The solution to Joe Burrow’s biggest problem during Bengals’ playoff drought is already in motion
Instilling a sense of urgency in the locker room is not the only thing quarterback Joe Burrow is doing to get the Cincinnati Bengals back to the postseason. Burrow knows he needs to stay healthy, and signs from Week 1 indicate he means what he says.
Instilling a sense of urgency in the locker room is not the only thing quarterback Joe Burrow is doing to get the Cincinnati Bengals back to the postseason.
It’s been three years since Cincinnati played in the playoff game. In the NFL, that’s a career for most players.
“It’s a long time ago,” Burrow said in a recent interview with ESPN’s Marty Smith. “It’s a long time ago, unfortunately.”
Burrow knows his injuries have played a major part in the drought. He missed 16 games from 2023-25. The Bengals went 5-11 in those contests when he was out with a season-ending wrist injury, and then turf toe.
In order to avoid another extended absence, Burrow is making a concerted effort this season to make smarter decisions pertaining when he can put his body at risk.
“Injuries have certainly played a role in that,” Burrow said. “And so that’s been a big focus of mine is trying to mitigate risk this season and find my places to go and make plays and then I have to take outside the box, but at the same time, understand when I want to mitigate that risk and put myself in a situation of safety.”
The interview occurred prior to Cincinnati’s Week 1 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That game showed Burrow means what he says.
Joe Burrow’s risk-averse Week 1 performance
Burrow didn’t have one of his best games against Tampa. Throwing a pick-six while only converting 50% of red zone trips leaves plenty of room for improvement. Where Burrow did impress was getting the ball out quickly and keeping his pressure-to-sack rate very low.
Pro Football Focus charted seven pressures on Burrow allowed by his offensive line. One additional pressure was generated by the Bucs. Only one of the eight total pressures became a sack on the 29-year-old QB.
That’s a 12.5% pressure to sack rate, the 11th-best in the NFL for Week 1. His career percentage is 22.2%. His average time to throw was also quite low at 2.51 seconds. That was good enough for fourth in the league this past week.
Burrow was also one of 15 QBs to scramble once or zero times. His lone scramble went for six yards and a first down. He changed a call to a QB draw later in he afternoon that went for 12 yards and was hit late on the ground which resulted in a penalty.
A positive first step for Burrow
There will always be moments in which Burrow needs to make plays with his legs, and try to buy time in the pocket. But the math is very simple. The fewer times he gets hit, the smaller chance he suffers an injury. Keeping his sack rate and average time to throw low will help him stay on the field.
Burrow taking on this point of emphasis comes at a perfect time considering his offensive line is as good as it’s ever been. The O-line, led by right tackle Amarius Mims, played exceptional against a usually dangerous Tampa Bay defensive front. His mindset with better protection in front of him makes for a phenomenal combination for the Bengals going forward.
It will be put to the test Sunday against the Houston Texans with All-Pro Will Anderson, and five-time Pro Bowler Danielle Hunter coming off the edges. If a similar result occurs, Burrow’s solution will have undeniable momentum for the rest of the year.
