Joe Burrow is in high spirits following a gruesome looking injury during a bout with The Washington Football Team.
Thanks for all the love. Can’t get rid of me that easy. See ya next year✊
— Joey Burrow (@JoeyB) November 22, 2020
If we’re being honest, Washington D.C. is flat out cursed. Claiming the legs of Joe Theisman, Alex Smith, and now, Joe Burrow. As one of the games great rookies and the only thing keeping the Bengals watchable, it’s a shame to see his season end the way it did. Joe Burrow faces a long road of rehab as he eyes 2021 for his return. Luckily he can smile through it all knowing he’s won the hearts of Cincinnati and has cemented himself as the assumed future of the Bengals.
Let’s Praise Burrow
Through ten games Joe Burrow was ninth in passing yards, 24th in completion percentage, 27th in yards per attempt, and was 23rd in total QBR. He ends his season with 16 total touchdowns, four total turnovers, and a 2-7-1 record as a starter. Though his season shortened and his numbers not spectacular, Joe Burrow appears to have the “IT” factor.
Highest-graded QBs on throws less than 20 yards:
— PFF (@PFF) November 19, 2020
1. Aaron Rodgers – 91.8
T-2.Joe Burrow – 90.4
T-2. Russell Wilson – 90.4
4. Josh Allen – 90.0 pic.twitter.com/4g5caz9QpK
Armed with one of the worst rosters in the NFL, the 29th ranked rushing attack, and the 21st ranked defense, Burrow kept the Bengals competitive in every game not against the Steelers and Ravens. Excluding the Steelers and Ravens, his average margin of loss was 5.2 points. Include them, it’s 10.8. He dropped 30 points on the Browns twice, beat the Titans with a backup offensive line, narrowly lost to a solid Colts team and has been bailing water since the season began.
Burrow claimed that he was going to judge success by “wins and losses” when asked how he would judge success outside of wins and losses. How can you not love the kid? He says the right things, did a lot with a little, and made the Bengals fun to watch again. Fortunately and unfortunately, the only thing that appears to stand in the way of Burrow and true winning success, is the Bengals organization.
Joe Burrow is Andrew Luck
After going number one overall to the Bengals, the thought was this could turn into an Andrew Luck situation. An immensely talented quarterback who’s going to get beaten up behind an awful offensive line while carrying a horrid football team. Not only has that been the case, but it’s even worse when you realize that the Bengals didn’t even make the attempt to protect him.
Joe Burrow leads the NFL in completions as well as pass attempts behind the 31st ranked offensive line per Pro Football Focus. When you couple that with their abysmal rushing attack, it’s a recipe to getting your quarterback hurt. Burrow only had one game in which he didn’t get hit or sacked, and yet after week 11, he was still the third most sacked Quarterback in the league. His injury against Washington was a direct result of the offensive line once again collapsing on him.
Joe Burrow’s horrific injury ?
— Pickswise (@Pickswise) November 22, 2020
Prayers up for the #1 draft pick ?pic.twitter.com/ADEerI3YGO
Andrew Luck in his first season was sacked 41 times, and hit countless others. The punishment he endured was so at one point that he suffered a lacerated kidney. Luck missed nine games in 2015, one in 2016, all of 2017, and after finally playing a full season for only the fourth time in his seven year career in 2018, he retired at the age of 29 in the middle of a Colts pre-season game in 2019.
Get It Together Bengals
If you compare rookie seasons, Burrow being sacked only nine fewer times in six and a half less games doesn’t bode well for the future. Luck managed to avoid injury his first three seasons, while Burrow didn’t even make it through one. Not only can this kid straight up play, but I believe if you swapped him with Baker, he’d make the Browns a real contender. The last thing the Bengals need is for Burrow to retire earlier than expected due to injuries.
Burrow should not be leading the NFL in pass attempts behind this bad of an offensive line. The coaching staff should be doing everything they can to protect their investment. Fix the offensive line, get some form of a run game, and don’t turn Burrow into another tragic Andrew Luck story.
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