You're right, D coordinators adjusted
Defenses lined up against the Bengals very differently this year, basically trying to take anything over the top away from Chase and forcing Burrow to take fewer shots/be more methodical
So Burrow adjusted and had another MVP-like season
Burrow improved tremendously in terms of reading coverages and getting the ball out faster, despite another year of not great offensive line play. Even when Bengals OLine was healthy, it wasn't a good unit.
Burrow hid a lot of the line flaws with his quick decision-making and his incredible accuracy.
Burrow also showed much better pocket awareness and that he's a fully capable runner as well, despite being a traditional style QB
Except realistically Burrow wasn't really tested against the upper echolon D coordinators during the season as the Bengals benefited from one of the softer schedules in the league, including 4 games against the woeful NFC South.
I expect what we witnessed in the playoffs to be more the norm going forward, especially from the better teams. I know RedEye already mentioned the up and coming Steelers within that division.
Obviously scheduling isn't something within Burrow's control, though it should give anyone pause ready to slap the "franchise QB" on this guy.
Finally, of the names discussed in this thread, few would argue Burrow doesn’t have the best offensive weapons.
Allen would have won the SuperBowl with Chase and Higgins as his top two, even with that arm injury which threw his throwing mechanics out of whack.
He's just that good.
This is just blatantly inaccurate. What the fuck are you talking about? LOL
Steelers will be plucky, but their roster is vastly inferior to the Bengals. They're probably worse than the Ravens
Maybe Pickett makes a jump, but based on 2022 hard to be super encouraged by him.
I agree with this. But, he also has the worst offensive line of the bunch. His weaponry also isn't going to change this year, aside from maybe Mixon.
It was funny seeing after that Browns game how everyone thought the Bengals offense was toast without Chase on the field. Then Burrow has one of the best halves in NFL history without Chase on the field.....doesn't have him for several weeks and the offense gets rolling (Mixon wasn't playing for part of it either). Didn't lose again until the AFC Championship game.
You know what Avocado?
Bottom line: You gotta win with Chase and Higgins. There's your SuperBowl.
No excuses. No micro analysis.
Mahomes got it done with less.
These Bengals are cocky AF (Joey B especially) but so far, they haven't gotten the job done. The Rams had a stellar D, and we all saw what happened.
And once those guys get paid - IF they stay... You say yes, I say no - based on "market value", there won't be any money left over for anyone else.
And you wonder why I thought this team wouldn't make the playoffs back in Oct. lol
Bottom line: You gotta win with Chase and Higgins. There's your SuperBowl.
No excuses. No micro analysis.
Mahomes got it done with less.
These Bengals are cocky AF (Joey B especially) but so far, they haven't gotten the job done. The Rams had a stellar D, and we all saw what happened.
And once those guys get paid - IF they stay... You say yes, I say no - based on "market value", there won't be any money left over for anyone else.
And you wonder why I thought this team wouldn't make the playoffs back in Oct. lol
Every team has cocky players. I think it has benefitted Bengals more than hurt them.
I’ll say it is annoying to say average guys like Eli Apple squawk. But is inconsequential.
Burrow doesn’t talk much trash at all, so not sure what you’re talking about. He definitely is confident but he respects his opponent. I’d be confident too if I was a top 2 NFL QB and about to be worth 9 figures
Bengals definitely have the money to keep Burrow/Chase/Higgins for a while
The ol never can be wrong, move the goal posts style of arguing
watches the other arguments get debunked, so now it’s time to move to the wide receivers They will keep all 3 at around their market value IMO
Why couldn’t Allen win straight up as a 6 point favorite at home against Burrow? Why did he get blown out?
Allen was injured which affected his throwing mechanics (a point you harp on for his "lack of accuracy") and the team experienced more trauma, injuries and hardship than I've ever seen, all factors I underestimated because I wasn't in the locker room. To a man, that team was emotionally gassed and had nothing left to give against the Bengals... Or any other team.The ol never can be wrong, move the goal posts style of arguing
They will keep all 3 at around their market value IMO
Why couldn’t Allen win straight up as a 6 point favorite at home against Burrow? Why did he get blown out?
No moving goalposts and no points for second place.
He has all the tools and weapons, so if he's as elite as you claim, what's Burrow's excuse?
Even when he is healthy, Allen's accuracy is pretty average by NFL standards I'd say.
His mechanics are flawed. He's never gonna have Brady or Burrow like mechanics ever, that's pretty much textbook-level shit. Mahomes, Herbert, Rodgers are good examples of accurate throwers without the best mechanics (though they contrast a bit stylistically). Allen can't quite hide his mechanical issues as much because he doesn't put good touch on the ball. He just doesn't have the touch that those others guys have.... a lot of balls thrown too hard, or air-maling, etc.. That's something you can improve on (he has) but easy to reach ceiling on.
That doesn't mean he can't succeed. He's still very good, and his physical talent and running ability obviously helps him a ton.
Completion % lol...
Not Allen's fault if nobody can catch the ball.
So there's this secret stat called Clean Pocket Efficiency.
Take a look ? ? ?
People talk about "twitch athleticism" or QBs under pressure..
Josh has "twitch IQ" - speedy visual processing- coupled with physical gifts. An absolute cyborg.
As you can see, nobody comes close, not even Mahomes and certainly not Burrow.
Elite.
Imagine what Josh could do with Chase and Higgins.
Just imagine..
Oh okay, disregard an important state like completion % but reach for a very obscure, insignificant stat.....OK.Completion % lol...
Not Allen's fault if nobody can catch the ball.
So there's this secret stat called Clean Pocket Efficiency.
Take a look ? ? ?
View attachment 59990
People talk about "twitch athleticism" or QBs under pressure..
Josh has "twitch IQ" - speedy visual processing- coupled with physical gifts. An absolute cyborg.
As you can see, nobody comes close, not even Mahomes and certainly not Burrow.
Elite.
Imagine what Josh could do with Chase and Higgins.
Just imagine..
Hard for receivers to catch a ball that is overthrown by 10 yards consistently
