Joe Burrow needs better commitment from Bengals to deliver their first-ever Super Bowl
Cincinnati Bengals have to fix a lot of problems on their roster if they are to help Joe Burrow win their first ever Super Bowl.
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Cincinnati Bengals have to help Joe Burrow lift their first Super Bowl (Image via Imago)
After Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals lost Super Bowl LVI, fans of the franchise were genuinely excited for their future. A then 26-year-old QB taking in only his second year that too with a head coach in his third year on the job was something they could not think of in more than 35 years of football.
However, since that Super Bowl, their hopes have faded away as the franchise has struggled to make it to the playoffs for the second year running. With their fellow AFC contenders becoming stronger by the day, it seems the Bengals are losing track of what is needed to win football games.
Last season, injuries to Joe Burrow were the excuse. But their performances this year have been abhorrent at best. They won against mediocre teams and lost to playoff contenders. Most of those wins were due to their quarterback’s heroics, which brings the spotlight to the roster, coaching as well as the front office.
Few days back, they addressed some of their coaching problems by firing DC Lou Anarumo along with coach’s responsible for the offensive and defensive lines as well as linebacker groups. All of those groups were part of the struggle that ultimately ended their season early.
This opens the door for the Cincinnati Bengals to start afresh. If they want to utilize Joe Burrow’s prime and help the franchise win its first ever Super Bowl, they have to think long and hard about how to fix the problems that plagued their season.
Defense, defense, defense
The most evident problem the Cincinnati Bengals faced all season long was their substandard defense. They do have some stud players as part of the front four. But other than that, they do not have solid contributors.
Their slide down the defensive rankings started before the 2023 season, when they lost two star players to free agency. They have never been able to bring in players equal or better than them since. The current group struggled with missed tackles, lack of consistent pressure up front and pass coverage etc.
Lou Anarumo was the reason the Bengals defense peaked during their Super Bowl run and the season after that. But he could not improve this iteration of the defense as they have struggled for two full seasons. However, the problems don’t stop with his or the dismissal of other defensive coaches.
Director of player personnel and GM Duke Tobin needs to shoulder part of the blame. First, he has to bring in a solid defensive coach along with some good assistants. Once they figure out the scheme they will adopt, Tobin has to work with them to narrow down the players they need.
The Bengals need contributors all across their defense. Therefore, they have to look both at the draft as well as the free agent market to improve this group. They have to go from a bottom of the league defense to at least a mid-packer if Burrow has to get some breathing space.
Joe Burrow needs more breathing space
The defense might be the most glaring problem the Cincinnati Bengals had all season long. However, the franchise fired their offensive line coach after his unit could not keep Joe Burrow upright enough to throw a few more touchdowns.
In fact, the superstar quarterback is joint fourth in most sacks taken in the season. The Bengals had signed crucial offensive line reinforcements. But injuries took a toll, and the backups struggled to protect their quarterback. All the teams ahead of them in the AFC have decent to very good offensive lines.
A line’s importance is felt when the offense struggles against top defenses, again something that the top teams in the AFC possess. Without adequate protection, a quarterback can only do so much. Even if Burrow had his best season statistically, there are enough signs to indicate it could have been better.
His elite receivers were shifty enough to create separation after the catch, which can gloss over many of the problems the lines faced. Without them racking up the YAC’s, the results would have been a lot worse. They need healthy offensive linemen who can give Burrow enough time as well as open holes for the run game otherwise despite being the favorite for almost all NFL betting sites, Burrow won’t make the playoffs.
Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase
Speaking about his elite receivers, that is another important decision the Cincinnati Bengals have to address. Those receivers are as important to that offense as is Joe Burrow. If it was not for their otherworldly capabilities, it is a doubt if the quarterback could have had the season he had.
They are the best tandem in the league and Burrow has not shied away from sending a message to his employer that he wants both Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase tied down for the long term. They both are looking for major paydays, which will make it difficult for the Bengals to manage it all.
However, if they choose to let Higgins go, it will mean that Burrow will have to rely on young receiver Andrei Iosivas and TE Mike Gesicki. Not a horrible suggestion considering they will save anywhere between $25-35 million annually.
But Higgins is a fantastic physical weapon who is difficult to guard in the red zone. His length helps haul in contested catches and avoid interceptions. Iosivas can take on that mantle, but if a Super Bowl is their immediate concern, the answer is Higgins.
In fact, the Bengals front office and coaching staff have to sit down and come up with a plan to ensure they get the right players in. Else, they will waste Joe Burrow’s prime. The franchise and its fans are longing for that first ever Super Bowl and this superstar quarterback can win it.
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Joseph Varghese
(2526 Articles Published)