CINCINNATI – Carlton Davis was beyond mad.
That’s why the cornerback was happy when Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco targeted him on multiple plays late in the fourth quarter. For Davis, the Patriots’ win in Cincinnati came with a roller coaster of emotions.
At 4:50 of the fourth quarter, Davis was flagged for a 27-yard pass interference penalty while covering Bengals receiver Tee Higgins. It was a big moment in the game as Flacco threw a 17-yard touchdown on the next play to trim the Patriots’ lead to three points.
Davis was livid about the call and said it motivated him when the Bengals were closing in on winning the game in the final seconds.
“I don’t agree with that call at all,” Davis said. “It made me mad as (expletive). It was the fourth quarter, and I felt like I put my team in a bad position when it was a BS call, and now, they’re in field goal range and inside the red zone. Then we give up the touchdown, and I’m just mad about it because I understand the position and all what transpired since that (pass interference penalty).
“That (expletive) really lit a fire under me like I promise you I’m not going to let this game slip up from my hands.”
Davis stayed true to his words.
With the Patriots up six, the Bengals made one last charge. Flacco completed a 12-yard pass to Mitch Tinsley on fourth-and-8. Then, he hit Andrei Iosivas for a 19-yard gain at the 26-yard line with 47 seconds on the clock.
That’s when Davis got his chance to make amends.
After spiking the ball, Flacco targeted the cornerback on back-to-back plays on second and third down. Each time, Davis deflected the pass. He said he was grateful that Flacco targeted him with the game on the line.
“I appreciate it. I really do,” Davis said. “I don’t get too many targets, but that (expletive), for a corner, is kind of boring when you’re not getting targets. It keeps you on point when you’re getting targets and understanding the ball is coming my way. I was kind of happy like ‘Thank God, I can show what I’m doing.’”
Davis finished the win with a game-high three pass breakups.
“I want to be accountable for my team and I’m trying to get a W more than anything,” Davis said. “We had it in our hands, and I’m not going to let it slip up, even if they call a BS (pass interference) call, I’m going to go back to battle. They’re going to have to keep calling it because I’m going to put it all on the line.
“… It lit a fire under me. I didn’t want to be that guy. When you’re on an island, it’s just you out there. The whole team is depending on you, everybody is watching you. I was like, I got to step up right now and finish this game.”
That’s what Davis did.
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