When the Seattle Seahawks defensive coaches go over the sport tape of Cincinnati Bengals vs. Arizona Cardinals with gamers, the primary play that they need to present is Joe Burrow’s 10-yard scramble on the finish of the third quarter. The second ought to be Burrow operating in a literal circle to evade a rusher earlier than finishing a go.
After that, the Seahawks’ defensive coaches ought to delete the information from the Bengals’ 4 video games previous to the Week 5 win in entrance of the gamers. Burrow is as soon as once more cell, agile, and hostile. He’s again to enjoying just like the quarterback who was thought of probably the greatest within the NFL, and even together with his early season struggles, the Bengals are firmly within the combine for a playoff spot.
Within the AFC, Solely the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots have been true disasters by way of 5 video games. They’re the one 1-4 groups within the convention. Each different group has a document of not less than 2-3. That document has the Bengals, whereas close to the underside of the standings, solely two video games behind the AFC leaders, the Miami Dolphins and Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
The Bengals solely two wins this season are towards the Los Angeles Rams and the Cardinals. Nonetheless, in that Week 5 victory in Glendale, Ariz., Burrow lastly seemed just like the participant who pushed the earlier two Tremendous Bowl champions to the brink.
He accomplished 78.2 p.c of his passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday. All three scores went to Ja’Marr Chase, who was spectacular with practically 200 yards receiving, proving his idea right that he’s at all times f*cking open. Power-feeding probably the greatest extensive receivers within the NFL is at all times an excellent technique to get out of a funk, however Burrow was doing way over simply heaving the ball in Chase’s course.
An injured calf had hampered Burrow because the starting of coaching camp. From the second that the Bengals took the sector in Week 1, he performed like a shell of himself. And in Week 2, he suffered a setback.
Whereas Burrow shouldn’t be going in charge the Bengals’ early-season woes solely on his damage, he has admitted that it required a workaround. When talking to the media final Wednesday, he mentioned that the “fast twitch” a part of his recreation had not been fairly prepared. That was just a few days after the Bengals have been blown out, 27-3, by the Tennessee Titans in Week 4.
Within the trendy NFL, motion within the pocket is critical. Defensive linemen are too massive and too agile for quarterbacks to frequently take five-step dropbacks and rely solely on a fast launch. Burrow is likely one of the greatest within the league at utilizing his ft to assist him make performs together with his arm.
Towards the Cardinals on Sunday, the twitch was twitching shortly. Despite the fact that Burrow was sacked 3 times and hit on 4 different performs, his calf was nicely sufficient for him to get the place he needed to be on the sector. He was now not lumbering within the pocket. Burrow was in a position to evade rushers, transfer the pocket, and alter his launch angles. He mentioned after the win that sidestepping a defender within the first quarter was big for his confidence.
“It’s one thing that I haven’t been in a position to do for the final couple of weeks,” Burrow mentioned to the media. “So when your quarterback can’t do this, can’t steal first downs, can’t lengthen the play just a little bit to search out some guys, it’s powerful to maneuver the ball.”
If all of Burrow’s bodily instruments keep accessible to him for the remainder of the season, anticipate the Bengals to finish this season the best way that they’ve the final three. They may possible once more be competing for a championship as a result of their quarterback could make as many massive performs as anybody.
