On Thursday night Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and the Cincinnati Bengals were looking for their third win on the season. To do it, Burrow would have to best his former head coach Urban Meyer. It would also put Burrow and Trevor Lawrence head-to-head for the first time since the 2019 CFP National Championship game.
After the first half of play, the former Heisman Trophy winner was 8/12 for 95 yards. Burrow and the Bengals were down 14-0. When they came out for the second half, it was all about the quarterback doing what he wanted. Burrow would be near perfect in the second half of this game, including a late drive to set up the game-winning field goal.
Burrow finished out the second half with a ridiculous line. He was 17/20 for 253 yards and two touchdowns. On the final drive of the game, Burrow completed all five of his passes for 68 yards. No play was bigger than when he audibled at the line of scrimmage to a screen play that helped set up the field goal.
Facing a second and 13 from the Jacksonville 46 yard line, Burrow called for the wide receiver screen to the right side. Jaguars brought the pressure but he executed the play and the Bengals were just outside the red zone after the 25-yard pickup.
Following the game, Burrow was asked about the play. “I know the defensive coordinator (Joe Cullen) had a Baltimore background,” Burrow said. “They showed some zero (blitz) on film and I knew I’d have to be ready for it in a big spot.”
Only twice has in his career has Trevor Lawrence had a lead of 10+ points since high school and go on to lose that game. Both losses came at the hands of Joe Burrow.
For the first time in his short career, Ja’Marr Chase didn’t score a touchdown in the game. He did finish with six receptions for 77 yards, including a 44-yard reception. Burrow and the Bengals will face the Green Bay Packers next.