Steelers HC Mike Tomlin Gives Joe Burrow a Ringing Endorsement
PITTSBURGH — Despite the Cincinnati Bengals 4-7 record, quarterback Joe Burrow has been on a tear this season. He has completed 67.2% of his passes for 3,028 yards with 27 touchdowns, four interceptions, and a quarterback rating 106.9. He also has a 17-0 touchdown-interception ratio in the red zone this season, according to Pro Football Focus.
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin knows Burrow will be a major challenge for his defensive unit on Sunday.
“If you look at the tape, he’s MVP-caliber in terms of what he’s doing for them,” Tomlin said during his weekly Tuesday press conference. “I started first with the two Baltimore games because of the intimacy of divisional play. Man, I don’t know how many touchdowns he threw in those two football games. I know Chase himself had five. It’s just kind of reflective of what he and they are capable of.”
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There have been two instances in NFL history where a QB had: 30+ completions, 300+ passing yards, 4+ TD passes, multiple 40+ yard TD passes and no more than 1 INT … and yet still lost. Those two instances were Burrow against the Baltimore Ravens this season. The Bengals are just not playing complementary right now. The defense has been a major disappointment.
The Burrow-Ja’Marr Chase connection has been lethal this season. Chase currently leads the league in receiving yards (1,056) and touchdown receptions (12).
Tomlin expects Sunday’s game to be another AFC North slugfest, and stopping Burrow and Chase is the top priority.
“It’s a 60-minute game. I think that’s reflected in watching them play,” Tomlin said of the Bengals. “I think oftentimes you see teams are capable of slowing him or slowing them down at the early portions of the game, but in the fourth quarter, he and they are coming on like gangbusters. I’ve been around long enough to have an appreciation for that. I know how and why that happens. You better carry enough defense. They get comfortable as the game goes on with what it is that you’re doing, what it is they need to do to be successful.”
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
Joe Burrow is the classic example why the AP journalists should stick to stats and The Eye Test concerning MVPs, not how well the team is doing — especially, considering Joe doesn’t play defense…
All media are talking about is Lamar, Josh Allen, Jared Goff and Saquon Barkley… JOE BURROW is the 2024 NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year — hands down… Period and Exclamation Point…