Higgins in particular abused his matchup against Broncos cornerback Riley Moss, whom he burned for seven receptions, 101 yards and two touchdowns, according to Next Gen Stats.

“Everyone can see what kind of player he is,” Burrow said. “He takes us to another level when he plays like that. It’s lucky to be part of what’s going on here.”

The Bengals needed everything they got from Higgins — and Burrow, who threw for 412 yards and three touchdowns — on Saturday as Cincinnati struggled with a stalwart Broncos team and its own crunch-time deficiencies (something for the Bengals was a staple). this season).

Several times it appeared that the Bengals had a win in hand. But questionable time management, bad luck with injuries and a missed field goal nearly doomed them on Saturday.

“This is one of the crazier ones I’ve been a part of in the NFL,” Burrow said. “It feels like we’ve had several of them this year. It’s nice that we’re ahead in one of them.”

Saturday’s win kept the Bengals’ playoff hopes alive (Cincy will be in with a win next week, as well as another loss for the Broncos and at least one loss apiece against the Dolphins and Colts in the next two weeks).

It also ensures Higgins, who will be a free agent this offseason, at least one more week of meaningful football in a Bengals jersey.

“That’s what I was just thinking as I walked into the stadium,” Higgins said when asked if he had considered that this might have been his last home game at Paycor Stadium. “It’s a possibility. You never know what will happen in the future, but if it does, I could go out with a bang.”