Tee Higgins' career game puts the Bengals in a position they can't afford to fumble
The season's on the line, and it's quite possibly the last time Tee Higgins will ever touch the ball in a Bengals uniform in Paycor Stadium. Higgins fumbled away his seventh reception of the night with 5:13 remaining in the fourth quarter. It could've been a horrific final moment for Bengals fans to witness with […]
The season's on the line, and it's quite possibly the last time Tee Higgins will ever touch the ball in a Bengals uniform in Paycor Stadium. Higgins fumbled away his seventh reception of the night with 5:13 remaining in the fourth quarter. It could've been a horrific final moment for Bengals fans to witness with him on their side.
It wasn't. Far from it.
Higgins made the final two plays of the Bengals' 30-24 victory over the Denver Broncos, keeping Cincinnati's life support plugged into the wall. His 31-yard sideline grab got the Bengals next to the end zone in overtime and his three-yard touchdown won the game. It was his 11th reception and third score of the evening.
"You're so f***ing good! Oh my God," exclaimed cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt to the 25-year old wideout as they jubilantly headed to the locker room to celebrate the team's fourth consecutive win.
Yes, he is very bleeping good. Only once before had Higgins caught 10 passes for 100 yards and found the end zone twice. Never before had he found it three times. Higgins is up to 69 receptions (nice), 856 yards, and a career-high 10 touchdowns in just 11 games played this year. A 17-game pace would have him on pace for 106 receptions, 1,323 yards, and 15 touchdowns on the year.
To make those plays in the most important game of the year is exactly why the Bengals have no choice but to make sure it won't be his final game in Cincinnati as a member of the team.
Bengals have no choice but to retain Tee Higgins in 2025
This game meant everything to Higgins, who grew up a Bengals fan and has been a fan favorite since he first emerged as a starter so many years ago. He was officially questionable to play with a knee injury, but that was only what the injury report said.
Head coach Zac Taylor told reporters that Higgins texted him in the beginning of the week after seeing what the offense's personnel would be if #5 couldn't suit up. He only needed two words.
"I'm playing."
The Bengals wouldn't have anything to play for next week if Higgins didn't play. If that doesn't matter when it comes time to make a decision on his future, nothing should.
Both Higgins and the front office went through this before last year. The club placed the franchise tag on him immediately and held out hope he'd lock in for the season. Their hope was restored, and the best version of Higgins has been on display in the 11 games he's been healthy enough to play.
When asked after the game if he's done enough to prove his worth to the decision makers upstairs, Higgins had another two-word quote to give.
"I hope."
There's really nothing more that Higgins can do at this point. The on-field part speaks for itself, but he put his financial future in the hands of the agency that represents Ja'Marr Chase. Negotiating contracts for both players may very well be easier for the club if they only have one medium to go through for each.
As far as money is concerned, there's reason to believe Higgins won't be looking to squeeze every last dollar out of the Bengals anyways if he truly values where is.
"I’m playing with if not the best, one of the best, QBs. I’m playing with if not the best, one of the best, WRs. That opens up things for me," Higgins told Aditi Kinkhabwala last week. “In this offense, everyone has a chance to be spotlighted.”
Even if they have place the franchise tag on him again to give them more time negotiating, the Bengals cannot afford to let Higgins leave in free agency this offseason. Too many times have they let franchise cornerstones walk for nothing. Too many times have they undervalued those players at the worst possible time.
Saturday night proved why Higgins needs to be here with Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase for the long run, if it wasn't already proven before.
Andrew Whitworth reveals how he would’ve handled Bengals’ dilemma with Tee Higgins, Ja’Marr Chase
The Bengals’ legend speaks on what Cincinnati should’ve done.
