Thanks to quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Tee Higgins, the Cincinnati Bengals’ playoff hopes are still alive.
In a must-win game against the Denver Broncos in Week 17, the tandem connected 11 times for 131 yards and three touchdowns, including an overtime game-winner. And three and a half hours after the game’s opening kickoff, the Bengals took down the Broncos 30-24.
The Bengals are 8-8 after the win and now hold the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Broncos.
Cincinnati’s win was massive for not only the Bengals, but the Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins as well. All three teams needed the Broncos to lose to stay alive in the AFC playoff race.
Denver will head home in Week 18 needing a win over the Kansas City Chiefs to clinch its first postseason berth since 2015. Should they lose, a Bengals road win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 18 would push Cincinnati into the AFC’s final playoff spot and leave the Broncos on the outside looking in.
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Here’s how the full story of how the Bengals pulled off the overtime win at home:
Bengals-Broncos highlights
Tee Higgins scores game-winning touchdown
The Bengals’ playoff hopes are still alive thanks to Higgins’ third touchdown catch of the day.
Denver wasn’t able to score on its first or second overtime possessions, and the Bengals put together a five-play, 63-yard touchdown drive to win the game after their missed field goal.
Joe Burrow found his wideout in the front-left corner of the end zone for a three-yard touchdown pass, and Higgins pulled it in to win the game.
Cade York doinks upright on game-winning FG attempt
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor opted to try a 33-yard field goal attempt for the win on a third-down play on the Denver 15.
York, who has been filling in for the injured Evan McPherson, pushed his game-winning field goal attempt to the left. It bounced off of the left upright and harmlessly back onto the field.
Denver takes back possession on its own 23-yard line and 2:43 left to play in overtime. The Broncos advance to the playoffs with a win or tie.
Bengals go scoreless to open overtime
Cincinnati gained 17 yards on five plays before punting the ball away to begin overtime. As a result, for the remaining 6:43 of the period, whichever team scores first will win.
Denver took over on its own 10-yard line after Bengals punter Ryan Rehkow’s good punt.
End of regulation: Broncos 24, Bengals 24
This game is headed to overtime after Cincinnati kneeled out the final eight seconds of regulation.
The Bengals won the coin toss and elected to receive the ball to start overtime.
Marvin Mims hauls in touchdown pass in final seconds
Mims pulled down a contested catch on a 25-yard pass from Bo Nix on fourth down. The play and ensuing PAT tied the game for the Broncos with just eight seconds left to play.
It capped off a seven-play, 70-yard touchdown drive in under 90 seconds to tie the game after the Bengals’ late score.
The game is tied, 24-24, with eight seconds left in the fourth quarter.
Joe Burrow puts Cincinnati ahead with one-yard rush
Following Chase Brown’s slide, the Bengals needed only one more play to score a touchdown. Burrow took the ball across the goal line with a tush-push play from Denver’s 1-yard line.
It’s 24-17 Bengals with 1:29 left in the game. The Broncos will take over possession with the ensuing kickoff and have one timeout remaining.
Chase Brown injured on slide attempt
The Bengals’ running back slid short of the end zone to try to kill more clock for his team, but he fell awkwardly during the attempt. Brown remained down on the ground and needed medical attention before he was able to walk off the field under his own power.
Germaine Pratt picks off Bo Nix, then Ja’Marr Chase picks up 38
With Denver facing a third-and-15 outside of field goal territory, the Bengals’ linebacker undercut a throw from Nix to come away with the interception.
Cincinnati took over on its own 41 with 2:30 left. One play later, Chase took a pass from Joe Burrow down to the Denver 21.
It’s 17-17 at the two-minute warning, and the Bengals have a first-and-10 just outside the red zone.
Tee Higgins’ fumble gives Denver the ball back
With just over five minutes left, Higgins appeared to catch a pass from Joe Burrow before fumbling. The play was called an incomplete pass on the field, but Broncos head coach Sean Payton challenged the call.
After a review, the call was reversed. The Broncos take over at their own 40-yard line with 5:08 left in the game and a chance to take the lead.
Bo Nix hits Marvin Mims Jr. on 51-yard touchdown heave
Nix showed off his arm talent when he stepped into a 51-yard pass that traveled 67 yards in the air. It was the longest pass by air yardage in the NFL all season.
Mims got past the two Bengals defenders deep downfield and pulled in Nix’s toss for a game-tying touchdown.
Five plays and 75 yards after Tee Higgins’ go-ahead touchdown, the Broncos have tied the game at 17 with 8:48 remaining.
