Living on Burrowed time.
Quarterback Joe Burrow has shouted from the mountain tops to anyone that would listen several times this season how important Tee Higgins is to the Bengals team and how keeping the wide receiver in the fold should be at the top of the priority list this coming offseason.
That could not be more apparent after Saturday when Cincinnati’s faint playoff hopes were kept alive by a thread in large part because of the automatic Burrow-Higgins connection during a wild and crazy 30-24 win over Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos in overtime.
“Tough one to lose,” Denver coach Sean Payton said. “We had our opportunities. The will to compete and answer, it was pretty impressive. In the end, we didn’t make enough plays, and they did.”
Burrow hooked up with Higgins 11 times for 131 yards and three scores, including a 3-yard game-winner in overtime. Higgins came up clutch with big play after big play as his team fought relentlessly with their aspirations of a spot in the second season on life support.
The veteran receiver producing through pain after he was limited throughout the week in practice due to ankle and knee injuries was not lost on the Bengals.
“He’s a warrior,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor told the media after the game, according to WLWT-TV. “He’s fighting through a ton out there, just keeps winning those one-on-ones.”
Embed from Getty ImagesHiggins, in particular, torched his matchup against Broncos’ cornerback Riley Moss, whom he burned for seven receptions, 101 yards and two touchdowns, according to Next Gen Stats. Moss had missed three games himself because of injuries.
“Everybody can see what kind of player he is,” Burrow said. “He elevates us to a different level when he’s playing like that. Lucky to be a part of what we have going on right here.”
The Bengals needed everything they got from the tandem of Higgins and Burrow, who threw for 412 yards and three touchdowns on Saturday as Cincinnati dealt with a tough Broncos team and their own shortcomings in crunch time, something that has been plaguing the Bengals this season.
Multiple times it seemed like the Bengals had a win in hand. But questionable clock management and decision making, poor injury luck and a missed field goal nearly doomed them on Saturday.
“This one is one of the crazier ones that I’ve been a part of in the NFL,” Burrow said. “Feels like we’ve had a couple of those this year. Nice to come out on top in one.”
Saturday’s victory kept the Bengals’ playoff hopes alive. Cincinnati will be in with a win next week, plus another Broncos loss and at least one loss apiece by the Dolphins and Colts over the next two weeks.
It also ensures at least one more week of meaningful football for Higgins, who will be a free agent this offseason, in a Bengals uniform.
“Just walking into the stadium that’s what I was thinking,” Higgins said when asked if he had considered that could have been his final home game at Paycor Stadium. “It’s a possibility. You never know what happens in the future, but I was just able to — if it is — go out with a bang.”
Broncos: Finish the regular season at home against the AFC West champions Kansas City Chiefs. The day and time for the game have yet to be announced.
Bengals: Travel to Pittsburgh at a date and time still be determined. The Bengals lost to the Steelers in a shootout, 44-38, on December 1.
