Jessie Bates On Playoff Changes: 'There Should Have Been Some Type Of Neutral Site This Week'

CINCINNATI — Bengals safety Jessie Bates III appeared on The Pat McAfee Show Thursday with some thoughts on the site of Sunday's game.

"It's been loud as hell the last couple of weeks here so I think there should have been some type of neutral site this week," Bates said. "But I like Buffalo. I think it'll be a pretty cool atmosphere."

The Bengals are not getting another guaranteed home playoff game because of the cancelled week 17 contest against Buffalo. Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest rightfully shut that game's result out of the history books, while shutting Cincinnati out of the top-two AFC seeds.

Bates and the Bengals aren't worried about all of that as the safety turns up his play in January.

The secondary leader has posted 22 tackles (2 for loss), 2 pass breakups, 1 interception, and 1 fumble recovery over the last four games.

Another big showing could a long way toward slowing Josh Allen down.

He also has some more incentive from McAfee, who will donate $50,000 to Bates's annual Single Mother's Initiative if he snags an interception against the Bills.

We'll donate $50,000 to your foundation for an interception on Sunday @jlbiii3 💰💰#PMSLive #RuleTheJungle pic.twitter.com/8fUGYEAACe
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 19, 2023