The Bengals Disaster of a Start. What went wrong?

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Success With Joe Burrow

During the NFL off-season, Joe Burrow signed the richest deal in NFL history—a whopping five-year, $275 million extension. To say it was well deserved would be an understatement. In his three first seasons in the NFL, Joe Burrow led the Bengals to two AFC North Titles, two AFC championship games, and one Super Bowl appearance. The only season he did not finish in the playoffs was when he tore his ACL in his rookie year.

Before Burrow arrived, the Bengals were a franchise that needed more success. From 1990 to 2020, the Bengals had only made the playoffs eight times, in which seven out of the eight times they were eliminated in the wild-card round. So, giving the bag of cash to Joe Burrow was a no-brainer.

High Expectations for 2023

The sky was the limit for this Bengals team. During the offseason, many NFL analysts believed the Bengals were a super bowl-contending team. Analysts such as Jen Hale, Ralph Vacchiano, and Jason Mcintyre predicted this Bengals team would make it to the Superbowl.

So far, the possibilities of a Bengals Super Bowl are looking dim. The team is currently at the bottom of the AFC North and has started to a horrible 1-3 record. So, what went wrong?

Joe Burrow Suffers Calf Injury

During the NFL off-season, Burrow suffered an apparent leg injury. Many Bengals fans held their breath, expecting the worst news. On July 27th, it was announced that Burrow was dealing with a calf injury. Depending on the severity of the calf injury, it could take up to 6-8 weeks to fully heal from this injury. Despite missing most of training camp, the Bengals and Burrow were ready to roll in week 1 of the season.

Abysmal Offense

In four games, the Bengals have averaged only 12.3 points per game. That is ranked dead last in the NFL. In two of those four games, they only scored three points! Burrow’s current completion percentage is 57.6%, ranked second to last amongst quarterbacks who have played at least four games this season. Many NFL analysts have critiqued Burrow’s play. They are saying that he does not look comfortable playing out there. They say his immobility has impacted his game, and he cannot fully perform to the level he did the previous season. So the question is, what do the Bengals do now?

Shut Down Burrow or Keep Him Playing?

Several claims have been made throughout the NFL community that the Bengals should make Burrow sit out for the rest of the season or until the calf is fully healed. If the Bengals continue to play Burrow, they may jeopardize their franchise quarterback’s health. The quarterback position is liable to take numerous hits throughout the game. With the struggles of the Bengals offensive line, it’s almost a guarantee Burrow will be hit multiple times a game.

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor has a decision to make. Try to salvage this season and keep your star quarterback out there. Or play it safe by sitting out Burrow and look forward to the 2024 season.