Joe Burrow did it again and his current level of play is absurd. He is doing everything he can to will the Cincinnati Bengals into the postseason after being 4-8 at one point. Burrow put on a masterclass to defeat the Denver Broncos 30-24 in overtime. QB1 went 39-49, throwing for 412 yards with three passing, one rushing touchdown, and a passer rating of 122.1. If this was Tee Higgins’s last home game in the jungle, he went out with a bang catching three touchdown passes with 131 receiving yards for almost 12 yards per reception. Another player who stepped up big besides the usual suspect of Ja’Marr Chase was tight end Mike Gesicki who was also fantastic at making some tough, contested catches totaling 86 yards. While the Bengals’ defense was shaky at the end of regulation, they came up clutch in the extra frame to give the men in stripes hope in Week 18.
Joe Burrow Deserves to Be In the MVP Conversation
Lean On Me
The Most Valuable Player award likely means different things to different voters across the league. However, if we take the name of the prize at face value, it most accurately describes Burrow. He is the franchise and puts the team on his back almost every step of the way. Even in close losses, it didn’t faze the Bengals signal caller as he kept his process the same to get Cincinnati to the .500 mark.
Burrow’s numbers speak for themselves, 4641 yards passing, 42 TDs, 70% completion, and a 109 QBR all while keeping the Bengals’ playoff dreams alive. This late surge might be enough to claim the MVP if the orange and black sneak into the postseason.
Best Friends
Burrow has elite help from a skill player perspective and has been very outspoken in trying to keep the best wide receiver duo in the NFL in Cincinnati for the foreseeable future. The best quarterbacks of all time typically have great players supporting them and Burrow’s cast is no different. Simply put, the greats love to play with great players, and while this seems obvious, it’s especially difficult with an ownership group run in the manner the Brown / Blackburn family does business. If anyone can change this, it’s number nine, and his MVP quest can only help the influence he holds with this front office.
Peer Review
Being recognized by the best players is something every pro puts a high premium on. The pride that comes from peers appreciating your high level of play transcends time. Burrow is highly thought of and it’s not lost on him even in year five. When Burrow was asked specifically about the praise from Dallas Cowboys All-Pro Micah Parsons, he noted, “When you have your peers standing up for you — I’ve got a lot of respect for Micah. I’ve seen the things he’s said about me and that makes you feel good. I put a lot of work into this to go out and play well every Sunday. When you have conversations with the opposing team and coaches and you see comments like that, it’s a good feeling. It’s not why you do it, but in a season like this, those things make you feel good, so I appreciate those.”
Regardless of how the season ends for Cincinnati, Burrow has shown that every moment matters. Wasting opportunities is unacceptable and he will only accept the best. This means that everyone, including a stubborn organization, better get on board or he can get out. Better choose wisely.
