‘We gave it our best shot, came up a little bit short;’ Bengals reflect on season

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals cleaned out their locker rooms at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati Monday following Sunday night’s 23-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.

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Bengal safety Michael Thomas says he has never experienced a better camaraderie in an NFL locker room than this season, according to our news partner WCPO in Cincinnati.

“Love these dudes; love this group,” said Thomas, who began his NFL career in 2013. “Special group. One of the best locker rooms I’ve ever been in 11 years playing in this league. It ain’t close. I just see everybody showing respect, paying respect cleaning out the locker room and whatnot and trying to figure out what’s next.”

Cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt closed his eyes Sunday night after the game and replayed the entire sequence of events, WCPO reported.

“It hasn’t set in,” Taylor-Britt said. “I try to stay off my phone because that’s all that’s on my phone.”

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Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor said the sting from Sunday’s loss may not subside anytime soon but remains proud of the effort’s all season.

“You immediately feel tired this morning because you’re always prepping yourself one more week, one more week,” Taylor said. “And coffee — whatever you got to do to keep yourself going, the excitement and then when it ends you just get sick for like two weeks. Everybody. And your body just shuts down. I’m sure that’s the point I’ll hit tomorrow.”

The Bengals started the season 4-4 before a 10-game winning streak, including the playoffs.

While there will be questions about who will be next season, Taylor said Monday was a time to reflect upon this season, WCPO.

“At the end of the day, I was proud of the way the team represented themselves on the field yesterday,” Taylor said. “We gave it our best shot, came up a little bit short, but you’re able to get on that plane with head held high and go into the offseason and have a chance to reflect back on some great things that happened this year.”

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AFC Championship - Cincinnati Bengals v Kansas City Chiefs KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 29: Joshua Williams #23 of the Kansas City Chiefs intercepts a pass against the Cincinnati Bengals during the fourth quarter in the AFC Championship Game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on January 29, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

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