CINCINNATI — Maybe the best thing to happen to Patriots cornerback Carlton Davis on Sunday was the pass interference penalty he drew in the fourth quarter.

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Matched up with Bengals receiver Tee Higgins deep down the right sideline, Davis dove to force an incompletion that resulted a 27-yard penalty and vaulted Cincinnati inside the red zone. One play later, the Bengals scored a touchdown to cut their deficit to three points.

“That s— was BS because (Higgins) is a bigger receiver, first and foremost, and he’s a physical receiver. And if you ever just watch his film, when he’s on a go ball, he’s constantly trying to create slight separation,” Davis said. “So I could turn around and play the ball, but … 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.”

Despite the penalty, Davis’ physicality didn’t stop. But the flags did.

Davis had three pass breakups on Cincinnati’s final drive, a 13-play series that resulted in a turnover on downs when Marcus Jones deflected a fourth-down pass intended for tight end Mike Gesicki in the final seconds. Pats coach Mike Vrabel praised Davis’ mental toughness after the game.

“To have that (penalty) called on you and then come over there and challenge and finish (the game),” Vrabel said, “is a testament to him.”

Davis and Jones recorded all five of the Patriots’ pass breakups Sunday, helping hold the Bengals to 13 offensive points. Jones also had a pick-six in the second quarter.

After the win, Davis explicitly said the flag motivated him to finish strong on Cincinnati’s final drive.

“That s— made me mad as f— 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. “And then we give up a touchdown. So I’m just mad about it because I’m understanding the position (we’re in), and what all transpired since that (penalty).

“And so, that s— really just lit a fire under me. Like, I promise you I’m not going to let this game slip out of our hands.”