Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow defended his abilities following a brutal 24-0 shutout loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The former Heisman winner faced a reporter who questioned whether his play had been declining over recent years, prompting a confident response about his career performance.

Burrow’s answer sparked debate across social media about whether his confidence matches his current reality.

Joe Burrow insists he’s been “consistently great for years” despite struggles

A reporter asked Burrow during the postgame press conference, “Do you think your play is slipping down the slope in the wrong direction over the last couple of years?”

Burrow replied firmly , “I feel very confident in how I play. I’ve been consistently great for years and years”.

Awful: A Bengals reporter asked Bengals QB Joe Burrow if he feels like he is getting worse at football every year.

“Do you think your play… is slipping down the slope in the wrong direction over the last couple of years?”

Burrow has spoken about his mental health issues… pic.twitter.com/LiVUS8Iklz

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 15, 2025

The statement came after Burrow threw for 225 yards with 2 interceptions and a 58.2 passer rating in the shutout defeat. The loss marked Cincinnati’s 10th of the season, effectively eliminating their playoff hopes with just three games remaining.

Burrow recently opened up about the mental and physical toll of his numerous injuries and the pressures of public life, stating he must “have fun” playing football to continue his career. He also leads the Joe Burrow Foundation, which focuses on mental health initiatives for youth.

The Bengals signal-caller has battled numerous injuries throughout his career that have limited his availability. He suffered a torn ACL in 2020, a torn wrist ligament in 2023, and a severe Grade 3 turf toe injury that sidelined him for much of the 2025 season. He recently returned to the field after an extended absence.

Sources close to him clarified these comments reflected frustration with losing and the physical grind rather than any desire to leave Cincinnati.

Off the field, Burrow dealt with a home break-in during late 2024 that he described as violating his privacy and being difficult to handle mentally.

NFL fans unleash brutal criticism of Joe Burrow’s confident response

One fan questioned Burrow’s self-assessment, writing , “This guy does need a dose of accountability. I’ve thought he’s been a bit overrated since he got drafted. Has 2 top receivers and can’t get it done, meanwhile you got Sam ‘I’m seeing ghosts’ Darnold playing better than him for multiple seasons.” The commenter suggested Burrow receives too much credit despite having elite weapons.

A second person showed no sympathy for the quarterback’s struggles, simply stating “Cry me a fucking river” in response to his comments about injuries and hardships.

A third fan attacked Burrow’s contract value, asking , “And he deserves $55 million a year to be mentally retarded?” The harsh comment questioned whether his performance justifies his massive salary.

A fourth observer dismissed Burrow’s entire career arc, calling him “the biggest nothingburger in NFL over the last 5 years,” suggesting his reputation exceeds his actual accomplishments.

A fifth commenter connected Burrow’s decline to his contract extension, writing , “He got paid and has been ass ever since,” implying he stopped performing once he secured financial security.

Burrow signed a five-year, $275 million extension with the Bengals in September 2023, making him one of the highest-paid players in NFL history.

His struggles this season have led critics to question whether he can return to the form he displayed in 2021-2022, which led Cincinnati to back-to-back AFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl appearance.