The Cincinnati Bengals evened their record at 8-8 against the Denver Broncos on Saturday, defeating a team with a winning record 30-24 in overtime for the first time this season. That way, although on life support, they stay alive and fighting for a playoff spot with one game left on the schedule.

Here are Saturday’s winners and losers:

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The Bengals’ playoff chances

Surviving and advancing is the name of the game, and that’s exactly what the Bengals did. Do you still need help? Yes, but they beat a good Broncos team at home where they have struggled this season, in a must-win situation.

They still have to beat the Steelers next week in Pittsburgh, the Dolphins and Colts each have to lose at least one game (both starting quarterbacks are out or questionable this week) and next week the Chiefs have to beat the Broncos.

It may be unlikely, but it’s not impossible.

Mike Gesicki

If you’re a receiver on a team with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins and you’re not one of those guys, you might not get the ball very often. The Bengals have the best one-two punch at wide receiver in the league, but on Saturday night they left Joe Burrow is very fond of his tight ends, especially Mike Gesicki.

Gesicki finished the game with 10 catches for 86 yards, a career high.

Joe Burrow

Joe Burrow broke his own franchise record for touchdown passes, which he set last week when he threw his 39th against the Browns. His outstanding play continued as he threw three more touchdown passes against a very good Broncos defense.

Burrow is the 11th quarterback in NFL history to score 40 or more touchdowns in a season, and he still has one more game left. Hopefully there will be more after that.

Burrow finished the game completing 39 of 49 passes for 412 yards, three touchdowns and added a rushing touchdown for good measure.

He should be the NFL’s MVP.

T-shirt Higgins

Before Saturday’s game, it wasn’t entirely clear whether Higgins would be able to play or not. It’s a good thing for the Bengals, what he did. He caught Burrow’s first two touchdown passes, including a beautiful high-point catch in the corner of the end zone early in the fourth quarter.

Higgins finished the game with 11 catches for 131 yards and three touchdowns, showing the Bengals’ front office once again why they need to pay him this offseason.

Yes’Marr Chase

Chase has had an incredible season and although Saturday’s game wasn’t his best game stat-wise, he now holds the franchise record for receptions in a single season for the Bengals. He broke TJ Houshmandzadeh’s record of 112 receptions set in 2007.

Chase dropped a sure touchdown pass in the first half and had just two receptions for 20 yards in the first two quarters. However, he finished the game with nine catches for 102 yards.

Bengals first half and OT defense

The Bengals defense struggled in the second half, but only allowed three points in the first half, and those came on the first drive of the game. After that, the defense was strong against a well-coached Broncos offense led by an efficient quarterback and a powerful running game.

In overtime, the Bengals got the ball first but failed to get the job done. The Broncos only needed a field goal to win the game, and a tie would also have sent them into the playoffs and eliminated the Bengals. After a weak second half, the defense regained its composure and forced two three-pointers in overtime, giving their offense a chance to win the game.

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Red zone offense in the first half

The Bengals had several chances to score touchdowns right on the doorstep of the end zone, but just couldn’t get the ball through. In the first half, the team’s first two drives ended in failed fourth-down conversions. One came from the 22-yard line and the other from the one-yard line.

Even when they had the ball at the one-yard line with a first down, they remained at three points. Denver’s defense is solid, but the Bengals’ offense had no answer as it neared the end zone in the first half.

O-line pass blocking

The Broncos entered the season as the team leading the NFL in sacks, and it showed on Saturday. The Bengals’ offensive line struggled to contain the Broncos’ pass rush. Burrow was often pressured, and not necessarily by blitzing linebackers or cornerbacks. The Broncos charged four and brought down Burrow more than once.

The Bengals’ offensive line allowed seven sacks on Saturday, and even though the Bengals won the game, their franchise quarterback was hit far too often.

Bengals defense in the second half

The Bengals’ defense only allowed three points in the first half and looked much better after their three-game winning streak against three bad teams. The second half was a different story.

They allowed 21 points in the second half, and the 14 points scored in the fourth quarter included a touchdown pass thrown from the 25-yard line with 14 seconds left on fourth down, sending the game into overtime .

Cade York

The script was perfectly written for York, who was released off the road just a few weeks ago, to win the game with a 33-yard field goal. However, this did not happen as the ball bounced off the left post and bounced straight back onto the pitch.

Luckily, the defense was able to get a key stop and Burrow took care of it.

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Who were your winners and losers?