Joe Burrow’s 1-word statement about his woeful performance also encapsulates all that was wrong with the 2025 Bengals
Joe Burrow held himself accountable. Now the Cincinnati Bengals need to follow suit.
On a day when the Cincinnati Bengals’ season climaxed with an absolute dud, quarterback Joe Burrow had one of his worst games in recent memory. Burrow threw two interceptions, including a 95-yard pick-six, and couldn’t find the end zone in a 24-0 shutout loss that eliminated Cincinnati from playoff contention.
Burrow was inaccurate at times, took bad sacks, hardly extended plays, and couldn’t produce points for 60 minutes. What could he have done better?
“Everything,” Burrow answered in his post-game press conference.
Coincidentally, now that the 2025 season is dead in the water, that answer also applies to where the Bengals need to improve as an organization this offseason.
Joe Burrow owns terrible game as Bengals’ failures finally catch up to them
It’s rare for Burrow to be one of the main reasons the Bengals lose not just a game, but a season-defining one. Cincinnati could’ve only made the postseason by winning out and finishing the year with an 8-9 record. That dream died before December reached its halfway mark.
Burrow had chances after the game to direct blame elsewhere. He returned from a turf toe injury to a team that was 3-8. They were flawed before he got hurt, when he was hurt, and are still flawed to this day. The sources of those flaws can be found in scouting, team-building, coaching, etc. He stood firm in his accountability above all.
“This is a team effort,” Burrow said. “You know, at the end of the day, players got to play better on the field. Today was me. I got to be better.”
It’s a double-edged sword. Burrow is the primary reason why the Bengals believe they have a chance to accomplish their goals, and when he falters, there’s no other individual who can tank them quicker.
Sunday was as definitive proof as you’ll find, but you don’t get to 4-10 from one bad day at the office.
“This year, we haven’t been a good football team,” Burrow said. “You know, bad football teams do losing things. And if you’re wanting to compete for championships and in playoffs, then No. 1, your quarterback has to play better than I did today.”
Much like how last week showed how imperfect performances from Burrow can expose Cincinnati, the loss that officially ends the Bengals’ season highlights why the status quo can no longer be upheld entering 2026.
Cincinnati should’ve been hyper-focused on keeping its season alive on the brink of death. Playing a divisional rival at home is the ideal environment to provide an additional motivation boost. The team looked lifeless and uninspired, except for a handful of moments on defense.
Needing to win the last four games just for an outside chance at winning the AFC North with a losing record is already an indictment on those in charge of building the roster. Failing to show up and putting up a stinker is an indictment of those in charge of leading on game days.
Scouting, team-building, coaching. It’s bad — all of it.
Or as Burrow put it: everything.
These are problems beyond the control of the QB, but “everything” is also what Burrow wants to be responsible for when he’s on the field.
“I want everything on my plate,” Burrow said. “I want that’s the position I want to be in, and I feel confident in all those guys in the locker room. Like I said today nobody, there’s not a team in the NFL that would have won the game today if I was quarterback.”
He’s right about the second part, but that doesn’t mean he’s right about the other parts.
When, or if, the Bengals become a good football team again, with Burrow under center, he will need to play better in these games to avoid future playoff eliminations.
But it really feels like everything needs to change to get back to that point.
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