Joe Burrow blames himself first, regardless that the Bengals gave up a fourth-quarter lead seven occasions final season. The Professional Bowl quarterback, addressing reporters lately, mirrored on the 2024 season that noticed them miss the playoffs. Whereas they completed the season sturdy, they solely reached 9-8, the opening they dug too deep to climb out of.
“If I had performed even higher, we wouldn’t have been in that spot that we had been in”, Burrow mentioned, through the Bengals’ web site. “I simply concentrate on getting higher myself, and I really feel like everybody within the locker room feels the identical manner. If I’m going on the market and play higher than I did final yr, then it doesn’t matter what goes on anyplace else”.
Burrow is, after all, being an excellent chief, and saying the appropriate issues. Any quarterback in his place ought to most likely say one thing related in entrance of the media. Regardless that he personally had a wonderful season, pointing fingers isn’t an excellent look. And the Bengals don’t need assistance making themselves look unhealthy, as typically as not.
Doing the plain factor and taking Joe Burrow first total in 2020 is, after all, maybe the best factor within the historical past of the Bengals franchise. They’ve doubled their complete playoff wins below him with 10 in complete. He introduced them to the brink of a Tremendous Bowl title, and he wasn’t the rationale they didn’t end the job. They usually got here shut once more a yr later, although issues have gotten sidetracked since then.
Burrow had a incredible particular person season in 2024, trying purely on the numbers. He went 460-for-652 with a 70.6 completion share. He threw for 4,918 yards with 43 touchdowns to simply 9 interceptions. There isn’t a complete lot that he didn’t try this he may have fairly achieved, however the Bengals’ protection allow them to down.
In fact, he can’t simply come out and say that, even when he has dropped a touch or two. Joe Burrow has been vocal in his assist for Trey Hendrickson, for instance, their high move rusher. More and more, it seems they haven’t any intention of budging in a contract dispute with him.
The Bengals did lock up Burrow’s high targets, this offseason, with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins being the headliners. However whereas they dominate the press, Cincinnati additionally prolonged TE Mike Gesicki, an underrated transfer.
Clearly, the Bengals perceive the place the strengths of their staff lie. Additionally they perceive that they should maintain this offense collectively for Joe Burrow, who controls the destiny of their franchise. However Burrow additionally sees the place they need assistance on the opposite aspect of the ball. But since he can’t say that, all he can do is have a look at the person within the mirror.
