Joe Burrow, Bengals Shut Out by Ravens: Chris Canty Questions QB's Passion After Playoff Elimination
The Cincinnati Bengals' season came to a crashing halt on Sunday, and the performance that sealed it is raising serious questions - not just about execution, but about energy.
In a 24-0 home loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense never found their footing. The shutout officially eliminated Cincinnati from playoff contention, and the fallout from the loss has been swift. Among the most pointed critiques came from former Super Bowl champion and ESPN analyst Chris Canty, who didn’t hold back when assessing Burrow’s demeanor and play.
“He looked like someone who was disinterested in being out there,” Canty said during his appearance on ESPN’s Unsportsmanlike Monday morning. “I’m not trying to be disrespectful to Joe Burrow, because I think he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the league when he’s right, but clearly he’s not. And as a result, that offense and that team is going to struggle.”
Canty’s take wasn’t just about the stat line - it was about the body language, the missed throws, the uncharacteristic inaccuracy from a quarterback known for his poise and precision. Burrow was off-target throughout the afternoon, and the Ravens defense made sure he never found a rhythm.
“Joe Burrow missing passes high, Joe Burrow being inaccurate with the football - those are just things we’re not accustomed to seeing,” Canty added.
What’s fueling the scrutiny even more is the context. Just days before the game, Burrow had made comments about “having fun” and keeping things light, even as the Bengals clung to faint playoff hopes. For Canty and others, that juxtaposition - the laid-back tone followed by a flat performance - raised red flags about whether the franchise quarterback was fully locked in.
“When you have yesterday’s performance be prefaced by the comments that he made last week,” Canty said, “you start to question whether or not the player has the passion that’s requisite to go out there and play in the NFL - especially at that position, because quarterback is a leadership spot by nature.”
It’s a tough pill to swallow for a Bengals team that came into the year with high expectations. Burrow’s early-season play had Cincinnati off to a 2-0 start, but a turf toe injury sidelined him for seven games. Since returning, the Bengals have gone 1-2, including a narrow five-point loss to Buffalo before Sunday’s unraveling against Baltimore.
To his credit, Burrow didn’t duck responsibility after the loss. He faced the music head-on and didn’t sugarcoat what went wrong.
“I think this is one of the worst games that I’ve played,” Burrow said postgame. “I’m honest with myself and my play, and I hold myself to a high standard, and today didn’t come close.”
That kind of accountability is what you expect from a franchise leader - and it’s a reminder of the standard Burrow has set for himself since entering the league. But the reality is, the Bengals’ offense hasn’t looked right since his return. Whether it’s lingering effects from the injury, rust, or something deeper, the spark just hasn’t been there.
Now, with the postseason officially out of reach, Cincinnati is left to play for pride. Their next test?
A red-hot Miami Dolphins team riding a four-game win streak. It’s not the stage the Bengals hoped to be on in mid-December, but it’s a chance to regain some identity and finish the season with a little fight.
For Burrow, that starts with bouncing back - not just on the stat sheet, but in the way he leads this team through adversity. The questions are swirling, and the spotlight isn’t going anywhere.