Joe Burrow throws a touchdown pass from his knee to Tee Higgins
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Joe Burrow throws a touchdown pass from his knee to Tee Higgins

Posted on by Amelia Pressman

  • Ben Baby, ESPN staff writerDecember 22, 2024, 1:47 p.m. ET

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      Ben Baby covers the Cincinnati Bengals for ESPN. He joined the company in July 2019. Before ESPN, he worked for various newspapers in Texas, most recently at The Dallas Morning News, where he covered college sports. He covers the Bengals daily for ESPN.com while also appearing on SportsCenter, ESPN’s NFL shows and ESPN Radio programs. He is a native of Grapevine, Texas and holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of North Texas. He is an adjunct professor of journalism at Southern Methodist University and a member of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA).

CINCINNATI – Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow did something he’s never done in the NFL. Of his 133 touchdown passes, none were thrown while he was already on the ground. That changed in the first quarter against the Cleveland Browns.

As the bag collapsed around him, Burrow stumbled and lunged forward to avoid the pressure. But even though his knees were already on the turf, he had the presence of mind to shoot the ball to wide receiver Tee Higgins in the end zone. Officials said the touchdown was valid because a defender did not cause Burrow to go to the ground.

The score gave the Bengals a 7-0 lead with 7:14 left in the first quarter and marked the end of an eventful first period at Paycor Stadium. After a long first drive by the Browns that began with a 66-yard run by running back Jerome Ford, Bengals safety Vonn Bell knocked the ball out of the grasp of Browns running back D’Onte Foreman at the goal line.

Burrow then surpassed 4,000 passing yards that season. The throw to Higgins was the latest example of a quarterback having the best year of his career.

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