[Press Conference Transcript - Joe Burrow]

 

Joe Burrow: *takes a deep breath* Good afternoon, everyone. I guess it's time for me to address the elephant in the room, or should I say, the whole herd of elephants wearing striped jerseys. First and foremost, let me start by saying that I am proud of my team's performance today, despite the obvious uphill battle we faced against the Detroit Lions and the biased officiating we endured.

 

Now, I'm not one to complain about referees' calls, but it's impossible to ignore the glaring discrepancy in the number of favorable calls that went the Lions' way. I mean, it was like we were playing against a team of angels while we were branded as sinners from the very beginning. I'd like to think that the zebras wear black and white for a reason, but today, it seemed they only cared about one side.

 

But let's put that aside for a moment because the real stars of today's game were our offensive line, especially the unsung hero, Jaxon Kirkland. That man deserves a statue outside our stadium for the way he dominated the trenches. Our O-line opened up holes big enough for a truck to pass through, and Damien Pierce, oh boy, he ran like a freight train through those holes!

 

It was old-school football at its finest – power running, smash-mouth football. The kind of football that legends are made of. Damien Pierce carried this team on his back, bulldozing his way through the Lions' defense, refusing to be brought down. I tip my hat to him, the real engine that powered our victory today.

 

Now, let's talk about the late hit. I'm a competitor, just like everyone else on that field. I understand the physicality of the game, and I respect it. But there's a line that should never be crossed, and I believe Aiden Hutchinson crossed that line today. He took a cheap shot at me, and I admit, I let my emotions get the best of me.

 

I retaliated, and I got penalized for it, fair enough. But where was the consistency? I've seen similar hits go uncalled against our players throughout the game. It's frustrating, to say the least. We expect the same level of protection for our players, just like they do for theirs.

 

In the end, we showed resilience and determination. We overcame not only a tough opponent but also the questionable officiating. We came out on top because we're fighters, and we played as a team, supporting one another.

 

So, let's not allow this incident to overshadow the hard work and effort put in by everyone on the Bengals' roster. We proved today that we're more than capable of rising above adversity and emerging victorious. It's a testament to the character of this team and our unwavering commitment to success.

 

Thank you all for being here today, and I'm looking forward to moving past this incident and focusing on our upcoming games. Go Bengals!