Joe Burrow Excites NFL Fans as Bengals Beat Broncos in OT to Keep Playoff Hopes Alive
December 29, 2024
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow authored a legendary performance by throwing for 412 yards and four touchdowns in a 30-24 overtime win at home against the Denver Broncos on Saturday.
Burrow found Tee Higgins for a three-yard touchdown with 1:07 remaining in OT to clinch the must-win game, keeping Cincinnati's faint playoff hopes alive.
Burrow also connected with Higgins for 31 yards down the sideline to set up the score.
NFL @NFLJOE'S TAKING THIS INTO HIS OWN HANDS.<br><br>📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DENvsCIN?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DENvsCIN</a> on NFL Network<br>📱: Stream on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLPlus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFLPlus</a> <a href="https://t.co/3izlmZGlSB">pic.twitter.com/3izlmZGlSB</a>
The fifth-year pro threw for 412 yards and three touchdowns, all of which went to Higgins, who had 11 catches for 131 yards.
Ja'Marr Chase added nine catches for 102 yards, and tight end Mike Gesicki caught 10 passes for 86 yards.
As Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated wrote, Burrow and the Bengals had this game won three different times. The third time was the charm.
Albert Breer @AlbertBreerJust to contextualize what happened tonight, re: Burrow/MVP ...<br><br>With his season on the line, and faced with one of the best defenses in football, that sacked him seven times, Joe Burrow basically won the game 3 times for the Bengals (regulation, missed FG in OT, game-winner).
Cincinnati linebacker Germaine Pratt set up the first potential game-winning drive by intercepting a Bo Nix pass with 2:34 left in regulation to put the Bengals at their own 41-yard line.
Cincinnati Bengals @BengalsOUR BALL!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RuleTheJungle?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RuleTheJungle</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/GermainePratt7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GermainePratt7</a> <br><br>📺: NFL Network <a href="https://t.co/jhdZ2Ajtvt">pic.twitter.com/jhdZ2Ajtvt</a>
Burrow immediately found Chase for 38 yards and later capped the drive with a one-yard QB sneak to help put the Bengals up 24-17.
However, Nix worked his magic and moved Denver down the field. On 4th-and-1 from the Bengals' 25, Nix found double-covered wideout Marvin Mims in the end zone with eight seconds left. The PAT tied the game.
NFL @NFLBO NIX ABSOLUTE CINEMA.<br><br>📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DENvsCIN?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DENvsCIN</a> on NFL Network<br>📱: Stream on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLPlus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFLPlus</a> <a href="https://t.co/LpdaNr6sVi">pic.twitter.com/LpdaNr6sVi</a>
Cincinnati and Denver traded punts to start overtime, but the Bengals then marched down the field, with a Burrow 19-yard strike to Higgins serving as the big play.
Cincinnati kicker Cade York soon jogged onto the field for a 33-yard field goal attempt, but he hooked the football left off the upright.
NFL @NFLBENGALS MISS THE FIELD GOAL IN OT.<br><br>📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DENvsCIN?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DENvsCIN</a> on NFL Network<br>📱: Stream on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLPlus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFLPlus</a> <a href="https://t.co/drXHTxSv5v">pic.twitter.com/drXHTxSv5v</a>
Cincinnati needed a stop to keep its season alive, and the Bengals got just that after a three-and-out.
Burrow then went back to work, first hitting Andre Iosivas for 16 yards. Backup running back Khalil Herbert, who replaced an injured Chase Brown (sprained ankle) after he suffered the ailment late in the fourth quarter, then rushed for 13.
The Burrow-Higgins connection then took over, and the Bengals won an absolute thriller.
Simply put, Burrow is on a heater as he keeps the Bengals' playoff hopes intact.
Burrow's doing so well that he's even getting a little MVP talk, although that seems unlikely given Cincinnati's struggles this year.
Still, Burrow has been tremendous, and analysts, fans and even a couple current and ex-superstar football players recognized his greatness.
Now the focus turns toward whether Burrow can keep this magic going in the postseason. Despite the win, the Bengals still need few results to go their way to make the playoffs.
First, they need the Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins to lose one of their final two games. Indianapolis closes at the 2-13 New York Giants and home versus the 3-12 Jacksonville Jaguars. Miami finishes at the 3-12 Cleveland Browns and at the 4-11 New York Jets.
The Bengals also need the Broncos to lose at home to the 15-1 Kansas City Chiefs on Jan. 5. Kansas City has clinched the AFC's No. 1 seed and may very well rest its starters in advance of the playoffs.
Cincinnati also needs to beat the host Pittsburgh Steelers, who sport a 10-6 mark, on Jan. 5.
So there's a lot that needs to happen. However, the Bengals go into Week 18 still alive for the playoffs, and that didn't look probable after the team dropped to 4-8 earlier this year. A four-game win streak gives the Bengals a pulse, though, thanks largely to the Burrow-led offense.
B/R Recommends
NFL Playoff Picture 2024-25: Standings, Bracket Scenarios After Ravens, Bengals Wins
Top Landing Spots for Tee Higgins in NFL Free Agency After Bengals Miss Playoffs
Ja'Marr Chase, Malik Nabers Excite NFL Fans as NFC Beats AFC in 2025 Pro Bowl Games
Joe Burrow's Cincinnati-Area House Broken into During Bengals' Win over Cowboys
