushing defense in the league, Warren had a clear response. .
“I didn’t know they were third, but yeah, I think we take them more seriously – lighter than we should.“
A rematch of last season’s NFC Championship game brought fireworks on and off the field.
Five and a half minutes into the third quarter, 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw and Philadelphia Eagles head of security Dom DeSandro were ejected after a sideline altercation. Shanahan didn’t mince words when thinking about what had happened.
“I can’t believe that someone who’s not involved in a football match could mock our players like that and put his hands in our guys’ faces.”
Kyle Shanahan didn’t back down from the altercation between Dre Greenlaw and an Eagles employee 😳 pic.twitter.com/eCREAJNIvd
– ESPN (espn) December 4, 2023
It wasn’t a very offensive showing in Foxborough, as both the Los Angeles Chargers and Patriots didn’t score any touchdowns. New England now has six scoreless innings this season — the most in any season under Belichick — according to ESPN Stats & Information.
The Patriots have collected only 14 points in their past three games. They also became the first team since the 1938 Chicago Cardinals to allow 10 or fewer points in three straight games and still lose them all.
Belichick kept it simple when asked if he was surprised by the offense’s lack of production.
“I don’t know.”
The Leaders’ fourth straight loss included McLaurin’s first. The Pro Bowler finished with no receptions for the first time in his career and scored just three touchdowns in the game.
McLaurin’s reflection on his performance is something to relate to.
“I did a lot of cardio.”
