Like every other top-tier quarterback in the NFL, Joe Burrow has a lot on his plate. His every move is scrutinized, and it’s not just about his performance. Hand flexes, bench interactions and sideline scowls all get analyzed to death, especially now that the Bengals are still scuffling with the NFL season just beyond the halfway mark.
Unlike Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson, though, Burrow has an extra handicap to overcome: his defense. Kansas City’s defense has allowed Mahomes to work as a checkdown master and save his playmaking for clutch moments. Jackson’s defensive mates have had their share of subpar games, but they’ve also had enough solid performances to allow the Ravens quarterback to work his special kind of magic, even when it has to happen in a track-meet game against the Bengals
Joe Burrow is lighting up the scoreboard with historic performances
The Bengals got off to their classic slow start this season, dropping their home opener to New England in a listless 16-10 loss. Since then, though, Joe Burrow has basically been carrying the team.
He took this to new heights against the Ravens. Burrow threw for over 400 years, with his old LSU buddy, Ja’marr Chase, on the receiving end for 264, including three touchdowns. It was a remarkable performance that once again served as a remind of how good Burrow can be when he gets hot.
But no lead is safe when the Bengals defense takes the field. They gave up 37 in Cincy’s loss to the Eagles, another 38 against Washington, and 26 to Mahomes and company in the Bengals loss to the Chiefs. The same thing happened against the Ravens; when Cincinnati sprinted out to a 21-7 lead, no one who’s watched the Bengals D thought the game was close to over.
Burrow’s running game didn’t do him any favors, either. Chase Brown isn’t Derrick Henry, and his pivotal fumble in the third quarter gave Baltimore a short field and helped spark the turnaround. A two-score lead doesn’t mean much against Lamar Jackson, and when he made a play to cut into the 14-point deficit the track meet was officially on.
Defensive attrition is the price the Bengals pay for offensive firepower
The kneejerk move here would be to blame DC Lou Anarumo, whose entered the season with a stellar reputation. But Anarumo has faced a constant talent drain on defense, and when that starts to happen over an extended period, no amount of stunts and blitzes can disguise the obvious personnel flaws.
Cincinnati went into the trading deadline with obvious needs at defensive tackle and in the secondary, and they also need an edge rusher to take some of the pressure off Trey Hendrickson. The Bengals watched as the Ravens and Steelers added reinforcements on defense while they traded for a running back, Khalil Herbert, who is basically a depth piece.
Owner Mike Brown deserves a hefty piece of the blame pie as well. Paying Burrow and Chase has given Cincinnati a potent attack, but neglecting the deficiencies on the other side of the ball to save money means the pressure is all on Burrow and the offense.
Somehow Cincinnati is still in the playoff hunt
The most amazing takeaway after last night is that Cincinnati still isn’t out of the playoff hunt, largely because of how mediocrity of the AFC beyond the Chiefs and Bills. Joe Burrow recently outlined a ten-win plan that’s now off the drawing board, but if the Bengals can notch a road win against the Chargers and beat the Steelers, their schedule softens considerably with games against the reeling Cowboys, the Titans and Browns.
That would put Cincinnati at eight wins with two to play, and this looks like a year where a 9-8 season could get them into the playoffs. Joe Burrow could easily hold up his end and make that happen, but he’ll need a lot more help from his defense to seal the deal.