Just like they drew it up. Half an hour prior.
The Cincinnati Bengals won Saturday evening’s game against the Denver Broncos in walk-off fashion on a play they drew up during the third quarter, NFL insider Ian Rapoport reports.
“From my understanding, this, actually, was not in the Bengals playbook — they didn’t have it, they ran out of low red-zone plays,” Rapoport said on NFL Network. “So, in the third quarter, right after the field goal, Dan Pitcher, the [offensive coordinator], Joe Burrow and the receivers got together, drew up this play [and it] ended up resulting in the game-winning touchdown.”
The play, which came with just about one minute remaining in overtime, featured Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase lining up in the slot and running a slant route while teammate Tee Higgins, lined up on the outside, ran a quick out to the front left corner of the end zone.
Denver blitzed on the play, leaving both Chase and Higgins one-on-one; Burrow, who had already connected with Higgins for two touchdowns on the day, looked in the fifth-year wideout’s direction once more.
The Pro Bowl quarterback delivered in perfect timing and through a razor tight window. Higgins secured the pigskin, tapped two toes down in the end zone and the Bengals took home their eighth win of the season.
With the win, playoff hopes remain. Slim though they may be.
Burrow finished the contest with four total touchdowns and 412 yards passing. Higgins hauled in 11 receptions for 131 yards and three touchdowns.
It was a monstrous performance, made all the more impressive considering the 25-year-old had been dealing with injuries to his ankle and knee in the days leading up to the game.
Higgins, for his part, was never going to be held to the sideline.
At the beginning of the week he had texted Bengals’ head coach Zac Taylor, “I’m playing,” ESPN reports.
“Everybody can see what kind of player he is,” Burrow said of the star wideout. “He elevates us to a different level when he’s playing like that.”
Denver, with a win, could have clinched their first playoff berth since 2015-16 — a season which culminated with Peyton Manning and company downing the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50.
Now 9-7 on the year, the Broncos still control their own destiny. With a win over a Chiefs team that could be resting Patrick Mahomes in Week 18, they’re in.
With a loss, the door for Burrow, Higgins and company widens ever so slightly.