Tee Higgins puts the Bengals on top yet again
Just a couple of possessions after Higgins’ first touchdown gave the Bengals their first lead, he scored a second one to put his team back in front again.
This time, it was a 12-yard pass from Joe Burrow that Higgins hauled in for the score. With Cade York’s PAT good, it’s now 17-10 Cincinnati with 11:33 left in the game.
End of third quarter: Broncos 10, Bengals 10
This game, which has some big playoff implications for both teams, is tied after 45 minutes of action.
The Bengals will start the fourth quarter with the ball on Denver’s 36-yard line. Cincinnati will continue its possession with a first-and-10 to open the final 15 minutes of play.
Broncos’ Courtland Sutton ties the game
Broncos quarterback Bo Nix found Sutton in the back corner of the end zone for a six-yard connection and the touchdown.
The nice throw and catch (and ensuing PAT) drew Denver even with Cincinnati. It’s 10-10 with 3:10 left in the third quarter.
Cade York extends Bengals’ lead to open second half
Cincinnati’s first drive of the third quarter ended on Denver’s 3-yard line. This time, head coach Zac Taylor opted to take the points rather than go for it on another fourth down.
York’s 22-yard field goal gave the Bengals a 10-3 lead with 9:07 left in the third quarter.
Halftime: Bengals 7, Broncos 3
The Broncos weren’t able to get anything done on offense after giving up the game’s first touchdown.
Entering the second half, the Bengals will receive the kickoff with a chance to extend their lead.
Tee Higgins gives the Bengals their first lead
Higgins’ two-yard touchdown reception was also quarterback Joe Burrow’s 40th touchdown pass of the season. It gave Cincinnati its first lead of the game with under two minutes to play in the first half.
It’s now 7-3 Bengals with 1:49 to go in the second quarter.
Broncos stand tall on goal line
Cincinnati had four tries at the end zone from the 1-yard line after a defensive pass interference call on Denver cornerback Riley Moss.
But the Broncos can smell the postseason — if they win this game, they’re in — and stuffed the Bengals on four consecutive plays, including a fourth-down sack of quarterback Joe Burrow to force a turnover on downs.
Denver takes over on its own 5-yard line with 6:18 left in the first half.
End of first quarter: Broncos 3, Bengals 0
The Broncos had to punt it away on their second possession, and the Bengals will have the ball on their own 39-yard line for a first-and-10 play when the second quarter begins.
Denver kicker Will Lutz’s 30-yard field goal is still the lone difference in this game.
Broncos force turnover on downs
Playing in a must-win game to keep their playoff hopes alive, the Bengals went for it on fourth-and-1 on the Denver 22-yard line, just outside of the red zone.
Linebacker Nik Bonitto stopped Cincinnati running back Chase Brown at the line of scrimmage, and now the Broncos will take over in their own territory with 4:23 left in the first quarter. Denver still leads 3-0.
Wil Lutz opens the scoring for Denver
The Broncos’ first drive of the game stalled after 10 plays and 58 yards, leaving Denver at the Bengals’ 12-yard line on fourth down.
Lutz knocked through a 30-yard field goal to give the Broncos a 3-0 lead with 9:45 left to play in the first quarter.
Bengals vs. Broncos start time
Date: Saturday, December 28, 2024
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
The Bengals and Broncos game will continue the Week 17 tripleheader on Saturday of the 2024 NFL season at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Bengals vs. Broncos TV Channel
Cable TV: NFL Network
Bengals vs. Broncos weather updates
It’s going to be a mild evening in December in the Queen City. According to the AccuWeather forecast, it will be near 60 degrees at kickoff. There’s a chance of rain with wind gusts maxing out at 16 mph. There’s a 50% chance of rain at kickoff increasing closer to 70% at 7 PM.
What needs to happen for Bengals to make playoffs?
The Bengals need four things to happen to make the playoffs. They are as follows:
The Bengals must win their final two games;
The Denver Broncos must lose their final two games;
The Indianapolis Colts must lose or tie one of their final two games;
The Miami Dolphins must lose or tie one of their final two games.
Bengals vs. Broncos picks, predictions
Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports staff feels the Week 17 Saturday matchup between the Bengals and Broncos will shape up:
Lorenzo Reyes: Broncos 21, Bengals 18
Tyler Dragon: Bengals 27, Broncos 25
Richard Morin: Broncos 28, Bengals 23
Jordan Mendoza: Bengals 30, Broncos 24