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It was a little bit over three years in the past when Joe Burrow threw a game-winning landing move that clinched the Bengals‘ third straight win over the Chiefs. It was a a lot totally different expertise on Sunday as Cincinnati was blanked, 24-0, by the Ravens in a loss that clinched a 3rd straight non-playoff season for Burrow and Co.
Regardless of the loss and his latest feedback that led to questions on his future in Cincinnati, Burrow said that he “has a whole lot of confidence” with the Bengals’ entrance workplace.
“I understand how onerous folks work at it, and we’ve got the correct folks,” Burrow stated by way of a group transcript. “It begins with gamers taking part in higher, and as we speak it was me.”
Burrow was requested point-blank if he nonetheless enjoys taking part in for the Bengals, which was in reference to his feedback main as much as Sunday’s sport.
“My feedback had nothing to do with Cincinnati,” he stated. “That they had all the pieces to do with me and my mindset, and soccer.”
Burrow’s feedback about having confidence within the Bengals will probably be met with skepticism given the truth that Cincinnati is within the midst of a 3rd straight season that has fallen nicely in need of expectation.
Since reaching a second consecutive AFC title sport in 2022, the Bengals are simply 22-26 that features a 5-11 file in video games that Burrow did not begin. Cincinnati began 2-0 this season earlier than profitable simply certainly one of its 9 video games whereas Burrow was sidelined with turf toe. At 4-10, the Bengals have been assured of their worst season since 2020, Burrow’s rookie season.
Underwhelming drafts, questionable roster selections, tumultuous contract conditions with key gamers, accidents to Burrow and different star gamers, and an traditionally dangerous protection have all performed some stage of position in Cincinnati going from being one the NFL’s finest groups to certainly one of its worst in three quick years.
Just like the Bengals, Burrow additionally continues to have a excessive stage of confidence in his personal skill following what he acknowledged was one of many worst video games of his profession. He dismissed a query about whether or not or not his sport has fallen off at everywhere in the previous couple of years.
“No, I really feel very assured how I play,” he stated. “Clearly as we speak, for my part, is an outlier. I feel I have been constantly nice for years and years and years.”
Burrow is true. Whereas his previous few video games have not been at his traditional stage, the previous Heisman Trophy winner has confirmed to be one of many NFL’s finest quarterbacks. Final 12 months, for instance, he led the NFL in each passing yards and landing passes en path to profitable NFL Comeback Participant of the Yr for a second time.
Accidents, nonetheless, have largely hindered Burrow throughout his first six seasons. Cincinnati’s struggles when it comes to constructing a aggressive roster round him over the previous few years hasn’t helped, both.
In some ways, Sunday’s sport was a microcosm of Burrow and the Bengals’ season. Whereas Burrow was off, he acquired no assist from his receiving corps, who dropped a handful of catchable passes. Ja’Marr Chase, particularly, was the perpetrator of some drops that contributed to the Bengals staying off the scoreboard regardless of having 4 drives that bought inside Baltimore’s 35-yard-line.
Burrow was additionally hounded all day by a Ravens move rush that entered the sport with simply 18 sacks. Stress largely contributed to Burrow’s second interception: a pick-six that made it a 24-0 sport.
Sarcastically, the Bengals really acquired a stable sport from their protection that included notable efforts from 2023 first-round decide Myles Murphy, third-year defensive again Jordan Battle and rookie Demetrius Knight Jr.
The Bengals’ offense, nonetheless, was unable to capitalize on the protection’s efficiency. The reason being fairly easy, not less than from Burrow’s perspective.
“As a result of we’ve not been soccer group,” he stated. “Dangerous soccer groups do shedding issues. In case you’re eager to compete for championships and be within the playoffs, then primary, your quarterback must play higher than I did as we speak.”
Burrow was requested if he carries an excessive amount of of a burden on a group that did not have a lot success earlier than him and has struggled to keep up its early success with him beneath middle.
“I need all the pieces on my plate,” he stated. “That is the place I wish to be in. I really feel assured in all these guys within the locker room. Like I stated, there’s not a group within the NFL that may’ve gained the sport as we speak if I used to be the quarterback.”
Whereas Burrow reaffirmed his allegiance to Cincinnati, it is clear — based mostly on how the final three seasons have gone — that the Bengals must make modifications shifting ahead if they will make the most of Burrow’s remaining years beneath contract.
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