CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The dumbest rule in football cost the Browns in the AFC Divisional round playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, and one of the victims of it thinks it’s time to change it.
Rashard Higgins came within inches of potentially turning the tide against the Kansas City Chiefs at the end of the first half when he caught a pass from quarterback Baker Mayfield before diving for the pylon, extending his arms to reach the ball across the goal line.
But Higgins got drilled in the side of his helmet by Chiefs safety Daniel Sorenson. The hit caused Higgins to drop the football, which went out of the side of the end zone for a touchback.
“Obviously, I think the rule should be looked at,” Higgins said Friday during a Zoom video conference with reporters after he re-signed with the Browns this offseason. “That was a huge turning point in the game.”
Trailing 16-3, Higgins caught the pass inside the five on a first-and-10 from the Kansas City 26 when he turned up field near the sideline and dove toward the goal line. Sorenson came in, headfirst, and clobbered Higgins in the side of his helmet, a clear foul that was not called.
“I still feel like we had a chance though at the end,” Higgins said. “Looking back at things, I was just trying to spark something for the team. I feel like we needed a spark. It was just a football play.”
Adding insult to injury, not only did the official miss the illegal hit, but the NFL also didn’t bother to fine Sorenson for it either after the fact.
“It was just somewhat ironic that it was a helmet-to-helmet hit, and an incident like that, you would think something would be looked at, just because it is right there at the goal line,” Higgins said. “Obviously, it was clear as day. The ref might not have had a good angle at it. I do not know how it was, but you have to move on from it. It is a new year. It is football at the end of the day. I was just trying to make a play for the team. That is all that was.”
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Rashard Higgins (82) tries to reach the ball over the goal line against Kansas City Chiefs free safety Daniel Sorensen (49) during the first half in the AFC Divisional Round playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium.Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
The head shot from Sorenson caused Higgins to drop the football.
“He hit me, and the ball popped out,” Higgins said. “Obviously, I have done it before – the Cincinnati game, I launched for the pylon. You can say that. It just so happened I fumbled the ball, and it went out at the goal line for a touchback. It is what it is.”
Kansas City took the turnover and quickly added to their lead before the half with a field goal to go into the locker room up 19-3.
“It was just football,” Higgins said. “Looking back at it, it was a helmet-to-helmet hit. Not too much we can say about it. It is football at the end of the day. Move on.”
