“Outstanding performance.” That’s how Ja’Marr Chase described the Cincinnati Bengals‘ recent win against the Denver Broncos, a victory that keeps the franchise’s playoff hopes alive. If the Chiefs beat the Broncos in their upcoming game, the Bengals will clinch a playoff spot. How exciting is that? Chase also reacted to Joe Burrow‘s ‘Griddy’ celebration after the thrilling 30-24 win, which has since taken the internet by storm. Burrow’s over-the-top celebration, fueled by pure joy, quickly became a viral sensation.

Chase reposted a tweet and captioned it, “POP IT SHIEST,” showing his admiration for Burrow’s swagger on the field after the Broncos matchup. The Bengals’ star receiver had more to say in the locker room. When reporters asked him about Burrow’s ‘Griddy,’ Chase’s response was hilarious: “It was gooood! I was trying to figure out what the hell he was about to do!” He also mentioned that Burrow has pulled off similarly eye-catching celebrations before, though not always on camera. This moment, however, clearly stood out as a surreal one for the Bengals’ QB, Joe Burrow.

When asked about Burrow’s MVP chances, Chase didn’t sugarcoat it: “I’ve been saying he was the MVP since last week. I think winning this game just put him in first place in the race.” And honestly, Chase has a point. Burrow’s numbers are straight-up insane—he’s thrown for 4,641 yards and 42 touchdowns this season, leading the league in both. On top of that, his killer 76.6 QBR ranks third overall. Like, are you kidding me? Those stats are off the charts!

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor backed Chase up with a mic-drop moment of his own. “I don’t know that anybody can stand on the field and watch Joe Burrow and not say that he’s the best player in the world,” Taylor said. He didn’t stop there: “I would not trade Joe Burrow for any player in the universe. To me? That’s the definition of MVP.” Boom. Case closed.

Could Tee Higgins Be Leaving the Bengals After 2024?

Now, here’s the bittersweet part. Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins might not be sticking around. After the Broncos game, Higgins got real about his future. When asked about the Week 18 matchup against the Steelers, he said, “It could be my last game playing here in this stadium with stripes on. I wanted to go out with a bang… Hopefully, it’s not. But you never know what the future holds. You can’t go out in a better way.” Man, you can feel the love Higgins has for the team. Fingers crossed he stays, but it sounds like he’s bracing for whatever comes next.

Earlier reports had Bengals fans freakin’ out over Higgins’ injury—the dude was dealing with ankle and knee problems after that tough Week 16 game against the Browns. But guess what? Higgins bounced back big time, suited up for the Broncos game, and is all set to go for that huge Week 18 showdown against the Steelers.

So, here’s the deal—Joe Burrow is out here shattering records, hitting the Griddy like a boss, and making a solid MVP case, while Ja’Marr Chase is keeping the hype train rolling with his funny takes. The Bengals are on fire after that big win, and things are looking real spicy for the playoffs. But man, is Higgins dropping those hints about his future? That’s a tough one to swallow for Bengals fans. Let’s just hope the team keeps this momentum going and we see more of those jaw-dropping plays.