Tee Higgins had a day to remember on Sunday, and it started with a weird little moment that went viral before the game even kicked off.
During pregame introductions at Paycor Stadium, the ball clipped Higgins in the head. WDTN’s Joey Berardino captured the mishap on video, and Higgins wanted a copy of it. Berardino later wrote on X, “He saw that I got it on video and said, ‘You gotta send that to me,'”
Higgins reposted the clip with an expletive caption, and the internet did what it does best. Fans piled on with jokes, including, “Who hit you, 5?
Say the word, and it's over,” from @zzz5ive_, and “The only dude in the frame with no helmet on. Terribly unlucky 😁,” from @j4s0nf1sh3r.
There was also this from @saraieo: “Tee, I hate to say it, but you had an insane game after this. Could we consider it a good luck charm?
🤪 (glad you're okay!),” while @DahnHAMMAH added, “No wonder he was catching everything today. Tee had heightened awareness,” and @rg1574 chimed in with, “Only ball you didn't catch all day 😤,”
The joke landed because Higgins spent the rest of the afternoon absolutely torching Tennessee. He finished with 10 catches for 155 yards and two touchdowns, including an 18-yard grab with 1:17 left in regulation. That play helped send the Bengals into overtime, where they finished off the Titans 43-36.
Cincinnati won its third straight game and moved to 5-2. Tennessee dropped to 1-7.
Joe Burrow was every bit as explosive, going 38-of-48 for 462 yards and five touchdowns. He also ran for the game-winning score in overtime, even after throwing three interceptions.
The Bengals now turn to Week 9, when they’ll play the Atlanta Falcons in Spain.
In Other News...
Bengals Defense Just Made The Trade Deadline Feel Urgent
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With the trade deadline approaching, that kind of performance only sharpens the focus on cornerback help. The Bengals have bodies on the roster, but the mix has not been enough to steady the back end, and the market for upgrades is not especially friendly. If Cincinnati is serious about making a move, it will have to navigate both the cost of available corners and the reality that help may be harder to land than the need is to see. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Win Came With One Big Catch Fans Cant Ignore
The Bengals win over the Titans came with one of their best all-around Pro Football Focus showings of the season, a 87.6 overall grade that reflected how well Cincinnati played on both sides of the ball. Joe Burrow was the engine again, earning a 93.1 offensive grade while piling up more than 450 total yards and six touchdowns in a performance that kept the offense humming for much of the afternoon.
On the other side of the ball, the grades told a more complicated story. DJ Turner II turned in the games top defensive mark before leaving with a lower-body injury, a development that could matter just as much as the result itself for a defense that has leaned on his emergence. Several other Bengals also graded well, but Turners exit is the kind of detail that can linger long after a strong team performance. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Could Suddenly Lose QB Depth To A Ravens Roster Need
The Bengals practice squad could be part of a strange little ripple in the AFC North this week, with veteran quarterback Josh Johnson emerging as a possible answer to Baltimores quarterback shortage. According to Ian Rapoport, Johnson is one of the options the Ravens are considering after a run of roster issues at the position, and his long NFL track record makes him a familiar emergency fit for a team that needs a steady hand nearby.
For Cincinnati, the wrinkle is less about the Ravens immediate game plan and more about what a move like that would mean for the depth chart around the division. Baltimore is expected to start undrafted quarterback Joe Fagnano in the upcoming game regardless, but adding Johnson would give the Ravens a more traditional backup option and change the way they handle the rest of the quarterback room. It is the kind of late-week roster maneuver that can look minor on paper and still matter to teams watching the standings closely. [Read more 🡒]