Joe Burrow’s Struggles Run Deeper Than the Scoreboard - and That Should Worry the Bengals
Joe Burrow didn’t just lose a football game in Week 15 - he lost a piece of himself. The Bengals’ 24-0 shutout loss to the Ravens was bad on paper, but what’s more alarming is what’s happening beneath the surface with Cincinnati’s franchise quarterback.
Burrow, who’s long been known for his poise and toughness, publicly questioned his joy for the game in the days leading up to the loss. That admission hit harder than any sack.
Let’s be clear: Burrow’s not turning his back on football. This isn’t about the game itself, or his love for the craft.
It’s about the grind - the injuries, the rehab, the constant uphill battles, and the weight of carrying a franchise that hasn’t always done right by him. That’s where the cracks are starting to show.
The Bengals are officially out of the playoff picture. Burrow says he plans to start the final three games of the season, but you’d be forgiven for wondering what’s left in the tank - not physically, but emotionally. And that’s where former Colts center Jeff Saturday, who knows a thing or two about protecting elite quarterbacks, sees a red flag.
Saturday played nearly his entire career snapping the ball to Peyton Manning. He also saw firsthand what happened when the Colts failed to build the right infrastructure around another generational talent: Andrew Luck. The lack of protection, the constant hits, and the never-ending rehab cycles eventually drove Luck to walk away from the game at just 29 years old.
Now, with Burrow’s comments and his rough outing against Baltimore, it’s hard not to draw parallels.
“It’s concerning, and it’s much bigger, in my opinion, than football - than the Bengals,” Saturday said. “Can he find joy in playing?
It matters. You saw it.
And when a guy says that kind of stuff, and then goes out and has that kind of performance, you definitely link them together. It’s scary, because a really good one doesn’t feel like he’s loving the game that he’s playing.”
That’s not just postgame soundbite material - it’s a gut punch. Because if Burrow is starting to lose the spark, it’s not just about one bad game or one bad season. It’s about what happens when a franchise quarterback starts questioning whether it’s all worth it.
And let’s not pretend this came out of nowhere. Burrow’s been hit - a lot.
He’s dealt with major injuries, including a torn ACL and MCL as a rookie, and another season-ending wrist injury this year. He’s fought through it all with trademark toughness, even winning Comeback Player of the Year twice.
But no matter how many times he gets back up, the emotional toll is starting to show.
The Bengals haven’t done enough to protect their most valuable asset. They’ve made some moves along the offensive line, sure, but the results haven’t matched the urgency.
And Zac Taylor’s system hasn’t consistently put Burrow in a position to avoid punishment. The hits keep coming, and with them, the questions keep getting louder.
What makes this stretch especially tough to watch is how different it all felt not long ago. Burrow was the confident, unshakable leader who took Cincinnati to the Super Bowl.
He was the guy who made the Bengals matter again. But now, he sounds more worn down than fired up.
And that’s not just about losing games - it’s about losing belief.
This offseason can’t come soon enough. Not because fans are expecting a blockbuster trade or a Super Bowl-or-bust overhaul.
But because Burrow needs a break - a real one. Time to reset, recharge, and hopefully rediscover the joy he once found in the game.
For now, all anyone can hope is that he gets through the final stretch of the season healthy. Because if this cycle of injury and frustration keeps repeating, the Bengals risk something far worse than missing the playoffs: losing the heart and soul of their franchise.
Stay upright, Joe. Cincinnati’s future depends on it.