CINCINNATI — Through Joe Burrow’s first 12 career starts, this stat stands out the most: 3-8-1. That’s Burrow’s record as a starter in the NFL. The love affair that this city has for Joe Burrow is great. I’m a part of that. But the time has come where we start evaluating Burrow by his ability to win the Bengals football games. In Sunday’s game at Chicago, he wasn’t able to do that.
Last year with Burrow it was all about seeing if he was as advertised from his 2019 season at LSU. He was, and then some. The stats were great. And the “it” factor and intangibles were there. But what wasn’t were the wins. We were all infatuated with the progression of Burrow from week to week in his rookie season that, I for one, had to remind myself to focus on whether or not this team was winning games.
You know who we criticized last year and attributed losses to? The offensive line and coaching staff. And rightfully so. But if Joe Burrow is as advertised, shouldn’t we be more evaluative and critical of his performances and whether or not they lead to wins for the Bengals? The quarterback position is a position of leadership, and at the end of the day, players are the ones who win games. And the quarterback is the leader of those players. Being in a leadership position opens the door for criticism, especially when leaders aren’t delivering. With the game hanging in the balance midway through the fourth quarter in Chicago, Burrow didn’t deliver.
Burrow quickly rose to stardom in college. His 2019 season came out of nowhere, considering he was 200/1 odds to win the Heisman and a projected sixth-round pick. And all he did was throw for nearly 6,000 yards and 60 touchdowns en route to a Heisman Trophy and national championship. He was all but perfect. 15-0. Most prestigious award in college football. His team at the top of the College Football mountain. Number one overall pick in the draft. What criticism should that warrant, if any at all? But you know what that does warrant? Expectations. Especially after what we saw last year, Burrow entered this season with massive expectations on his shoulders.
Leaders’ identities can be formed very quickly. In the NFL, I think three years is a strong sample size. Especially for quarterbacks. But that doesn’t mean questions about them can’t be asked earlier. After Sunday’s performance, which included interceptions on three straight passes with one leading to a pick six, I think its fair to start questioning Joe Burrow’s ability to consistently lead this Bengals team to victories. He had a golden opportunity to do that Sunday in Chicago. The deficit was just seven for the Bengals at 10-3 early in the fourth quarter. But that’s when Burrow unraveled with Bears linebacker Roquan Smith telegraphing a pass for the pick six, cornerback Jaylon Johnson blanketing Tee Higgins for the second interception and then linebacker Alec Ogletree tipping a Burrow pass into the arms of Bears defensive tackle Angelo Blackson for the third interception in as many passes. With the game hanging in the balance, Burrow put the Bengals in a hole that proved too big for them to dig themselves out of instead of going to win them a very winnable game.
When you think of Burrow’s football playing career, he’s never really been in a position that has warranted criticism. He wasn’t nationally known when he was at Ohio State. He then transfers to LSU, a program who was mediocre at that time heading into the 2018 season, overshadowed in the SEC by Alabama and Georgia. LSU gave Burrow every tool possible to help him succeed and elevate his game after a mediocre 2018 season. Joe Brady, Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, Terrace Marshall Jr., Thaddeous Moss and Clyde Edwards-Hellaire. And Burrow took full advantage and rose to stardom, creating massive expectations. His football timeline has never made him the subject of criticism. He was either not well-known or a superstar prospect coming out of college. But after Sunday’s performance and realizing he only has a 3-8-1 record? It feels like he’s a far cry away from the stardom and aura he carried when he arrived in Cincinnati. The offensive line, coaching staff and the front office can still be harshly criticized, but Burrow has to start being evaluated by wins and losses. We all love the way Burrow plays, but for most of his first 12 starts including Sunday his play hasn’t led the Bengals to many wins.
Let me be Frank and Cut to the Chase 