Questionable Call Made Patriots Defender ‘Mad As (Expletive)’

Carlton Davis III disagreed with a questionable officiating decision in a big moment.

With 4:50 left in regulation, the Patriots cornerback was whistled for a defensive pass interference penalty on Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. Higgins, who was injured on the play after going to the ground hard, drew a 27-yard penalty for the Cincinnati offense.

The Bengals scored a 17-yard touchdown on the next play to cut New England’s two-possession lead to a mere field goal.

“That (expletive) was BS because he’s a bigger receiver, first and foremost, and he’s a physical receiver,” Davis told reporters after New England’s 26-20 victory at Paycor Stadium, per the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed.

“And if you ever just watch his film, when he’s on a go ball, he’s constantly trying to create slight separation. So I could turn around and play the ball, but once you turn around, that’s his (expletive). As soon as you turn around, he’ll give you a little nudge, and now you’re out of range of the ball. So I just played through the hands, he was tugging, tugging and I just — boom — played physical.”

Davis acknowledged he was in communication with officials throughout the game, but stressed he did not agree with that crunch-time call.

The veteran cornerback said it lit a fire under him on the next defense possession when he had three pass breakups. With the Patriots clutching to a six-point lead and needing to keep Joe Flacco and company out of the end zone, Davis broke up a second-and-10 attempt with 32 seconds left and third-and-10 pass attempt with 27 ticks remaining.

“That (expletive) made me mad as (expletive) because it was already (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 they’re inside the red zone,” Davis said in reference to the pass interference.

“And then we give up a touchdown, so I’m just mad about it because I’m understanding the position and what all transpired since that (penalty) And so, that (expletive) really just lit a fire under me. Like, I promise you I’m not going to let this game slip out of our hands.”

Given Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was responsible for a pick-six in the first half, New England’s defense allowed just 13 points and came up with a game-sealing stop when it needed to.