Tag: Joe Burrow

Bengals’ bye week lot was almost empty except for…Joe Burrow’s car

Joe Burrow is putting in work during the Bengals bye week.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow isn’t the problem for the struggling team at the Week 12 bye — feel free to call that the understatement of the year.

Burrow would be the likely frontrunner for MVP if his team weren’t stuck in a 4-7 hole. And while the much-needed bye week likely means extra rest for players, it sounds like Burrow isn’t one of them, anyway.

When reporters pulled up a presser with Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, Burrow’s car was one of the only ones in the lot belonging to a player, according to Fox 19’s Jeremy Rauch: “Player parking lot was mostly empty when we showed up for Zac Taylor’s bye week presser today. Joe Burrow’s car was there.”

According to WLWT’s Charlie Clifford, Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said he spent most of the morning working with Burrow.

Spotlighting this isn’t meant to suggest that the rest of the Bengals roster should be in there putting in work on the only week off to fix this season. Players are human beings and need a break from the mental and physical side of their jobs, too.

But it is meant to spotlight Burrow’s passion for the game and desire to right the ship. If that isn’t infectious in the locker room and doesn’t spur better results, well, things are truly dire in Cincinnati, indeed.

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Joe Burrow responds to Zac Taylor’s comments about fixing Bengals

An interesting exchange featuring Zac Taylor and Joe Burrow after the loss to the Chargers.

The Cincinnati Bengals need a fix.

Whether that fix can come over the team’s bye week or is something much bigger for the offseason remains to be seen. Either way, the team fell to 4-7 with Sunday night’s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, and the comments in the aftermath are certainly interesting.

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, for example, said that “significant changes” aren’t necessary as they would represent the team panicking. He added that “something special can still be here” as the playoffs aren’t out of reach just yet.

When asked about these comments at his own presser and whether Taylor is right, Burrow merely said “hope so.”

It was about as dejected as anyone will ever see Burrow, who admitted this is by far the toughest season of his career at any level.

In some respects, Taylor is right — the Bengals remain in close games against great teams, yet stumble into new ways to lose each time. Sunday night was two missed kicks, a dropped interception that would have gone back for a touchdown and other mistakes.

At this rate, though, the playoffs are a near-impossibility, and Bengals fans calling for Taylor’s job won’t exactly go away. The Bengals are talented enough to stay in games, but it’s clear something is just missing this year.

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Everything to know from Chargers’ win over Bengals

Here’s our recap of the Chargers’ thrilling win over the Bengals.

What. A. Game.

The Chargers outlasted the Bengals on Sunday night, improving to 7-3.

Here’s our recap of the Week 11 win.

It was over when…

J.K. Dobbins rushed for a 29-yard touchdown with 18 seconds remaining.

Notable number

According to ESPN’s Benjamin Solak, Justin Herbert now has 15 game-winning drives in his career. Only Patrick Mahomes and Kirk Cousins have more since 2020 when Herbert entered the league.

3 stars of the game

  1. QB Justin Herbert: Herbert was lights out in the first half. While he wasn’t nearly as sharp in the second half, Herbert made two big throws on the final drive to guide the team to victory.
  2. WR Ladd McConkey: McConkey finished with 123 yards on six catches, including two big receptions on the final possession to put the Chargers in Bengals territory.
  3. RB J.K. Dobbins: Dobbins had 11 carries for 56 yards and two rushing touchdowns, including the game-winner.

Quick hits

  • Herbert delivered dime after dime in the first half, completing 10 of 14 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns. But that same level of play didn’t carry over into the second half.
  • The Chargers could not move the ball and went three and out on half of their offensive possessions, all while the Bengals crept back to tie the game off of 21 unanswered points, led by Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins.
  • The Bengals had two opportunities in the fourth quarter to take the lead, but Evan McPherson missed his go-ahead field goal attempts from 48 and 51 yards.
  • In previous years, Los Angeles would have blown that type of game (it gave me flashbacks to the playoff loss to the Jaguars). But the defense made a big stop at the end, Herbert rallied the offense with two big throws to McConkey, and Dobbins delivered the knockout punch.
  • Herbert finished the game 17-of-36 passing for 297 yards, two touchdowns, and five carries for 65 yards. While he didn’t benefit from some dropped passes, there were a few instances of him missing receivers in the second half. Herbert also lost a fumble early in the fourth quarter.
  • For the first time this season, the Chargers’ defense gave up more than 20 points. They allowed the Bengals to convert on all three of their fourth-down attempts. Cincinnati totaled 452 yards.

What’s next?

The Chargers host the Ravens next Monday night, Nov. 25, at 5:15 pm PT.

Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase connect to complete comeback vs. Chargers

The Bengals tied the game in the fourth quarter.

