Burrow Clarifies Comments After Bengals’ Shutout Loss to Ravens
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow addressed speculation regarding his future with the team following a disappointing 24-0 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on December 10, 2023. In the lead-up to the game, Burrow had suggested that enjoying the game was crucial for his continued career. This remark led to questions about his commitment to the Bengals, who selected him first overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. After the game, Burrow clarified, stating, “My comments had nothing to do with Cincinnati. My comments had everything to do with me and my mindset and football.”
Burrow’s performance in the Ravens game was notably below his usual standards. He completed 25 of 39 passes for 225 yards, failing to throw any touchdowns and throwing two interceptions, one of which was returned for a score. Reflecting on the game, he said, “I think this is one of the worst games that I’ve played. I’m honest with myself and my play, and I hold myself to a high standard, and today didn’t come close.”
The match was challenging from the outset, with Cincinnati failing to score in the first three quarters for the fourth time this season. The Bengals’ offense started strong, driving 11 plays before Burrow was sacked, pushing them out of field goal range. The first half concluded with a pass intended for wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase bouncing off his hands and into the grasp of Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey.
As the temperatures dipped to 10 degrees Fahrenheit with a wind chill of minus 1, many fans left the stadium early. Coach Zac Taylor shouldered significant blame for the team’s first home shutout since 2017, noting that the entire offense shared responsibility for the loss. Burrow echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for improvement across all levels of the team. “Bad football teams do losing things, and if you’re wanting to compete for championships and be in the playoffs, then number one, your quarterback has to play better than I did today,” he said.
Burrow’s teammates, however, felt he was being overly critical of himself. Left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. expressed his support, stating, “He is our engine, our source of energy. He’s the face of our organization, and it’s tough because reality is, it isn’t just all on him. A lot of things go into not being able to score a point on a Sunday.”
This defeat marked a significant moment for the Bengals, as they were eliminated from playoff contention earlier than any season since 2020. After a series of injuries, including a torn wrist ligament in 2023 and a turf toe injury earlier this season, Burrow has struggled to maintain the performance levels that saw him become a two-time Pro Bowl selection and an MVP finalist last season.
Despite the loss, Burrow remains optimistic about his future performance. He believes that the Ravens game is an outlier and not representative of his abilities. “He just loves the game,” Chase remarked about Burrow. “He just wants to be great at the end of the day. But like he told me, I’m not going to let him kill himself mentally by just one game he played bad in.”
As the Bengals look to regroup, Burrow’s focus remains on improving both his own game and the team’s overall performance as they aim to return to playoff contention in the coming seasons.
