The Cincinnati Bengals’ inability to protect quarterback Joe Burrow was a constant concern for the entire 2021 season and playoffs. Burrow was sacked 70 times in the regular season and playoffs — third most all-time. He was sacked 19 times in the playoffs alone, which made the run to the Super Bowl all the more astonishing.
So, it was only fitting that the Bengals’ season came to an end with Burrow under extreme pressure. That lack of time to operate likely robbed Burrow of a touchdown pass to Ja’Marr Chase.
On that final fourth-and-one play with 43 seconds to go, Aaron Donald busted through the Bengals’ O-line and forced Burrow into a desperate throw while Burrow was already wrapped up. Burrow had no time to go through his reads, and that’s too bad because Chase was WIDE OPEN.