The Cincinnati Bengals stormed back out of a 27-6 hole to tie Sunday night’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers at 27-27 when Joe Burrow found Ja’Marr Chase for a 17-yard score.

It was an MVP-worthy drive from Burrow after his defense forced a turnover, as he escaped multiple drive-ending sacks and kept moving the chains.

Same deal on the touchdown, as Burrow got away, directed Chase on where to go and took a massive hit to deliver the touchdown ball.

If nothing else, it was a tone-setter for a team that looked like it had given up in the first half with the season on the line.

 

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3 bold predictions for Chargers in Week 11 vs. Bengals

Sunday Night Football will be in Los Angeles for the Chargers-Bengals in Week 11, a huge matchup for AFC playoff implications.

We’ve got a huge matchup in Los Angeles that will have major implications on the AFC playoff picture. The Chargers are coming off three consecutive victories, and at this point, Jim Harbaugh’s unit seems destined for the postseason.

On the flip side, the Bengals fell to 4-6 last week and have hung on for dear life in the playoff picture. Here are some bold predictions for this week’s contest.

Quarterbacks combine for 550+ passing yards

The quarterbacks in this matchup, Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert, have been playing unbelievable football recently. Each of them is undoubtedly a top-10 quarterback in the NFL. Herbert has looked fully healthy since the team’s bye week and has been the main reason for their recent winning streak. Burrow is playing at an MVP level, as he’s the league leader in passing yards and tied for the most touchdown passes.

Joshua Palmer hauls in catch of 40+ yards

The Bengals’ pass defense is exceptionally vulnerable, allowing the 10th-most yards through the air in 2024. In particular, the Chargers offense should be able to target Cam Taylor-Britt on the outside. The Bengals cornerback has allowed 37 receptions this season, the 11th-most in the league. A guy like Palmer should be able to take advantage of this and connect on a deep ball with Herbert. Palmer has just one touchdown the season but has six straight games with a catch of at least 24 yards.

Gus Edwards scores first TD as Charger

After 13 rushing touchdowns in 2023, Edwards has still yet to find the endzone as a Charger in 2024. There may not be a better opportunity than this weekend, as the Bengals have allowed 13 rushing TDs this season. That’s tied for fifth most in the NFL, and Edwards reclaimed the backup running back role last weekend.

Najee Harris compares Steelers-Ravens rivalry to Alabama-LSU

Najee Harris compares the Steelers-Ravens rivalry to his Alabama days battling Joe Burrow’s LSU, highlighting the physicality of Week 11.

Najee Harris, currently outperforming expectations during his contract year, is the heart and soul of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ impressive rushing attack in 2024, averaging 4.1 yards per carry, on 157 rushing attempts for 645 yards through nine games.

During Thursday’s media availability, Harris explained that he expects physicality to play a pivotal role in the Week 11 matchup against the Steelers’ AFC North rivals, the Baltimore Ravens.

When asked what the rivalry between the Steelers and Ravens means to him, Harris took trip down memory lane, explaining that it reminds him of his college days at Alabama, going head-to-head with the Joe Burrow-led LSU.

The Steelers’ RB has an opportunity to showcase his team’s desire to further solidify their place in the AFC North divisional title race, and Harris’ physical, downhill running style could be exactly what the team needs to walk away victorious in Week 11.

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5 Bengals players to watch in Week 11 vs. Chargers

Despite their under-.500 record, the Bengals are still littered with talent all over the field, particularly on offense.

It’s been a difficult season for the Cincinnati Bengals, who sit at 4-6 after another heartbreaking loss in Week 10. Don’t let the record fool you though, this is still a dangerous football team, particularly on the offensive side of the ball.

It may be the biggest challenge of the year for Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. Another loss and the Bengals may lose any hope of sneaking into the postseason. Here are some players from the Bengals that the Chargers must keep an eye on this upcoming weekend:

WR Ja’Marr Chase

Let’s start with the best player on the field. Chase is one of the best wideouts in all of football, and he’s been exceptional in 2024. Heading into Week 11, he leads the NFL in catches (66), receiving yards (981), and receiving touchdowns (10). While the team’s record isn’t what they expected it to be, Chase has been nothing short of phenomenal.

TE Mike Gesicki

Gesicki has turned into an underrated signing for Cincinnati. In 10 contests, his 383 receiving yards ranks eighth amongst tight ends. With Tee Higgins out due to injury recently, Gesicki has turned into a nice secondary option in the passing game. The former Penn State product is second on the team in receiving yards behind Chase. He has 16 catches, 203 receiving yards, and two touchdowns over the last three games.

OT Orlando Brown

Brown signed a massive $64 million deal back in 2023, and it’s come with mixed results thus far. He’s been solid for the Bengals, but not quite worth that kind of money. The trenches will be a deciding factor in this weekend’s game, and that starts with Brown against the Chargers’ stellar pass rushers. Los Angeles tied for fourth in the NFL in sacks (31), so this will be a huge matchup to watch.

