CINCINNATI -- There is plenty for Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow to think about ahead of Saturday's regular-season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
If Cincinnati wins, the Bengals could make the postseason if the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins each lose this weekend. Burrow is also in the midst of a career year and is in contention to win the league's Most Valuable Player award.
There's also the matter of the long-term futures of Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, the team's top two wide receivers who are each dealing with unresolved contract situations. During his midweek news conference on Tuesday, Burrow made his philosophical approach about handling such situations very clear.
"Whenever a great player leaves, you wish you could have found a way to keep them," Burrow said. "You don't want to make a living out of letting great players leave the building. I think that's why you've got to do everything you can to get those deals done early."
In recent years, Cincinnati (8-8) has watched key players leave in free agency and perform well with their new clubs.
Former Bengals safety Jessie Bates III, whom the team drafted in the second round in 2018, made his first career Pro Bowl after signing with the Atlanta Falcons in 2023.
Defensive tackle DJ Reader, who was the first major signing before the Bengals drafted Burrow with the first overall pick in 2020, was not retained this past offseason and signed with the Detroit Lions.
Detroit (14-2) is currently slotted as the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Cincinnati could be approaching a similar fate with Higgins. The 2020 second-round pick has failed to receive a long-term extension in each of the past two offseasons. Higgins played this year on the franchise tag, which is set to expire at the end of the season.
After the Bengals beat the Cowboys at the beginning of December, Burrow emphatically stated confidence that Cincinnati could find a way to sign both Higgins and Chase, even though the latter is also eying a massive extension that could make him the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
At times in recent weeks, Burrow has tempered that optimism. Again on Tuesday, Burrow said the thought that Higgins could leave is a possibility, one that he isn't thrilled about.
However, Burrow did add this: "That's not in the plans, I would say."
Before the Bengals can start working on future rosters, there is still plenty of business for Cincinnati to handle.
With a win at Pittsburgh on Saturday night, Cincinnati will have a vested interest in the Broncos' game against the Kansas City Chiefs and the Dolphins' game against the New York Jets.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor said the preparation for Cincinnati remains the same despite what is on the line for a team that has revived its playoff hopes with a late four-game winning streak.
"We know it's a big game," Taylor said. "We know what is at stake. But want our guys to continue to approach every day like they have been."
Asked about his standing in the MVP race, Burrow, who is currently second in Total QBR and first in passing touchdowns and passing yards, conceded that since the award usually goes to players on division-winning teams, the honor will not be his. At least not this year.
"I'll win one, one day," Burrow said.