Tee Higgins and Brinks truck are trending on social media after the Bengals’ 30-24 win over Denver, and that’s not a coincidence. Soon to be among the league’s most coveted free agents, Higgins caught a 3-yard Joe Burrow touchdown pass in overtime on Saturday to keep Cincinnati’s playoff hopes alive.
Higgins set up the game-winning catch with a spectacular, 31-yard reception on the prior play, a reception upheld after replay review. The fifth-year veteran, playing this season as the Bengals’ designated franchise player, caught a career-best three touchdowns among 11 receptions for 131 yards. Cincinnati (8-8) now needs to get help from other teams, win at Pittsburgh next week and hope Denver (9-7) loses to the Chiefs, who’ll likely rest starters after clinching the AFC’s No. 1 seed on Christmas Day.
For one night, though, Higgins could appreciate what could be his final home game in Cincinnati and appreciate his quarterback.
“Shout out to Joe,” Higgins said. “I wouldn’t have none of that without him, and the O-line … We’ve seen the type of coverage they were giving us; it was a lot of one-on-one, a lot of man-on-man. So, that’s what we strive at. Joe was able to put the ball in perfect placements for me, and I was able to make a play on it.”
Burrow was 39 of 49 for 412 yards, no interceptions and the three touchdowns to Higgins. The quarterback also broke free on a key, 19-yard run earlier in the game and scored on a 1-yard go-ahead touchdown with 1:29 left in regulation. Having the best season of his career, Burrow extended his NFL record to eight consecutive games with at least 250 passing yards and three-plus touchdown passes. And, when Cincinnati needed him most in overtime, he was 7 of 8 for 97 yards and a touchdown pass.
In one of the season’s most dramatic games, Cincinnati survived an unbelievable Bo Nix touchdown pass late in regulation. Facing fourth-and-1 with Denver down 24-17 and 14 seconds left, Nix evaded pressure rolling to his right and fired a 25-yard touchdown to Marvin Mims, who high-pointed the ball through two defenders and maintained control through the ground. On the prior possession, Burrow scored his touchdown with 1:29 on the clock, leaving Nix and the Broncos plenty of time with a timeout in their pocket.
After Nix’s touchdown pass, Sean Payton initially kept his offense on the field, pondering a two-point conversion while replay review upheld the catch. He ultimately opted for the game-tying extra point to send the contest to overtime. Cincinnati won the toss and wound up with three possessions during the extra period. Before Burrow and Higgins ended the game, the Bengals stalled on their first overtime drive before Cade York hit the left upright on a 33-yard field-goal attempt with 2:49 left.
But the Bengals’ defense answered by holding the Broncos to three-and-out, setting up Burrow’s game-winning drive.
Denver might have the last word, still very much alive for the final AFC playoff berth. The Broncos need to win at home against the Chiefs, who may start backup Carson Wentz at quarterback. Earlier on Saturday, the Chargers (10-6) became the sixth AFC team to clinch a postseason reservation. On Sunday, Indianapolis (7-8) needs to stay alive by winning on the road against the Giants (2-13), and Miami (7-8) needs to stay alive by winning on the road against the Browns (3-12).
For more information on the Bengals and Broncos, visit the Cincinnati and Denver team pages at ProFootballPost.com.
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