When the Cincinnati Bengals made Joe Burrow the No. 1 pick following the 2019 season, many believed the team was getting a special player. His rookie season was cut short due to a horrific injury but he came back in 2021 to prove he was worth that No. 1 pick. Since being reunited with Ja’Marr Chase, the two have guided Cincy to the top of the AFC North.
On Sunday, Burrow delivered a Christmas gift to Baltimore. It just wasn’t a gift that any of them wanted. He became the only quarterback to throw for 400 yards and three touchdowns against their defense twice. Doing so in the same season per Touchdown Wire.
Throughout the history of the Baltimore Ravens’ franchise, an organization known for stout defense above all, only five quarterbacks have thrown more than 400 yards and more than three touchdowns against them in a single game.
The list includes Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, and Eli Manning. Joe Burrow made quarterback No. 5 on Oct. 24 in Baltimore. The Ravens defense allowed the former LSU Tiger to account for 416 yards with three touchdowns in that game. Cincinnati won the game 41-17 on that day. And then Joe Burrow did it again.
Once again the Bengals put up 41 points on the Ravens defense. Only this time Burrow accounted for 525 yards with four touchdowns in the game. In two games this season he accumulated 941 yards and seven touchdowns against a team that is known for defense.
Burrow also became the first-ever Cincinnati Bengal to throw for 500 or more yards in a game. His 525 yards were good enough for the fourth-most in a game in all-time NFL history. Burrow sits behind Norm Van Brocklin (554), Matt Schaub (527), and Warren Moon (527).
Not bad for a guy in his second season. The sky is the limit for the former national champion and Heisman Trophy winner.