Mike Gesicki finally got to celebrate with Ja’Marr Chase after scoring in the end zone.
Gesicki caught two touchdown passes in Cincinnati’s 41-24 win over Las Vegas on Sunday, giving the Bengals a much-needed boost. The veteran tight end had five catches for a season-high 100 yards.
Cincinnati (4-5) was without star receiver Tee Higgins, who missed the game due to a quad injury. Rookie receiver Jermaine Burton was also a surprising absence, even though he was expected to take on a bigger role.
With Joe Burrow and Chase needing support in the passing game, Gesicki stepped up. “Gesicki is a guy we’ve been able to lean on,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said. “There was a lull there in the season where he doesn’t get a lot of targets. That’s just the way this offense goes sometimes.
Joe does a great job dispersing it to wherever the concept’s calling for. Mike has done an excellent job capitalizing on his opportunities.”
This was Gesicki’s first 100-yard receiving game since October 17, 2021, when he had eight catches for 115 yards for the Dolphins in a loss to Jacksonville. It was the third time in his career he reached 100 yards, with his highest being 130 yards on September 20, 2020, against Buffalo.
“Mike is going to continue to make plays,” Burrow said. “He just continues to get open in zone, win first man, make big-time catches, contested catches. He continues to show why I have so much trust in him. His role is going to continue to increase.”
Burrow matched his career high with five touchdown passes. Chase had seven catches for 43 yards but still made a big impact due to the attention he draws on the field.
Gesicki gave credit to Chase for his 47-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter, which happened due to a mistake by the Raiders’ defense.
“A lot of the credit goes toward Ja’Marr because of how much attention he gets,” Gesicki said. “My wife probably could have scored on that play. It was just a fake screen and Joe put it out there. Like I said, Halle could have scored on that one. I’m just living right.”
After Gesicki caught his first touchdown of the season, a 10-yard catch that made the score 31-10 in the third quarter, he celebrated by doing “The Griddy” dance with Chase in the end zone. He did the dance again after his second touchdown.
Gesicki signed a one-year contract with Cincinnati in March. He had done “The Griddy” dance before while celebrating a touchdown with Miami, but it seemed like his dance moves had improved since joining the Bengals.
Higgins is expected to be back for Thursday night’s game against the Baltimore Ravens, but the Bengals might be without rookie tight end Erick All Jr., who left the game against the Raiders with a right knee injury.
Cincinnati bounced back after a tough 37-17 loss to Philadelphia last weekend. They have won four of their last six games since starting the season with three losses.
Making a playoff run is a long shot, but the win against Las Vegas helped improve Cincinnati’s chances.
“Couple of games we wish we could have had back, but we are where we are right now,” Gesicki said. “We’re 4-5 with a divisional opponent on Thursday night. I’m grateful for the opportunities.”
