The Cincinnati Bengals kept their playoff hopes alive with a hard-fought 19-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on Saturday. They now need the Kansas City Chiefs to beat the Denver Broncos on Sunday and the New York Jets to beat the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium.
Ja’Marr Chase was once again the star of the show for the Bengals as he had 10 receptions for 96 yards and scored his team’s only touchdown. Chase was supported by Tee Higgins, who capped a stellar season with four catches and 53 receiving yards in his team’s biggest game of the campaign.
If things don’t turn out in the Bengals’ favor on Sunday in the Broncos and Dolphins games, this could be the 25-year-old’s last time playing for Cincinnati. Tee Higgins played on the franchise tag this season, which paid him $21.8 million. However, he is looking for a long-term deal and the Bengals have shown little interest in handing him a new contract.
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The wide receiver seemingly has one foot out the door, but Burrow isn’t ready to part ways with him just yet. During the post-game press conference, the quarterback pleaded with Cincinnati’s front office to offer Higgins an extension and retain his services:
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“[Me and Higgins] started this whole thing together. We came in together [in the 2020 NFL draft] and built this thing from the ground up. You don’t want to make a habit of letting great players leave the building.
“Like I said earlier this week, Tee is a great player. A guy who does everything the right way and works really hard at it. When you have a guy like that, you just can’t let him out of the building. “
Tee Higgins discusses his future after Bengals beat Steelers
Joe Burrow wasn’t the only Bengals player to discuss Tee Higgins’ future after the win in Pittsburgh. Higgins also spoke to reporters after the match:
It kinda sucks, but I’m going to let God take the wheel, whatever my future holds, so be it. Hopefully it can be here, but if not, I wish all my boys the best.
“I wouldn’t mind being here at all. I know the city inside and out, know the facility inside and out, coaches, I have a great relationship with the front office and the coaching side.”
The Bengals’ playoff hopes are still alive after their win, but they need the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets to help them get to the postseason. It will be interesting to see if Cincinnati can make it and what the future holds for Tee Higgins.
Edited by nagpaltusharn25