Joe Burrow doubles down on message to Bengals over $21,800,000 Tee Higgins' impending future in Cincinnati

The Cincinnati Bengals kept their playoff hopes alive with a hard-fought 19-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on Saturday. They now need the Kansas City Chiefs to beat the Denver Broncos on the road on Sunday and the New York Jets to upstage the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium.

Ja'Marr Chase was yet again the star of the show for the Bengals as he caught 10 receptions for 96 yards and scored his team's only touchdown. Chase was supported by Tee Higgins, who capped off a terrific season with four catches and 53 receiving yards in his team's biggest game of the campaign.

If things don't pan out in the Bengals' favor in the Broncos and Dolphins' games on Sunday, this was potentially the last time the 25-year-old played for Cincinnati. Tee Higgins played on the franchise tag this season, which paid him $21.8 million. However, he's seeking a long-term deal and the Bengals have shown little interest in handing him a new contract.

The wide receiver seemingly has one foot out of the door but Burrow isn't ready to bid adieu to him yet. In the post-game press conference, the quarterback pleaded with Cincinnati's front office to offer Higgins an extension and retain his services:

"[Me and Higgins] started this whole thing together. We came in together [in the 2020 NFL draft] and built this thing from the ground up. You don't want to make a habit of letting great players get out of the building.

"Like I said earlier in the week, Tee's a great player. A guy that does everything the right way and works really hard for it. When you have a guy like that You just can't let him get out of the building."

Tee Higgins discusses his future after Bengals beat Steelers

Joe Burrow wasn't the only Bengals player to discuss Tee Higgins' future after the win in Pittsburgh. Higgins also spoke to reporters after the game:

It kind of sucks, but I'mma let God take the wheel, whatever my future holds so be it. Hopefully, it can be here but if it's not, then I wish the best to all my guys.

"I wouldn't mind being here at all. I know the city in and out, know the facility in and out, coaches, I got a great relationship with the front office and coaching side."

The Bengals' playoff hopes are still alive following their win, but they need the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets to help them into the postseason. It will be interesting to see if Cincinnati can make it and what the future holds for Tee Higgins.