NFL
The paradox of Joe Burrow’s performances and Bengals’ results
Despite their quarterback’s impressive statistics, Cincinnati has a 1-4 record and is self-critical. “Something needs to change,” Burrow says.
When a quarterback finishes a game with 392 passing yards and five touchdown passes, the most logical thing is for his team to add a win to its locker. But there are times when American football does not respond to any logic, which is what Joe Burrow is suffering this year with his Cincinnati Bengals. The quarterback of the Ohio team, runners-up in the Super Bowl in 2022 after falling to the Rams, is signing brilliant numbers throughout the first five games of the NFL season, surely worthy of being in the conversation for the MVP of the regular season ... if it weren’t for the fact that his team is going through a sad dynamic and has a poor record of one win and four losses, far from what was expected of a franchise aspiring to the ring.
Usually, when a team doesn’t work, the quarterback is the first to be blamed. However, in the case of the Bengals, the other usual suspect was the coach, who found himself in a delicate situation. Zac Taylor, head of Cincinnati since 2019, walks the tightrope after the worst start to the season since he is the head coach of the Bengals, and the loss last weekend against the Baltimore Ravens hurt a lot. Burrow recorded the numbers with which this article opens (392 passing yards and five assists for a touchdown), Ja’Marr Chase added 192 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns, the Bengals led up to three different times in the second half by 10 points, the last of them with just five minutes left, they had one possession to win and a field goal for the victory... . and lost in overtime (38-41).
The defense could not hold off Lamar Jackson and the Ravens at almost any point. Baltimore’s final touchdown showed when no one could catch the opposing quarterback, who broke the deadlock with a pass between several receivers. After Jackson fumbled in overtime, Taylor decided to have his team just run. Chase didn’t touch the ball, and McPherson missed the game-winning kick due to poor positioning. Justin Tucker didn’t miss, handing the Bengals their fourth loss in five games, even though they’ve scored more than 25 points in four. The Patriots, Chiefs, and Commanders have also run over Cincinnati, which only smiled at the weak Panthers.
“We’re 1-4, so something has to change. We’re not at the level of a team that can win the championship right now. I’d like to think we’ll get back on track and improve throughout the season to be at that point, but we’re not there right now,” Burrow said bluntly after the loss to the Ravens.
The Bengals’ offense, led by the player who came out of LSU, works, and that’s evident. They’re in the top 10 in yards gained per game, passing yards, and total points (they’re fourth there with 28 points per game), and Burrow’s numbers in five games are those of an elite quarterback: 1,370 passing yards, 72.3% of completed passes, 12 touchdown assists and only two interceptions, 113.6 quarterback rating (the maximum in this formula is 158.3, and anything above 100 is a great number)... However, Cincinnati is unable to take advantage of its leader’s dominance. They’re the seventh-most opposing defenses allowing yards, especially rushing yards, and they’re the second-most points allowed (29 per game, only behind the Panthers’ 33). All four losses have been by six points or less: The Bengals are there and fighting, but they fail in the crucial moments. “Yes” was the only answer Burrow gave last Sunday when asked if he was frustrated to see his team not performing.
“Scoring 30 points is something we want to do regularly. Scoring 30 points and losing is something we don’t want to do,” said Chase, one of the league’s best receivers. That’s why, besides Taylor, the other big target after this disastrous start to the season is Lou Anarumo, the defensive coordinator. The truth is that the Bengals are on the ropes because since there have been 17 regular season games, there has not been a team that, after starting 0-3, has managed to get into the playoffs. The pressure is maximum for a team designed, at the very least, to be in the postseason, but that has a lot of work ahead of it to get out of a deep hole like few others. And the paradox is that, in this sea of problems and bad feelings, the one who is afloat is a Burrow who shines week after week. But it is not enough. Their first chance to turn things around will come against the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football.
It will be now or never for Cincinnati.