Joe Burrow fires shot at Bengals front office over Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins' contract negotiations

The Cincinnati Bengals kept their slim playoff hopes alive with a 30-24 overtime win over the Denver Broncos in Week 17. The offense once again led the team to victory, as they have in each of their eight wins this season.

Quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins had stellar performances against Denver's stingy defense, helping keep their postseason dreams alive. The trio must replicate their success in Week 18 against the Pittsburgh Steelers and hope for losses by both the Broncos and Miami Dolphins.

Should any one of these three results not occur, the Bengals will miss the playoffs. If Cincinnati's season ends on Sunday, the game against the Steelers could mark the last time Burrow, Chase and Higgins play together. Both Chase and Higgins are in the final year of their contracts and are not close to signing extensions.

Despite the precarious situation, Chase and Higgins have not let it affect their performance. However, they are reportedly frustrated by the lack of new deals, and Burrow voiced their concerns during his media availability on Tuesday.

When asked about his teammates' contract situation, Burrow called out the Bengals' front office, saying:

"You don’t want to make a living out of letting great players walk away. That’s why you try to get those deals done early."

Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase stats: Joe Burrow has the best WR duo in the NFL

While some players might have started holding out to avoid injury, especially with their team's playoff hopes hanging by a thread, Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase have continued to play and perform exceptionally well.

Higgins was the star of the Bengals' win over the Broncos. The wide receiver, currently playing on a franchise tag, caught 11 passes for 131 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner.

Higgins has been a stellar second option in the passing game for Burrow throughout the season. He missed five games due to injuries but still caught 69 passes for 858 yards and ten touchdowns.

His partner-in-crime, Chase, has been even more spectacular. He leads the league in catches (117), receiving yards (1,612), receiving touchdowns (16) and will likely become the fifth wide receiver in the Super Bowl era to win the triple crown.

Chase and Higgins have been the best wide receiver duo in the league in 2024. However, neither has a contract beyond this season, which has been frustrating for both players. It remains to be seen whether the Bengals will retain both stars or if this season will mark their swansong as a tandem.