CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals faced a tough reality following a disheartening 24-0 defeat to the Baltimore Ravens, securing their third consecutive season without a playoff berth. Quarterback Joe Burrow addressed questions regarding his future with the team, especially after comments he made leading up to the game about wanting to enjoy playing football.
After the game, Burrow clarified his statements, emphasizing that they were not a reflection of his feelings towards the Bengals. “My comments had nothing to do with Cincinnati,” he said. “My comments had everything to do with me and my mindset and football.” His remarks sought to quell speculation about his status with the franchise, which drafted him first overall in 2020.
Burrow’s performance during the game drew criticism from himself, as he completed 25 of 39 passes for 225 yards, but failed to throw any touchdowns and recorded two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. This marked a significant contrast to the week prior when Burrow described his play as “pretty close to perfect” in a loss to the Buffalo Bills.
“I think this is one of the worst games that I’ve played,” he admitted, holding himself to a high standard. “Today didn’t come close,” he said, acknowledging his disappointment.
The game began with promise for the Bengals as they mounted an 11-play drive that brought them close to scoring. However, the momentum shifted dramatically when Burrow found himself scrambling away from pass rushers and ultimately took a 15-yard sack that pushed them out of field goal range. From that point on, the Bengals struggled offensively, failing to score during the first three quarters yet again.
As the temperature dipped to 10 degrees, with a wind chill of minus-1, many fans left the stadium before the game concluded, a stark reflection of the team’s lackluster performance. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor took significant responsibility for the offensive failings, stating that everyone on the offense, including himself, needed to improve.
Despite Burrow’s critical view of his performance, his teammates felt he was too hard on himself. Left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. praised Burrow as “our engine, our source of energy,” acknowledging that multiple factors contribute to a team’s success. Brown reiterated the collective nature of the defeat, stating, “It isn’t just all on him.”
The loss also delivered a grim milestone for the Bengals, marking the earliest elimination from playoff contention since 2020, a season that was marred by Burrow’s injury after just ten games, which derailed their run that year. Following those trials, Burrow and the team rebounded impressively, making it to the Super Bowl during the 2021 playoffs and reaching the AFC Championship Game in 2022. However, injuries had hindered Burrow’s performance in recent seasons, including a torn wrist ligament in 2023 and a turf toe injury earlier in the current season.
Despite the disappointing outcome, Burrow and his teammates believe this performance is an anomaly. His fellow receiver, Ja’Marr Chase, commented on Burrow’s passion and desire to excel, saying, “He just loves the game. He just wants to be great at the end of the day.” Chase added, “But like he told me, I’m not going to let him kill himself mentally by just one game he played bad in.”
