After clutch win, Bengals extol 'warrior' Higgins' 3-TD heroics - ESPN

CINCINNATI — Tee Higgins knew what Saturday night represented for him and the Cincinnati Bengals.

With his contract up after this season, the wide receiver understood that the matchup against the Denver Broncos could have been his final home game with the team that drafted him. He also knew that Cincinnati needed to win to keep its playoff hopes alive.

On top of all of that, Higgins was dealing with an ankle and knee injury. So at the beginning of the week, Higgins sent coach Zac Taylor a brief text message during a team meeting that set the tone for the rest of the week: «I'm playing.»

With the season on the line, Higgins turned in a career performance. He had the winning touchdown that sealed a 30-24 overtime victory over the Denver Broncos, which keeps Cincinnati in postseason contention entering Week 18.

«I hope not, but that could have been my last game in the [Bengals] stripes here,» Higgins said afterward. «This game, it meant a lot more to me coming into it. Definitely a surreal feeling.»

His line on the night: 11 catches on 12 targets for 131 yards and three touchdowns, his most in his five seasons in the NFL.

He also ensured that the Bengals (8-8) avoided a gutting loss.

Cincinnati had two chances to win. First, the Bengals allowed a tying score with :08 left in regulation when Denver quarterback Bo Nix threw a 25-yard touchdown on fourth-and-1 to Marvin Mims, who made the catch despite being sandwiched between two defenders. Then, in overtime, kicker Cade York smacked a potential 33-yard winning field goal off the left upright, extending the game further.

After Cincinnati's defense forced a three-and-out, Higgins made sure the Bengals wrapped the game up for good. With 1:14 left, he caught a 31-yard pass that