B.J. Hill Dives Into Why He Stood Up For Joseph Ossai After AFC Championship Loss

Cincinnati fell just short of another trip to the Super Bowl.

Author:
Russ Heltman
Publish date:
Feb 1, 2023 7:58 AM EST

In this story:

CINCINNATI — The 23-20 AFC Championship loss to Kansas City came down to more than one play, and B.J. Hill wanted to make that clear when he stood alongside Joseph Ossai in the postgame locker room.

Hill discussed the situation with the 33rd Team this week.

"I just knew he needed somebody beside him right there," Hill said. "He played his butt off the whole entire game. He just felt like this whole game was on him. It really wasn't. I felt like I should have made a play. The same play I should've gotten the sack. I missed it. He got out, scrambled. It wasn't all him. I just know he needed somebody to step up. Be a leader. Somebody to be there for him. I was that guy. I knew right when the media came in, who they were going to target and I was like, 'that ain't happening on my watch.'"

The Bengals' defensive tackle got held on the game-changing play, as confirmed by CBS rules analyst Gene Steratore.

He couldn't reach Mahomes because of it on that late-game third down, and the quarterback scrambled away. Ossai hit him as he exited the playing field, and the ensuing 15-yard penalty essentially ended the game.

"I just wanted to be there for him," Hill continued. "Let him know that I care about him. He's gonna make big plays for us next year, he made big plays this year, had a great season, and we're going to need him in these coming years.

"He's a young player. He has so much potential. He grew so much during the year and got so much better as the year went on. And I just told him, 'keep on practicing. Keep on working. You don't always have to have the 'C' on your chest to be a captain or a leader."

Hill is under contract for two more seasons as one of Cincinnati's top defensive linemen.

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