CINCINNATI — Tee Higgins made a savvy goal-line move to score a touchdown and force overtime and Evan McPherson made a 29-yard field goal to seal a 27-24 victory Saturday for Cincinnati over the Minnesota Vikings, keeping the Bengals playoff hopes alive without their star quarterback.
Higgins caught a 21-yard pass from Jake Browning with under a minute remaining in the game and pulled off an acrobatic move to stretch the ball over the goal line and tie the game at 24.
TEE HIGGINS JUMP BALL AND THE REACH! WHAT A TD 😱
— NFL (@NFL) December 16, 2023
📺: #MINvsCIN on @NFLNetwork
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In overtime, a 4-yard run from Joe Mixon made it an easy chip shot for McPherson with 3:11 remaining.
.@McPherson_Evan’s kick is GOOD. @Bengals win in OT! pic.twitter.com/Hyli3GwJeL
— NFL (@NFL) December 16, 2023
The Bengals (8-6) had taken over at their 41-yard line after stopping the Vikings (7-7) on fourth-and-short.
Cincinnati erased a 17-3 Minnesota lead with its two fourth-quarter touchdowns.
Browning was 29 for 42 for 324 yards with two touchdowns, and he completed passes to 12 different receivers.
Mixon rushed 1 yard for the second Bengals touchdown of the day. That TD allowed Mixon to tie Rudi Johnson for the second-most rushing touchdowns in Bengals history.
2nd effort from @Joe_MainMixon ties it up!
— NFL (@NFL) December 16, 2023
📺: #MINvsCIN on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/vtmfEKvOLy pic.twitter.com/XEJGd3mtmg
Browning also connected with Higgins at the top of the fourth quarter for the Bengals first touchdown of the day.
LET'S GOOOOO#ProBowlVote x Tee Higgins pic.twitter.com/3yK1kwSZOI
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) December 16, 2023
Browning did also have one interception in the game as Vikings corner Akayleb Evans picked off a pass.
Akayleb Evans comes down with the INT for the @Vikings
— NFL (@NFL) December 16, 2023
📺: #MINvsCIN on @NFLNetwork
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Mullens, the fourth quarterback to start a game this season for the Vikings, passed for 303 yards with two TDs. Backup running back Ty Chandler had a career-high 132 rushing yards and a touchdown for Minnesota.
While the Bengals didn't capitalize off of them, Cincinnati had two turnovers in the first half of the game.
First, Bengals corner Mike Hilton picked off Mullens at the goal line securing a stop for the Bengals in the second quarter.
What we like to see 👏#ProBowlVote x Mike Hilton pic.twitter.com/SDXITDQNHf
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) December 16, 2023
Bengals tackle BJ Hill then had his second straight game with an interception as the first half was winding down.
Back-to-back games with an INT for @BJHill5!#ProBowlVote x BJ Hill pic.twitter.com/bPQDPsCsec
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) December 16, 2023
INJURIES
Bengals: DT DJ Reader suffered an injury to his right leg early in the game and was declared out. ... CB DJ Ivey left in the first quarter with a knee injury and was declared out. ... WR Ja'Marr Chase went out with a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter.
UP NEXT
Vikings: Host the Lions on Sunday, Dec. 24.
Bengals: At Pittsburgh next Saturday.
