The Trends Are Going Joe Burrows Way In Week 3
Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
We did it, Cincinnati Bengals fans. We made it through the dreaded Week 2 With Zac Taylor phase of our season, and holy crap, last Sunday couldn’t have gone anymore “Week 2 With Zac Taylor” than it did. So many good takeaways from the game, so many little and big things going right, but unfortunately, the day ended with another L.
But who cares? It’s the Most Wonderful Tiiiiime Of The Year. Nope, we’re not referring to the retailers already putting up Christmas decorations. We’re talking about the real start of the Bengals season: Week 3. And for this week, we’ve got two desperately needed versions of Joe Burrow riding into town.
We saw glimpses of Midseason Burrow against the Kansas City Chiefs, but Midseason Burrow might not be enough. Luckily, that sound you’re hearing right now is Week 3 Burrow’s music. The star QB always shows up for the third week of the season, with a 3-0-1 record in Week 3, averaging over 250 passing yards and two touchdowns throws. And that tie came back in his rookie year, helming a Bengals team that was bad enough to get him as the No. 1 overall pick the year prior.
But it gets even better, because Week 3 Burrow is about to merge with Prime Time Burrow to create a union roughly as powerful as when Goku and Vegeta fuse together.
Prime Time Burrow would probably be enough to carry the Bengals to a win on his own. He’s won every single prime-time game where he’s played a non-AFC North team, and done so in convincing fashion. In those six games, he’s thrown for 1,659 yards (276.5 per game) and 10 touchdowns. If they want to be especially safe, the Bengals should consider making it a guaranteed win by putting him in that all-white uniform.
The last time we saw these two Burrows combined was in Week 3 last year, which was on Monday Night Football against the Los Angeles Rams. Even with a bum calf, Burrow put the team on his shins and heroically got the Bengals into the W Column. Every Bengals fan held their breath and hearts skipped a beat anytime Burrow had the ball in his possession. The entire week, many fans (myself included) begged, pleaded, and prayed to the Football Gods that Zac Taylor hold Burrow out of that game, as he was obviously nowhere near 100%. But Week 3 Plus Prime Time Burrow couldn’t be stopped, showing the arm, grit, and stubbornness that we all have come to love (and sometimes fear) about our Frosted Tips Savior.
Monday’s game is shaping up to be a perfect storm for a Burrow mega-game. We all saw it in that post-game interview Sunday, the chip is officially on Burrow’s shoulder. He looked annoyed, he looked like he didn’t want to answer a single question. He was mean-mugging all of the reporters and their dumb questions. Every fan at home watching that shouted with glee at the TV. “THAT’S THE JOE WE WANT!” We know an Angry Joe Burrow’s gonna eat on national TV in Week 3.
Even better, Burrow is preparing to square off with a Washington Commanders team that barely beat the New York Giants. Star quarterback Daniel Jones (I’ve only seen him in that one game and am assuming he hasn’t sucked for 60 games before then) threw for 178 and 2 TDs. In Week 1, Washington made Baker Mayfield look like the best quarterback in the league by allowing him to throw for 289 yards and 4 TDs. And speaking of a chip on the shoulder, we’re talking about the same Washington team that ended Burrow’s rookie campaign.
Look, there are a lot of things I don’t want to be in this world, but last on the list might just be any defensive back for the Commanders on Monday. You don’t need me to guarantee a victory. The fact that Week 3 Joe Burrow is playing against a suspect Washington secondary on Prime Time should speak for itself.
Up Next