Bengals' Mixon: I should've pushed to enter final drive of Super Bowl

Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon wishes he made the call to enter the final drive of Super Bowl LVI.

Mixon was on the sideline during the Bengals' final plays of their 23-20 Super Bowl loss to the Los Angeles Rams, as Samaje Perine closed out the game. Perine was stopped on a third-and-1 attempt before Joe Burrow's incomplete pass to the running back on fourth down sealed the loss.

"It was just a 'caught-up-in-the-moment' thing," Mixon said Friday, according to Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer. "I really should have taken initiative on myself and just been like, 'Hey, I'm coming in.' But you know, it was the heat of the moment."

Despite his regrets, Mixon says his attention is centered on being in the right place if the situation arises again.

"We're trying to go ahead and do whatever we can to repeat and get back in that same situation. And when we are in that situation, damn sure you know I'll be in," Mixon said.

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, who faced criticism for the move in the aftermath of the loss, said Saturday he understands Mixon's perspective.

"You absolutely should feel passionate about that situation," Taylor told reporters, including ESPN's Ben Baby. "He's handled it outstanding. That's much appreciated. He knows that. It's one of the reasons you want to get back to those moments."

Mixon had the best season of his career in 2021, rushing for a personal best 1,205 yards and 13 touchdowns.

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