Mac Jones Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Mac Jones should keep quiet about 'fairly tough' Bengals defense

By Michael C. Davenport | Last updated 12/20/22

As the Bengals prepare for a game at New England on Christmas Eve, Patriots QB Mac Jones should probably keep his thoughts about Cincinnati's defense to himself.

On his "Let’s Go!" podcast last week, Tampa Bay QB Tom Brady said the Bengals had a “fairly tough defense.” On Sunday, that same defense tormented him, recovering two Brady fumbles and intercepting him twice during Cincinnati's 34-23 win.

That so-called decent defense let the future Hall of Fame QB know about it afterward. No stranger to controversy, cornerback Eli Apple yelled as he ran to the locker room and called “old man” Brady “OK” in a postgame interview.

Eli Apple and BJ Hill with a couple messages for Tom Brady. Hill obviously heard the “fairly tough” comment this week. pic.twitter.com/6CGe9FbZ6L
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) December 19, 2022

The #Bengals locker room thanking Tom Brady for that bulletin board material this week...@EliApple - "He was fairly okay, but not good enough to win." pic.twitter.com/k34zEBxefL
— Olivia Ray (@OliviaRayTV) December 19, 2022

Apple and defensive tackle BJ Hill's responses were just the tip of the iceberg. Brady’s remark clearly echoed in the minds of the entire Cincinnati defense.

I think I just heard the phrase “fairly tough” used 73 times in the Bengals defensive locker room.

Yeah, that comment struck a chord.
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) December 19, 2022

In what may be his only game against Brady, Joe Burrow credited the defense and special teams for the win.

“Defense and special teams won us the game today.”

After the @Bengals 17-point comeback win against the Bucs, Burrow gave credit to the rest of his team.

@tracywolfson pic.twitter.com/CY1Nwhv4yy
— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) December 19, 2022

As Brady and Tampa Bay fade, the Bengals (10-4) continue to grow. The offense ranks 10th in yards per game. The improving defense ranks 16th in yards allowed per game.

With the playoffs approaching, the Bengals look like their in prime shape to make another run to the Super Bowl.

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