CLEVELAND — Cleveland Browns wide receiver Rashard “Hollywood” Higgins had just one catch in Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, but he picked a heck of a time to make an impact.
With the Browns trailing the Bills by four points late in the fourth quarter, the offense faced a second-and-goal from the Buffalo seven-yard line. Quarterback Baker Mayfield took the shotgun snap, stood strong in the pocket and fired a pass over the middle of the field for Higgins for what turned out to be the game-winning score in a 19-16 victory over the Bills.
“I don’t miss him anymore,” Mayfield said. “He caught a touchdown. He is back. Red carpet was open.”
Higgins saw an expanded role for the first time this season, and while he was targeted with only one throw, he delivered in the clutch.
Higgins broke free on the post route right at the goal line, snuck behind Buffalo’s coverage and hauled in the go-ahead touchdown. Austin Seibert’s extra point gave the Browns a 19-16 lead over the Bills with 1:44 to play in regulation.
“Hig just needed to stay the course,” Browns coach Freddie Kitchens said. “I think he is getting back healthy. He has been healthy, but he is getting back to himself per se. He was there where we needed him. He came up big for us.”
Mayfield added, “For him, it has been a frustrating year. Getting in there in critical moments and making plays like that can do a lot for someone’s self-confidence. I am hoping that carries over and he continues to be a solid guy for us because honestly, everybody is going to say we have Odell (Beckham Jr.) and Jarvis (Landry), but we are counting on (KhaDarel) Hodge, (Antonio) Callaway, Higgins, (Damion) Ratley, whoever is in there, to step up and be a guy in there that we can consistently trust. Higgins did that.”
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While there appeared to be something missing between coaching and player, Kitchens plans on using Higgins as an example for someone who took his practice repetitions and time in the meeting rooms studying film seriously, and then, delivered at a critical moment on game day.
“It all comes down to being where you are supposed to be when you are supposed to be there and how you get there is supposed to be dictated by what they do,” Kitchens said. “We need to be consistent in that, and Hig is getting more and more consistent in doing that.
“That helps the quarterback out, that helps the offensive line out, that helps the running back out and that helps the offense in general out when you do those kind of things. He is doing a good job. He has been getting better every week. Some of that came to fruition.”