As if it wasn’t any surprise, Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor awarded the game ball from the team’s 19-16 victory to rookie kicker, Evan McPherson. The rookie knocked through five total kicks including the game-winner from 52 yards out, so yeah — I’d say he deserves the game ball.
Taylor mentioned this during his postgame press conference and gave us plenty of quotes following the victory over the Titans in the divisional round. Cincinnati will advance to the AFC Championship Game for the first time since 1988 and did so in the most dramatic way possible.
Taylor kicked things off by mentioning that there’s no moment too big for his team.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor: "This is the expectation for this team. It's not too big for these guys."
— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) January 23, 2022
Clearly, that’s shone through. This team is unphased by everything that’s been thrown at them and that was proven once again on Saturday when they were two minutes away from a potential Titans game-winning kick but instead, Logan Wilson picked off Ryan Tannehill and set the Bengals up to win the game.
Taylor spoke about Wilson and how he always seems to come up with a big play to bail this team out of situations.
Zac Taylor: Logan Wilson has a knack for finding the ball. He's done it all year. He's a heckuva linebacker.
— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) January 23, 2022
Taylor said McPherson had ice in his veins and, like his team, no moment was too big for the rookie kicker out of Florida.
Zac Taylor on Evan McPherson: “He’s got ice in his veins. The moment’s never too big for him.” #Bengals
— Joe Danneman (@FOX19Joe) January 23, 2022
Evan McPherson gets the game ball from Zac Taylor
McPherson spoke to the media after Taylor and said he simply did his job.
Evan McPherson: "I just went out there and did my job." #Bengals
— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) January 23, 2022
For some of us, doing our jobs isn’t all that difficult. For McPherson, this moment of his job couldn’t have been a calm moment for him, as the game was on the line. The Bengals’ first trip to the AFC title game since ’88 was on the line. So much was on the line but McPherson didn’t care. He nailed that 52-yarder and left no doubt.
Bengals K Evan McPherson said it wasn't really hard to stay cool with the game on the line: "It's my job to stay cool, calm and collected in moments like this."
— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) January 23, 2022
Not only did McPherson have a lax attitude about the moment, but the guy actually welcomes these kinds of moments. He said it was his dream to have the game on his shoulders.
Evan: "That's a kicker's dream to have the game on your shoulders." #Bengals
— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) January 23, 2022
Somehow, someway, the Cincinnati Bengals find a way to win games and they did so once again, thanks to the leg of McPherson. He definitely deserves the game ball.
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Onto the AFC Championship Game!