The Cincinnati Bengals’ playoff hopes were officially put on life support after a 39-34 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Joe Burrow was on fire, and the offense was rolling in the first half, including three touchdown scoring drives to lead by 10 at the break. Josh Allen and company would flip the script in the second half and never punted with plenty of help from the putrid Bengals defense that reared its ugly head once again following back-to-back solid performances. Burrow would throw two crucial interceptions, one of which was totally on him as cornerback Christian Bedford made a fantastic play at the line of scrimmage and went 63 yards to paydirt to put Buffalo up for the first time with 5:25 left in the game. The constant need for Burrow to play like Superman for the Bengals to win every time he’s out there isn’t fair to him and isn’t sustainable. The organization is failing him, and it would be wise to make some significant changes this offseason.
Joe Burrow Shouldn’t Need to Be Superman for the Bengals to Win
Help Wanted
Since arriving in Cincinnati in 2020, Burrow has been everything you’d want in a franchise quarterback. He possesses all the intangibles; he’s accurate, a playmaker, a competitor, and represents the city and team well through his involvement with the Joe Burrow Foundation.
The fact remains that he has always been asked to bear too much on the field, whether it’s not protecting him well enough through the offensive line or abysmally poor defense year after year. Don’t even mention the number of draft picks Duke Tobin has whiffed on to replenish this roster with quality players. Burrow needs more help, and changes must be coming to give him a chance to return to a Super Bowl sooner rather than later.
Patiently Waiting
Mike Brown is notorious for being the most patient owner in professional sports, but you have to wonder where his head is at with his team missing the playoffs for the third year in a row. He’s 90 years old, and the chances for him to hoist a Lombardi are fading fast. Tobin has been with the organization since 1999, and truth be told, he should be shown the door. Head coach Zac Taylor is signed through 2026, and Burrow has repeatedly gone to bat for him, so he’s likely safe; however, one can truly never know how the powers that be are thinking.
No Quit
Burrow will likely have input in the direction some of this goes this offseason. In the meantime, he will finish this season strong; you can be assured of that. Quitting on his teammates or a city that adores him isn’t an option. Grinding and getting back on top of the mountain is always within reach when you have number nine leading the way. The tough pill to swallow is can Joe overcome a family that needs him more than he needs them. Even Superman can be hurt by Kryptonite.
Main Photo: Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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