Other than the obvious of Tom Brady with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, there weren’t many rookie debuts the football world was looking forward to more than that of the No. 1 overall pick and 2019 Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow against the Los Angeles Chargers.
While Burrow had himself a fine debut, there was plenty of talk about him on Twitter, most of it regarding him playing behind Cincinnati’s (insert adjective here) offensive line.
Joe Burrow is being sent out to slaughter. This #Bengals offensive line would even make Archie Manning blush. My goodness.
— Matt Barnthouse (@MattBarnthouse) September 13, 2020
Joe Burrow might be the next Greg Cook, but he's gonna be the next David Carr behind this offensive line.
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) September 13, 2020
You really hope Burrow doesn’t suffer the fate David Carr did in 2002, when he was sacked a whopping 76 times, a record that still stands to this day.
And while Burrow showed off the fine arm he has, it was the feet that got the Bengals on the board first, as his first career NFL touchdown was a nice 23-yard run up the middle. Ironically enough, Tom Brady also scored his first touchdown as a Buccaneer on a rush as well, but on a QB sneak at the goal line.
That run was beautiful. Patience to wait for the block and then goes for 6.
— Vance Meek (@vancemeek) September 13, 2020
That was the longest touchdown run for a debuting NFL quarterback in Week 1 since Michael Vick back in 2001.
Burrow was doing fine up until late in the fourth quarter. With about five minutes left, the Bengals were in position to at least tie the game at 16. Burrow then tried to get a little too cute, attempted a shovel pass to Joe Mixon and was picked off by Melvin Ingram.
Oh no, Joe Burrow pic.twitter.com/AF1enByFNq
— Going Deep Podcast (@goingdeep) September 13, 2020
Even after that, the Bengals gave Burrow a chance to win the game in his first potential game-winning drive in the NFL. And he acted like a seasoned veteran rather than a first-game player.
Someone tell Burrow he’s supposed to be nervous
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) September 13, 2020
I don’t think Burrow was nervous. He’s been through this a time or two. Just not in the NFL, until today. Burrow did everything he could to give Cincinnati the win.
Cincinnati even thought they had the win when Burrow connected with A.J. Green in the end zone but Green was called for offensive pass interference. It was close, to say the least.
That's a tough call in that spot. But man, did Joe Burrow show something on that possession.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) September 13, 2020
And then…
oh my gosh he missed it
are you kidding me??!?!?!!?a 31-yarder?????
— Jason McIntyre (@jasonrmcintyre) September 13, 2020
Not only that, but Randy Bullock may have pulled a hamstring on that kick.
An absolutely brutal way for the Bengals to lose. Final score: Chargers 16, Bengals 13. An excellent debut for Burrow but it ends it utter disappointment. And it’s a short turnaround for the Bengals. They play on Thursday night in a battle of two former No. 1 overall picks as Burrow and the Bengals visit Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns.
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