Pittsburgh, PA — October 17, 2025
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ heartbreaking 31-33 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night Football has been marred by a controversial play that has left Steelers Nation outraged. With 1:45 left on the clock and the score tied at 30-31, Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins caught a game-winning touchdown from JOE FLACCO, but instead of celebrating, he deliberately went down, forcing the Steelers to burn a timeout as Cincinnati ran out the clock. The “genius” move, lauded by some as strategic brilliance, has sparked fury among Pittsburgh fans, who are now demanding an NFL investigation into potential rule violations.
FLACCO DIME TO HIGGINS WHO MAKES A HIGH IQ PLAY 🔥
PITvsCIN on Prime Video
Also streaming on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/5kbBK0eoaO— NFL (@NFL) October 17, 2025
Higgins’ tactic, which effectively denied the Steelers a chance to mount a comeback, has been praised by Bengals fans as “chess, not checkers,” but Steelers supporters view it as unsportsmanlike conduct that skirts the rules. “Every young football player needs to watch this,” one viral X post read, spotlighting the play as a masterclass in time management. Yet, the move has ignited calls for NFL scrutiny, with fans arguing it breaches the spirit of the game and Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, which prohibits feigned injuries.
Steeler Nation erupted on X, with #InvestigateHiggins trending: “Higgins faked an injury to run the clock? That’s dirty—NFL, do something!” Head coach Mike Tomlin, in his postgame remarks, stayed composed: “We’ll let the league handle it. Our focus is on moving forward, not dwelling.” Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who threw for 235 yards and 4 TDs in the defeat, added, “It’s tough to swallow, but we’ll adapt.”
The NFL has yet to respond, but past cases like the 2023 “tush push” debate suggest possible fines if ruled excessive. As the 3-3 Steelers prepare for Week 8 against the Ravens, the Higgins incident fuels debates on fair play. Will the league intervene, or will this tactic set a new precedent? Steelers fans demand justice.
