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Bo Nix connects with Marvin Mims for improbable game-tying touchdown in final seconds vs. Bengals

ns_headshot_2024-clearby: Nick Schultz12/29/24NickSchultz_7
Bo Nix Broncos-2
© Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

For the second time in Saturday’s game between the Broncos and Bengals, Bo Nix connected with Marvin Mims for a touchdown. Instead of a deep ball, though, it was a 25-yarder – but it tied things up at 24-24 with eight seconds remaining to force overtime.

Nix and Mims previously hooked up on a 51-yard touchdown pass to make it a 17-17 ball game in the second half. The Bengals then went down the field, and Chase Brown slid at the 1-yard line. However, he suffered an injury, and Cincinnati opted to go for the touchdown with 1:29 to go, rather than draining the clock and attempting a game-winning field goal.

That gave Denver time to work with for one final prayer. Nix threw it up, and Mims pulled it down. After review, the call stood, and the Broncos kicked the extra point to send the game to overtime.

The Bengals took a 7-3 lead into halftime, but the fireworks were on full display after the break. A Cade York field goal made it a 10-3 Cincinnati lead before Nix threw his first touchdown pass of the day on a fade route to Courtland Sutton to make it a 10-10 game.

Burrow responded in kind. Tee Higgins hauled in the 12-yard pass from Burrow to give the Bengals a 17-10 lead, but Nix punched back on the 51-yarder to Mims on the ensuing possession. The two teams then traded turnovers, which gave the Bengals the ball back with 2:30 to play. They had the opportunity to seal the win.

Instead, Nix made them pay for the touchdown. Neither team was able to score on its first possession of overtime, and York’s attempt at a game-winner doinked off the left upright with 2:43 to go. That once again put the ball in Bo Nix’s hands needing either a win or a tie to seal a Broncos playoff berth.

Denver couldn’t get moving, and instead punted the ball with 2:20 to play. The Bengals got back into field goal range, and Burrow got them inside the 5-yard line with a back-shoulder pass to Higgins with 1:10 remaining. He then caught the game-winning touchdown, sealing Cincinnati’s 30-24 victory to take away Denver’s hopes of sealing a playoff spot.

Nix had a strong day to keep Denver in the game. He completed 23 of 29 passes for 218 yards and three touchdowns, with Mims as his top target. The former Oklahoma star hauled in eight receptions for 102 yards and the two touchdowns.

On the Cincinnati side, Burrow had a monster showing. He went 38-for-48 for 409 yards and two touchdowns, including 128 yards and both touchdown passes to Higgins to give the Bengals the win.