It’s been a trying season for the Cincinnati Bengals and Joe Burrow. The Bengals entered 2024 with Super Bowl aspirations. Instead, they are just 6-8 and sit on the outside of the AFC playoff picture with only three games left in the regular season.
Even in the midst of a double-digit Bengals win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, it seems Burrow is so frustrated with his team’s malaise.
As the Bengals ran out the clock on Tennessee, Fox cameras captured Burrow having a heated discussion with head coach Zac Taylor on the sideline, who seemingly tried comforting his starting quarterback about something as he sat on the bench.
(Warning: NSFW language is apparent in the sequence below.)
— JakesBengalsVideos (@JakeBengalsClip) December 15, 2024
The problem for the Bengals here is that Burrow could’ve been angry about many different things.
- He could’ve been frustrated over Cincinnati’s general inconsistency. Which, fair. Elite quarterbacks hate wasted football seasons more than anyone.
- He could’ve been incensed about the Bengals’ mediocre defense that let the Titans hang around more than they should’ve. Cincinnati’s defense hasn’t pulled its weight all year. Again, fair.
- He could’ve been furious about safety Jordan Battle losing the ball as he crossed the goal line for a touchdown. I’d keep this kind of criticism more private, but whatever, that’s fair, too.
- He could’ve been mad at himself for throwing two picks — including an interception to big man T’Vondre Sweat — against one of the NFL’s worst defenses. Burrow holds himself to a high standard, so I wouldn’t be shocked to learn it was this.
Even in a victory, the Bengals had a laundry list of issues to run through, not all of which were likely related to Sunday’s game.
So, if Burrow is irate about the state of the Bengals, who could possibly blame him?