Joe Burrow’s Frustration Boils Over as Bengals Spiral Out of Playoff Picture
Joe Burrow has never been one to shy away from the spotlight or the pressure that comes with being the face of a franchise. But after the Bengals were shut out 24-0 by the Ravens in Week 15, there’s no sugarcoating it - Cincinnati is reeling. And perhaps more telling than the scoreline was Burrow’s demeanor just a week earlier, following a heartbreaking 39-34 loss to the Buffalo Bills that officially ended the Bengals’ playoff hopes.
In his postgame press conference after that loss, Burrow didn’t just sound disappointed - he sounded worn down.
“If I want to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing it,” Burrow said. “I have been through a lot. And if it’s not fun, then what am I doing it for?”
That’s not a quarterback questioning his love for the game - that’s a competitor confronting the emotional toll of a season that’s gone completely sideways.
Former NFL head coach Jay Gruden weighed in on Burrow’s comments during an appearance on The Arena: Gridiron, and he didn’t hold back in his assessment of the emotional weight players like Burrow carry when things fall apart.
“Losing is poisonous, man. It has a major effect on great competitors,” Gruden said.
“He’s a great competitor, obviously. So when they get knocked out of the playoffs, he’s definitely going to be a little bit down and shaken.”
Gruden pointed to the grind of playing without a postseason goal in sight - a reality that’s tough to stomach for someone wired like Burrow. The Bengals are no longer in the hunt, and that changes everything.
The motivation shifts. The stakes feel different.
And for a player who’s battled through multiple injuries, it’s understandable that the emotional fatigue would start to show.
“It gets to be a little bit monotonous,” Gruden added. “You’re not playing for your ultimate goal… division championships and Super Bowls. You’re knocked out of that.”
Burrow is now in his sixth NFL season since being drafted No. 1 overall in 2020. His resume already includes a Super Bowl appearance and two Comeback Player of the Year awards - both earned after season-ending injuries.
He’s proven he can lead, he can battle, and he can bounce back. But even for someone as resilient as Burrow, this season has tested every fiber of that toughness.
Earlier this year, he spent 10 weeks on injured reserve with a turf toe injury. And while he made it back to the field, it’s clear the cycle of injury, rehab, and trying to spark a struggling team has taken a toll. The Bengals have dropped back-to-back games, and with a 4-10 record, they’re staring down a long offseason.
Still, Gruden emphasized the importance of Burrow staying locked in - not just for himself, but for the locker room that looks to him for leadership.
“Maybe had a tough drive in, little emotional Joe, chill out, alright?” Gruden said. “You’re still the starting quarterback, and your team relies on you and your passion for the game… You can’t have press conferences like that.”
It’s a fair point. Burrow’s energy has always been a catalyst for this Bengals team.
When he’s firing on all cylinders, the entire operation hums. But when the weight of the season starts to show - especially publicly - it can send a ripple effect through a young roster.
Now, with two games left, the Bengals head to Miami to face the 6-8 Dolphins in Week 16. It’s not a playoff preview.
It’s not a high-stakes showdown. But for Burrow and Cincinnati, it’s a chance to reclaim some pride, reset the tone, and lay the groundwork for what comes next.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium. The road ahead may not include the postseason, but how the Bengals finish this season will say a lot about where they’re headed - and whether their franchise quarterback can rediscover the joy in the game that once made him unstoppable.