The Cincinnati Bengals celebrated an important home win over the Minnesota Vikings in overtime in Week 15 of the NFL, improving their playoff chances. The Indianapolis Colts then celebrated an important victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
NFL: Game reports week 15 (Saturday)
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Minnesota Vikings (7-7) @ Cincinnati Bengals (8-6)
Result: 24:27 OT (7:3, 0:0, 10:0, 7:21, 0:3) BOXSCORE
- The Cincinnati Bengals kept their playoff hopes alive thanks to a win in a crazy final phase including overtime. In the end it was kicker Evan McPherson who made the home team celebrate. But the real hero was wide receiver Tee Higgins, who forced overtime with a spectacular touchdown seconds before the end. He caught the ball under pressure in front of the end zone and then held the ball over the goal line on the way to the ground. In the end, it was Jake Browning who, after a scramble, found Tyler Boyd for a 44-yard pass into the red zone and set up McPherson’s kick.
- Previously, the Vikings had failed miserably twice with QB sneaks and tush pushes on the edge of field goal range and had given the ball back after they had previously failed due to a questionable referee decision when cornerback Akayleb Evans actually made a fairly clear pass interference committed against Higgins.
- In his first start for the Vikings and his first NFL start since 2021, quarterback Nick Mullens has been the central figure for the Vikings – in both good and bad ways. Mullens found rookie receiver Jordan Addison for two impressive touchdowns, but he also had a lot of luck. For the first TD of the second quarter, he threw while falling backwards and a defender narrowly missed the ball, and for the second TD with less than four minutes left, he was under heavy pressure and found Addison well covered in the end zone.
- However, Mullens also made a few mistakes. He threw two interceptions before halftime, one on a forced pass into the end zone and another while falling backwards right into the arms of defensive tackle BJ Hill.
- The Bengals lost defensive tackle DJ Reader early in the game with a hamstring injury – he will miss the rest of the season. Shortly before the end, wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase had to go out with a shoulder injury.
- With this result, the Bengals secured a wild card spot in the playoff picture overnight, while the Vikings initially remained in 6th place.
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7) @ Indianapolis Colts (8-6)
Result: 13:27 (6:0, 7:14, 0:10, 0:3) BOXSCORE
- With a home win over the Steelers that was only in jeopardy at the beginning, the Colts overtook their AFC North rivals in the AFC playoff picture and thus took an important step towards the postseason. For Pittsburgh it was the third defeat in a row.
- The Steelers got off to a better start thanks to their defense and special teams. Immediately after Matt Gay missed a 56-yard field goal attempt, the visitors put together their best drive of the game and Mitch Trubisky himself scored a one-yard touchdown. The PAT was missed, but shortly afterwards the Steelers also blocked a punt, which gave them the ball at the 1 again. Moments later, Trubisky found Diontae Johnson for Pittsburgh’s second TD.
- The Colts hit back with a touchdown catch by Zack Moss, but he injured his arm and didn’t return. Trubisky threw an interception because wide receiver George Pickens was in good position to be picked off by cornerback Nick Cross, who was standing behind him. And after the Colts were stopped at the 1 a little later, they quickly got the ball back and Gardner Minshew found DJ Montgomery for a 14-yard TD just before halftime – Montgomery had previously had a supposedly safe TD on 4th down in the end zone dropped.
- After the break only the home team played, while the Steelers lost two more turnovers and at the very end Trubisky was subbed out after his second pick and replaced by Mason Rudolph. Meanwhile, the Colts also lost wide receiver Michael Pittman before halftime, who was badly hit in the head by diving during a catch by safety Damontae Kazee. Kazee was sent off on the spot. The Steelers, on the other hand, also lost their other safety Minkah Fitzpatrick with a knee injury in the game.