Mistakes happen, even to professional football players. Unfortunately for Joseph Ossai, he’s going to have to live with this one for a very long offseason.
In the AFC Championship Game, the Kansas City Chiefs bested the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 after a late field goal from Harrison Butker sealed the deal for the home team. The reason the Chiefs were able to get into field goal range so late in the game? An unnecessary roughness penalty was called on Ossai for hitting Patrick Mahomes out of bounds, giving the Chiefs an easy 45-yard field goal thanks to the extra yardage.
It was a very bad penalty to take and one that ended up costing the Bengals dearly.
A POTENTIALLY SEASON-ENDING, AFC TITLE-DECIDING LATE HIT, JOSEPH OSSAI WHAT ARE YOU DOING??? pic.twitter.com/Qvq6nsTbjj
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) January 30, 2023
Ossai was visibly shaken on the sidelines after the game and was seen being comforted by teammates as the reality of the moment sunk in on him.
Joseph Ossai is SHOOK 😭#CINatKC pic.twitter.com/bu9Kahmez6
— Tim and Friends (@timandfriends) January 30, 2023
Yes, the penalty was a real bad one by Ossai. Even though the Chiefs won the game off the extra yardage they earned from the penalty, the Bengals had numerous chances to put the game away themselves but didn’t. While a tough play, the loss isn’t all on Ossai’s hands here.
NFL fans showered Ossai with all of the love after his tough penalty led to the Bengals’ playoff exit.
NFL fans showered Joseph Ossai with love after his late hit ended the Bengals season
feel for ossai. that’s an awful way to end your season.
— charles (parodied) mcdonald (@FourVerts) January 30, 2023
I feel for Ossai, man. He looks just truly devastated.
I hope the people around him hold him up tonight.
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) January 30, 2023
Man I feel for Joseph Ossai, that’s a dumb penalty, but you can see how gutted he is on the bench right now
— Tate Frazier (@tatefrazier) January 30, 2023
Ossai is breaking my heart
— Sarah Spain (@SarahSpain) January 30, 2023
Stop showing Ossai. He effed up. He feels horrible. Leave it.
— Elle Duncan (@elleduncanESPN) January 30, 2023
Joseph Ossai’s an awesome young player who played an excellent game. The #Bengals didn’t lose this game because of him. Get that nonsense out of here.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) January 30, 2023
That video of Joseph Ossai sobbing on the sideline will stick with me as much as anything I saw today. Every single person makes a mistake every single day. Can you imagine that one being yours?
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) January 30, 2023
I feel so bad for Joseph Ossai. He’s played an unbelievable game, but goes a little too hard and absolutely everything goes wrong.
— Shehan Jeyarajah (@ShehanJeyarajah) January 30, 2023
I feel Terrible for Ossai ! Awful man
— Marcus Spears (@mspears96) January 30, 2023
Poor Joseph Ossai. You’re playing at your emotional max, you’re going so hard, you’re desperate, and you screw up. Sports can be real cruel.
— Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) January 30, 2023
Joseph Ossai played one helluva game. It reminds me of the Ernest Byner fumble against Denver. Byner played one amazing game and was remembered only for one play. I fear it will be that way for Ossai too.
— Joe Posnanski (@JPosnanski) January 30, 2023
My heart breaks for Joseph Ossai
— Nico (@elitetakes_) January 30, 2023
