Mike Gesicki’s Breakout in Buffalo Offers a Glimmer of Hope in a Gritty Bengals Season
As the Bengals walked off the field in Buffalo on Sunday, the scoreboard told a familiar story-another loss in a season that’s gotten away from them. The 39-34 defeat to the Bills didn’t just sting; it officially sealed Cincinnati’s first losing season since 2020. For a team that came into the year with high expectations, that’s a tough pill to swallow.
But even in a game that ultimately slipped through their fingers, the Bengals found something worth holding onto. Amid the snow and the chaos, tight end Mike Gesicki reminded everyone exactly why the Bengals invested in him-and why Joe Burrow was so adamant about keeping him in Cincinnati.
A Comeback Performance from a Forgotten Weapon
Gesicki’s 2025 season had been derailed by a chest injury that limited his impact and kept him out of the spotlight. After signing a three-year, $25 million deal to stay in Cincinnati, expectations were high. He was coming off a 65-catch campaign and looked poised to become an even bigger part of the offense.
Week 14 was a statement game. Against the league’s top-ranked pass defense, Gesicki was unstoppable.
He caught all six of his targets for 86 yards and a touchdown, carving up Buffalo’s secondary with savvy route-running and strong hands in tight windows. Burrow kept going back to him, threading passes through the snow and the Bills' coverage like a quarterback who knew exactly who he could trust.
This wasn’t just Gesicki beating up on linebackers. He was matched up at times with Taron Johnson, one of the league’s premier nickel defenders, and still found ways to win. Whether lined up in the slot or stretching the seam, Gesicki gave Buffalo fits all afternoon.
A Bright Spot in a Shaky Supporting Cast
Let’s be real-the Bengals’ pass-catching depth behind Ja’Marr Chase has been a problem all year. Andrei Iosivas hasn’t taken the step forward many hoped for in his third season.
Jermaine Burton, a third-round pick in 2024, was just waived. And with Tee Higgins back in the concussion protocol, there’s real concern he could miss the rest of the season.
That leaves Cincinnati thin, and that’s where Gesicki becomes even more valuable. While he’s listed as a tight end, he often operates more like a big-bodied slot receiver-essentially functioning as the team’s WR3.
And when he’s healthy, he’s a matchup nightmare. Linebackers can’t run with him, and smaller defensive backs struggle to handle his size and catch radius.
The Bengals have been searching for someone to consistently take pressure off Chase and Higgins. On Sunday, Gesicki showed he can be that guy. And with Higgins’ status uncertain and the rest of the depth chart in flux, his role is only going to grow.
Defense Still a Major Concern
Of course, none of this changes the fact that Cincinnati’s defense continues to be a major liability. The same issues that plagued them in 2024 have carried over into this season-missed assignments, blown coverages, and an inability to get off the field in key moments.
Buffalo’s trio of tight ends exposed the Bengals’ linebackers repeatedly, and it wasn’t the first time. That group has struggled all year in coverage, and it’s become a glaring weakness that opposing offenses are happy to exploit.
It’s frustrating, especially when you consider how well Burrow has played for stretches of the season. He had another strong outing in Buffalo, aside from a pair of uncharacteristic interceptions on back-to-back throws in the fourth quarter. Those were tough breaks, but they don’t erase the overall quality of his performance-and the chemistry he showed with Gesicki.
Looking Ahead: Building Around Burrow and Gesicki
This season might not be salvageable from a playoff standpoint, but that doesn’t mean the final few games are meaningless. For a team that needs to retool and regroup heading into 2026, seeing players like Gesicki re-emerge is a huge development.
The Bengals have a franchise quarterback in Burrow, a superstar in Chase, and now, a healthy Mike Gesicki who looks ready to be a key piece of the puzzle moving forward. If the front office can address the defensive shortcomings and solidify the supporting cast around Burrow, this team still has the core to contend.
Gesicki’s performance in Buffalo wasn’t just a good game-it was a reminder of what this offense can look like when all the pieces are clicking. And as the Bengals turn their eyes toward the future, that’s a vision worth chasing.
Yes, it’s December, and yes, we’re already talking about “next season.” That’s not where anyone in Cincinnati wanted to be. But if Sunday was any indication, there’s still reason to believe this team can get back to where it wants to be-sooner rather than later.