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Tee Higgins Pushes Back Against Bengals’ ‘Hot Start’ Narrative — What It Means for the 2025 Season

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by

Lucy
in

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Key Takeaways

  • The Cincinnati Bengals’ wide receiver Tee Higgins publicly challenges the narrative that the team must start the 2025 season with a quick, hot streak.
  • Higgins emphasizes the importance of consistent execution over early-season hype, highlighting historical struggles with slow openings under coach Zac Taylor.
  • Despite criticism from figures like Stephen A. Smith, Higgins’ perspective underscores football success as a product of sustained effort throughout the entire game and season.
  • Higgins is preparing for a more flexible, expanded role with the Bengals, aiming to leverage his size and versatility after signing a lucrative contract extension.
  • The Bengals are making strategic adjustments in preseason to improve readiness, with a focus on better execution from the outset of the season.

Table of Contents

Tee Higgins Challenges the Pressure for a Bengals Fast Start

Why Does This Matter?

Evolving Role for Tee Higgins

What’s Next for the Bengals?

Why Fans Should Care

Tee Higgins Challenges the Pressure for a Bengals Fast Start

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins recently rejected the growing narrative that the team must start the 2025 NFL season with a hot streak to succeed. Speaking on Mad Dog Sports Radio, Higgins said, “I just feel like at the end of the day, we just got to execute as a team… finishing the game all the way through the fourth quarter.” He emphasized team execution over the hype around quick starts [0].

Why Does This Matter?

This comment strikes a chord because the Bengals have struggled historically with slow season openings, going 1-11 in the first two weeks under coach Zac Taylor in several past seasons. ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith sharply criticized Higgins’ stance, calling it one of the “most ignorant quotes of 2025,” emphasizing that consistent early season struggles warrant urgent coaching scrutiny and a fresh approach to preparedness [1].

Yet Higgins’ perspective highlights a crucial point: football success isn’t only about early wins but consistent execution across offense, defense, and special teams through the entire game and season.

Evolving Role for Tee Higgins

In addition to his comments, Higgins is preparing for an expanded role with the Bengals this year. After signing a four-year, $115 million contract extension, the team plans to use him more flexibly, moving him around the field—including in the slot—to maximize mismatches against defenders. Higgins believes his size and versatility can help him elevate his production even beyond his strong 2024 season stats of 73 catches, 911 yards, and 10 touchdowns [2].

What’s Next for the Bengals?

Coach Zac Taylor is addressing the slow-start issue by involving starters more aggressively in the preseason, aiming for more readiness come game one. With quarterback Joe Burrow showing early touchdown connections and Higgins’ closed ranks on focused execution rather than just speed, the Bengals hope to reverse prior seasons’ opening struggles [3].

Supporters believe that Higgins’ emphasis on execution over quick starts and the team’s strategic preseason adjustments will be key to improving their opening performance and overall season success.

Why Fans Should Care

For Bengals supporters and NFL watchers, the tension between narrative and reality is fascinating. Higgins’ call to “move past the narratives and just play football” serves as a reminder that the team’s path to success depends on collective focus, steadiness, and adaptability—not just flashy starts [4]. Meanwhile, the critical spotlight on coaching and team preparation underscores the importance of strong leadership and discipline throughout the season.

As the 2025 NFL season unfolds, keep an eye on how Higgins’ evolving role and the Bengals’ execution shape their playoff chances—whether they can shake off slow starts and deliver a championship-caliber campaign.

FAQ

Why did Tee Higgins criticize the narrative about Bengals’ fast start?

Higgins challenged the emphasis on early quick wins, advocating instead for consistent team execution and focusing on finishing games regardless of start speed.

What is Higgins’ role with the Bengals in 2025?

After signing a four-year, $115 million extension, Higgins is expected to have a more flexible and prominent role, including in the slot, to maximize mismatches and help improve offensive production.

How are the Bengals adjusting for a better start this season?

They are involving starters more aggressively during preseason and focusing on execution, with quarterback Joe Burrow’s early success and Higgins’ emphasis on teamwork serving as positive signs.

Sources