Cincy Jungle
As the Cincinnati Bengals gear up for the 2025 campaign, fans can always know they’ll have a chance simply because Joe Burrow is their quarterback. Despite the worst guard play in the NFL and one of the worst defenses in the league, Burrow’s MVP-level season in 2024 had them contending for a playoff spot in the NFL’s final day of the regular season.
With the offseason wrapping up, The New York Times released their annual quarterback tier rankings for the fourth consecutive season. Burrow earned Tier 1 honors.
“He is the closest thing to Joe Montana that I have seen,” a head coach told Mike Sando. “That is about as big a compliment I can give you as a quarterback.”
Burrow told the media this offseason that if he had played better last season, the Bengals would have made the playoffs. While that is the right move for a leader and face of the franchise, nobody with real football acumen would blame Burrow for the Bengals falling short last season.
“To me, it’s Mahomes and then Burrow if I had to rank them,” a veteran offensive coach said to The New York Times.
Burrow also earned another top ranking: In Dan Orlovsky’s rankings for pocket presence, decision-making with the football, mechanics, and ball placement.
Fans know Burrow is one of, if not the best in the game. That goes for media members, front offices, and coaches all around the NFL. The accolades usually land Patrick Mahomes over him in rankings, but make no mistake about it, the gap between Burrow and Mahomes is not very large.
If the new-look offensive guard room and Al Golden’s defense can help Burrow out, there is no reason he can’t add an MVP and even a Lombardi Trophy to his resume.
We can only hope.
