Cincinnati kicker Evan McPherson watches the flight of his game-winning kick in Saturday’s 27-24 overtime victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press
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.
In overtime, a 4-yard run from Joe Mixon made it an easy chip shot for McPherson with 3:11 remaining. 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 an interception. He completed passes to 12 different receivers.
Mullens, the fourth quarterback to start a game this season for the Vikings, passed for 303 yards with two TDs and two interceptions. Backup running back Ty Chandler had a career-high 132 rushing yards and a touchdown for Minnesota.
COLTS 30, STEELERS 13: Gardner Minshew threw three touchdown passes and Indianapolis rushed for 170 yards, improving its playoff prospects with a 30-13 win over sagging Pittsburgh.
Minshew was 18 of 28 for 215 yards and matched his career high for TD passes while leading a Colts offense lacking its usual complement of playmakers. Leading receiver Michael Pittman Jr. left the game with a concussion, top rusher Zack Moss departed with a right arm injury, and former 2021 rushing champ Jonathan Taylor (right thumb) didn’t play.
The Colts (8-6) have won five of six and temporarily moved a half-game ahead of three teams for the AFC’s seventh and final playoff spot. The Steelers (7-7) dropped their third straight and fell into last place in the rugged AFC North, putting Coach Mike Tomlin’s run of 16 straight seasons at .500 or better in jeopardy.
Pittsburgh took an early 13-0 lead behind backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky, but by late in the fourth quarter, the Colts had scored 30 consecutive points and third-stringer Mason Rudolph was slinging passes for the Steelers.
NOTES
TEXANS: C.J. Stroud will miss Houston’s game against Tennessee on Sunday after sustaining a concussion last week.
The Texans announced Saturday that the star rookie quarterback did not travel with the team to Tennessee and would miss the game.
EAGLES: Cornerback Darius Slay Jr. had arthroscopic knee surgery this week and will miss at least Monday night’s game at Seattle.
Eagles Coach Nick Sirianni declined Saturday to say how much time Slay was expected to miss. The 32-year-old Slay has started 12 games for the Eagles this season. He missed the Eagles’ loss to the Jets earlier this season with a knee issue.
BROWNS: Defensive end Myles Garrett was fined $25,000 by the NFL for “public criticism of officiating” after he made pointed remarks following last week’s game against Jacksonville, a person familiar with the punishment told The Associated Press.
GIANTS: New York activated tight end Darren Waller from injured reserve and waived veteran safety Bobby McCain on Saturday.
Waller, who was acquired in a trade with Las Vegas last spring, practiced this week for the first time since injuring a hamstring and missing five games. His 36 receptions still rank second on the Giants.
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