Tee Higgins’ Late TD Reception Keeps Bengals’ Playoff Hopes Alive
Tee Higgins’ clutch touchdown in overtime secures a vital win for the Bengals, keeping their playoff dreams alive against the Broncos.
Cincinnati, Bengals, Tee Higgins, Denver, NFL, Playoffs
Cincinnati: The Bengals really pulled off a nail-biter today. They needed this win, and boy, did they get it in dramatic fashion. Now, they’re still in the playoff race, but they’ll need another win and some help to keep the season going.
In a thrilling overtime match, Cincinnati beat Denver 30-24, preventing the Broncos from clinching the last AFC playoff spot. The Bengals improved to 8-8, while the Broncos dropped to 9-7.
Denver can still secure their spot next week if they beat the Chiefs, who have already locked in the AFC West title and the top seed.
Despite a missed 33-yard field goal by Cade York late in overtime, the Bengals managed to regain possession when the Broncos went three-and-out. That was a huge moment!
With just over a minute left, Tee Higgins made a fantastic catch, bringing the ball to the 3-yard line. After a review confirmed he was in bounds, he caught the game-winning touchdown pass from Joe Burrow.
Higgins had an impressive game, catching 11 passes for 131 yards and three touchdowns. He was definitely a key player today.
Earlier, the Bengals thought they had it wrapped up when Burrow scored a 1-yard touchdown with just over a minute left in regulation. But a tough break happened when Chase Brown got hurt, allowing the Broncos to keep their final timeout.
Then, Denver’s Bo Nix led a quick drive, and Marvin Mims caught a 25-yard touchdown pass to tie the game with just eight seconds left. It was a close call, but the replay upheld the touchdown.
Initially, the Broncos wanted to go for two points to win, but they opted for the extra point instead, sending the game into overtime.
In overtime, the Bengals won the coin toss but struggled to gain yards and had to punt. The Broncos couldn’t capitalize, going three-and-out, which gave the Bengals another chance.
Cincinnati drove down the field but missed a field goal. However, they didn’t let that stop them. When they got the ball back, Burrow and Higgins took charge, leading to the winning touchdown.
The Bengals had a strong game overall, outgaining the Broncos 499 to 329 and not punting until overtime. Burrow was on fire, completing 39 of 49 passes for 412 yards and three touchdowns. Ja’Marr Chase also had a solid game with nine catches for 102 yards.
On the other side, Nix threw for 219 yards with three touchdowns but also had an interception. Mims was a standout for the Broncos, catching eight passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns.
Despite the loss, the Broncos’ defense was tough, sacking Burrow seven times. Germaine Pratt made a crucial interception for the Bengals late in the game, which was a game-changer.