The Cincinnati Bengals just can’t seem to catch a break, despite the stellar play of superstar quarterback Joe Burrow. Following their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, the Bengals dropped to 4-8, all but eliminating their playoff hopes unless a drastic shift occurs in the AFC playoff picture.
Burrow has been nothing short of exceptional this season, putting together an MVP-caliber campaign. Unfortunately, with the Bengals’ struggles – particularly on defense – and their disappointing record, the MVP award will likely go to someone else this year.
After Sunday’s loss, Burrow was asked about what the remainder of the season holds for Cincinnati, and he didn’t hold back. The final five games, according to Burrow, will play a critical role in shaping the team’s future and setting the tone for what comes next.
“I think we’ll learn a lot about who we have in the locker room, the guys we can count on going forward and guys that we can’t.” Burrow said postgame.
A lot of changes are clearly needed in Cincinnati, and it seems the team is headed down that path – particularly when it comes to positions outside of the obvious ones. The defense, in particular, has been a glaring issue all season long, with its vulnerabilities on full display week after week.
On the other hand, Joe Burrow has been outstanding this year. He’s thrown for 3,337 passing yards, 30 touchdowns, and just five interceptions, maintaining an impressive 107.4 passer rating. He ranks near the top of the league in nearly every major statistical category, as does his favorite target, wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. Yet, despite these exceptional individual performances, it hasn’t been enough to propel the team to success.
In fact, the Bengals have now lost four games this season in which they scored 30 or more points – a staggering statistic that highlights just how much the defense has failed to support the offense. It’s one of the most perplexing and frustrating trends in the NFL this year, and a bitter pill for Burrow and the Bengals to swallow.
