Now Is Not The Time To Count Joe Burrow Out
Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
The Cincinnati Bengals have ruined — in addition to thousands of football survivor pools — the mood of Who Dey Nation. Yet, while Cincinnati’s worries about a missed Super Bowl window skyrockets, I can’t help but quote Bob Marley, “Don’t worry about a thing, cuz every little thing is gonna be alright…” That’s what I’m feeling right now, there are three little birds pitched by my doorstep. This is our message to you: the Bengals are this close to turning their season around.
Obviously, I understand the fan base’s frustrations and concerns, even though it’s the Carolina Panthers heading to town in Week 4. We’ve already seen how the term “Any Given Sunday” was brought to life both against the New England Patriots and, most devastatingly, the Washington Commanders. As weird as it sounds for an 0-2 team to overlook anyone, that’s exactly what happened. They bought their hype: “Joe Burrow has never lost a primetime game at home,” “Joe Burrow has never lost a Week 3 game,” “Midseason Joe Burrow is back, he almost beat the Chiefs.”
Still… I can’t help but shake the feeling that we were right to hype up Burrow and the Bengals this season. And they’re not so far away from seeing themselves going on a winning streak and, dare I say, having that same 0-3 quarterback make an MVP run. If there’s one man who performs best with a chip on his shoulder, it’s No. 9.
To hear the nonsense that Chris Canty (yeah, I didn’t know who he was either) and Shannon Sharpe were spewing, “Joe Burrow let the offense down, Joe Burrow let the team down. What did you do when the game was in balance?” was silly. What did Burrow do with the game in the balance? He scored a bunch of points, then sat on the sidelines and watched Lou Anarumo and the defense get absolutely dog-walked at Paycor Stadium.
Burrow finished the game 29-for-38, 324 yards, and 3 TDs. He was incredible in the second half when adjustments were needed, and unfortunately, we cannot say the same about the defense. The unit was so bad that a major milestone was overlooked: Zac Taylor called a good game! Not even the ZT backers were sending me “told you so” texts this week. That’s how awful the defense was playing.
A picture says 1000 words, and seeing the look on Joey B and ZT’s faces after the game led all of Bengals Nation to believe that some harsh words were shared after the game. Burrow is now in a position that he’s never been in before, winless after three games, and now he’s headed into play the Former Bengals Legend Andy Dalton and the Panthers. So far, Carolina’s defense has surrendered 105 points, 544 passing yards, and six passing touchdowns. Joe Burrow has thrown for 746 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions in these first three games.
Coming into the game, knowing what kind of letdown the defense is capable of, even against mediocre quarterbacks, But he knows it’s time. The stoic face and frosted tips are gonna be out this Sunday.
If Burrow and the Bengals can take this win, the confidence will hit the locker room at the right time. Next week, they’ll face their AFC North challenge in the Baltimore Ravens, with this game being in the jungle. Revenge season starts. Burrow is facing a team that he has posted 1,879 yards, 12 touchdowns and just four interceptions in seven (well, 6.5 really) career games. The Ravens have looked suspect in every single game this season, and could quite possibly lose to the Bills this week. This could easily bring the Bengals to 2-3 and 1-0 in the AFC North.
The sports world is now zeroing in on Cincinnati’s demise, but maybe they still have what it takes? There’s quite a bit of football left to be played. If Burrow gets his revenge on the Ravens, Week 6 is another primetime game against a weak New York Giants team. A team that Burrow has never played against? I like his chances. Look at that! Cincy would be at 3-3 and right back in the mix.
Over the following three weeks, the rest of the AFC North will find themselves in some battles and any team ahead of Cincinnati in the standings could easily lose a game or two. Now, am I being biased? Bob Marley-pilled? You bet. But this is a team that Vegas had at a 10.5 victory projection. This is the same team that still has the fourth-easiest schedule in the league according to ESPN analytics. Those same analytics gave the boys in stripes a 36.4% chance of still making the playoffs, which is unheard of for an 0-3 team. The Jacksonville Jaguars have the second-best projection out of all the winless teams at 13.4%
So I say to the Bengals and Bengals fans: Get up, stand up! Don’t give up the fight! There’s a lot of season left.
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