CINCINNATI – Winning a game at Paycor Stadium for the first time in five tries this year and 301 days in total isn’t exactly a rarity for the team. Cincinnati BengalsBut that didn’t stop tight end Mike Gesicki from suggesting that receiver Trenton Irwin might have the winning numbers for the next Mega Millions drawing.

Gesicki caught five passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday victory 41-24 against the Las Vegas Raiders.

And for him, yes, there was satisfaction derived from scarcity.

No one saw that kind of game coming, except Irwin.

“He came up to me today at 11 a.m. and said, ‘Do you have a touchdown dance ready?’ said Gesicki, who responded no.

“Are you going into the game without any plan to score?” Irwin asked. “Bro, you have to be ready. You’re going to score today.”

Gesicki, who had not scored joining the Bengals in the offseason, caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Joe Burrow in the third quarter to give the Bengals a 31-10 lead.

He then caught a 47-yard pass in the fourth quarter to put the team ahead 38-17.

“Someone go interview Trent and ask him what the lottery numbers are,” Gesicki said. “Because nine weeks have passed and I haven’t scored, and today I scored twice.”

Without any celebration planned, Gesicki did The Griddy after both scores, with teammate Ja’Marr Chase, known for dancing, following close behind on the first, laughing at the tight end’s attempt.

“You should be laughing; It wasn’t great,” Gesicki said.

It was the fourth multi-touchdown game of Gesicki’s career and first since Week 6 of 2022.

It was his third 100-yard game and first since Week 6 of 2021.

He accomplished both feats on the same play when the Raiders blew an assignment and Burrow made the easy throw for the 47-yard touchdown.

“I told everyone that I feel like I’m living well,” Gesicki said. “My wife probably could have scored on that play.

“A lot of the credit goes to Ja’Marr for the attention he gets,” Gesicki said. “It was just a fake screen, I passed the screen to Ja’Marr and Joe posted it. And like I said, Halle could have scored on that. “I am grateful.”

In the last four games, Gesicki had just four receptions for 24 yards.

“Gesicki is a guy we’ve been able to lean on,” head coach Zac Taylor said. “I know there was a lull in the season where he didn’t get many targets, but that’s how this offense works sometimes. Joe (Burrow) does a great job spreading it out to where the concept calls for it and what the defense gives you, and Mike has done a great job taking advantage of his opportunities.”

Gesicki is just the third tight end in franchise history to have at least two touchdowns and at least 100 receiving yards in a game.

The first to do so was Bob Trumpy, who had 159 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-31 tie against the Oilers in 1969.

The only other person to do so was Tyler Eifert, who had 104 yards and two touchdowns in the 2015 season opener, which was also against the Raiders.

Coincidentally, Eifert was at the stadium Sunday as the honorary Ruler of the Jungle leading the crowd in a pregame “Who Dey” chant.

And Eifert was in the tunnel watching the players as they ran toward the locker room when he yelled at Gesicki, who came over to greet him.

“You have to come to every game,” Gesicki told Eifert.

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