EDGE Trey Hendrickson

Hendrickson continues to fly under the radar around the NFL. He’s been a monster this season, as he leads the league in sacks (11.0) and is a frontrunner for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Hendrickson has added in 28 total tackles, three pass deflections, and a forced fumble. The Chargers have two legitimate offensive tackles, but they will be put to the test against this front.

CB Mike Hilton

Hilton is one of the best slot cornerbacks in the NFL, and he’s proved that again in 2024. His matchup against Ladd McConkey will be a deciding factor in this AFC matchup. Hilton always plays a physical brand of football and is known for being an exceptional blitzer as well.

Bengals’ Joe Burrow, Trey Hendrickson get injury report updates

Joe Burrow and Trey Hendrickson are on the Bengals injury report with new details.

The Cincinnati Bengals added some interesting things to the injury report before the team’s Week 11 meeting with the Los Angeles Chargers.

There, the Bengals added a new injury to the weekly listing for Joe Burrow. While he practiced in full, the “right wrist” destination was joined by a “left biceps” designation, too.

The team also added Trey Hendrickson to the report and he was “limited” on Wednesday with a neck injury.

For Hendrickson, that’s the first time he’s been on the report since roughly Week 4.

As for Burrow, the biceps designation stems from that unflagged late hit he suffered during last week’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

While both updates to the standard stuff aren’t concerning, they are something to watch throughout the week alongside the injury sagas to Orlando Brown Jr. and Tee Higgins.

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Key things to know about Chargers’ Week 11 opponent: Bengals

Here are some important things to know about the Bengals ahead of the Week 11 matchup with the Chargers.

The Chargers are at home to face the Bengals in primetime on Sunday, Nov. 17, at 5:20 p.m. PT.

To get you prepped for the Week 11 bout, here are five key things to know about Los Angeles’ opponent ahead of the matchup.

How things are going…

The Bengals are 4-6 on the season. Cincinnati has one-point losses to the Chiefs and Ravens.

Prolific passing attack

Jesse Minter will have his work cut out against Joe Burrow and company. The Bengals rank fourth in passing offense, averaging 254.8 yards per game. Burrow leads in the NFL with 2,672 yards and 24 touchdowns. He’s only thrown four interceptions.

Brace for Chase

Burrow’s top target, Ja’Marr Chase, has been a terror to opposing defenses. Chase leads the league in receptions (66), receiving yards (981) and touchdowns (10).

Rough rushing offense

The Bengals have had success through the air, but the same can’t be said about their ground game. Cincinnati is 29th in rushing yards per game (89.7). Chase Brown is the team’s lead back. They acquired Khalil Herbert last week from the Bears after Zack Moss sustained a season-ending neck injury.

Dreadful defense

The Bengals have been able to score points, but they’ve struggled to prevent them, as they’ve allowed 26.2 PPG (26th). Cincinnati ranks 23rd and 17th in pass and rush defense, respectively. However, their issues have been in critical situations. The team ranks 31st in red zone percentage (71.88%) and 29th in third-down conversion percentage (45.80%).

Look out for…

Chase. This will be the biggest test for the Chargers’ cornerbacks this season. He’s capable of taking over a game with his big-play ability.

Bengals gamble, get Joe Burrow help in 2025 NFL mock draft

The Bengals ignore the defense and get Joe Burrow another weapon.

The Cincinnati Bengals remain in the playoff hunt despite the miserable record and falling short of expectations.

But that doesn’t mean fans can’t glance at 2025 NFL mock drafts yet.

In that realm of NFL coverage, they will find plenty of mocks that get the defense some help, whether it’s along the struggling line or in the secondary.

But a select few go ahead and give Joe Burrow another weapon, too.

Take, for instance, a new mock from The Draft Network’s Keith Sanchez, who has the Bengals grabbing Michigan tight end Colston Loveland:

Since Joe Burrow became the quarterback of the Bengals, the tight end position has been a revolving door. This year, the Bengals take a swing at finding a player who could be their long-term solution at tight end in Michigan’s Colston Loveland. Loveland has high-level athletic traits that make him a mismatch for both linebackers and safeties. As the Bengals figure out which superstar receivers they’re going to pay, they draft a high-end tight end to help solidify the offense and clear up the picture.

Quietly, tight end is a bigger need than it gets credit for right now in Cincinnati now that rookie Erick All Jr. has suffered another injury. Veteran Mike Gesicki is on a one-year deal, too.

A 6’5″ weapon like Loveland would certainly help the offense and life after Tee Higgins could prove to be rough, should it happen. But this type of pick would prevent the defense from getting some much-needed help, too.

If nothing else, though, it’s one scenario to keep an eye on from here.

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