Since putting his name at the bottom of the largest contract in NFL history by annual value, Joe Burrow has not been the same. Not because his head is swollen, but rather because he has never been so out of control.
The $275 million man’s performance is disastrous after 4 games: 2 touchdown passes, 87 successful passes in 151 attempts, a 57.6% success rate and only 728 passing yards.
The Bengals have just one win and three losses, good for last place in the AFC North Division and 24th in the NFL. An unenviable and unexpected situation for title contenders.
And beyond the result, the way in which the team loses its matches is all the more frustrating for its supporters. A 24-3 loss to the Cleveland Browns, a 27-24 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, a 19-16 win over the Los Angeles Rams and a 27-3 debacle to the Tennessee Titans.
Since the start of the campaign, the Bengals have heated up one of the best teams, been humiliated by two less strong teams on paper and were almost surprised by a team that did not participate in the playoffs last year. It makes no sense.
Surprisingly, throwing the rock at Joe Burrow would miss the target. Its production is insufficient, of course. At this point in the season last year, the 26-year-old quarterback had thrown four times as many touchdown passes and had already reached the 1,000-air-yard plateau.
The Bengals’ real problem, however, lies in the organization’s propensity to pretend it’s playing to lose.
In July, Burrow injured his right calf during an outdoor workout. His training camp was ruined and his preparation for the regular season was turned upside down. He did almost nothing during the entire month of August.
Knowing how critical Burrow is to the Cincinnati offense, star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase had implored the organization to leave his quarterback on the sidelines for the start of the season, at least three or four games, because “December is when it will be useful.”
Almost two months later, after their most recent loss, Chase, Burrow’s college teammate, publicly criticized him, telling members of the media that he was “always f*****g out.”
Because with Burrow’s decline, it’s impossible for his receivers to cause anything. Chase has not scored a touchdown since the start of the campaign. Tee Higgins had just 12 receptions. And Tyler Boyd is a ghost.
Sixty-four percent of Bengals offensive sequences end with the kicker on the field. And only 25% of them end with points on the board, which is good for second-to-last in the NFL.
Still, the blame for this entire fiasco must be placed on the Bengals’ management. Why send Burrow into the fray if he’s injured and diminished? In his cover, he is mixed up like Ephrem trying to tell a joke in the right order. Obviously he’s not at the top of his game. And the decision-makers are determined to leave it on the ground, at all costs.
This decision could also cost them a place in the playoffs. We just have to hope that no one gets burned playing with fire. With the epidemic of injuries plaguing star players this year, and Burrow’s new contract taking effect next year, the Bengals may long regret having mortgaged the biggest investment in their history.
The story is similar in New York and Minnesota, as the Giants and Vikings are equally disappointing.
Every Giants game since the start of the season has been a disaster. Even their only victory of the season, against the Arizona Cardinals, was humiliating.
Brian Daboll’s squad ranks last in the NFL in points scored, with 46. The coach would be a hit in the LNI, because he only improvises, sequence after sequence.
Although with Daniel Jones’ hands full of thumbs and his offensive line that lets him down, it’s complicated to be innovative. The pivot has thrown just two touchdown passes this season.
But with the third quarter among the highest paid in the NFL and elements like Saquon Barley, Darren Waller and good ammunition on defense, this remains unacceptable.
And if this team’s chemistry had been at the heart of its success last year, Jones began to shun his head coach on the sidelines Monday night. Like a kid who was denied an extra scoop of ice cream. Except this kid takes home $2.7 million per game.
In the Vikings’ defense, their schedule is a bit tougher than that of the Giants. They lost by one possession to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Chargers, before finally being able to breathe with a victory against the poor Carolina Panthers last Sunday.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins still leads the league with 11 touchdown passes and third in air yards with 1,214.
It’s a matter of time before things get back on track. However, they will face the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
At least they will face the Chicago Bears the following week. And it seems easier to win against the Bears this year than to find a branch of Chez Ashton in Quebec.
