During the initial 10 weeks of the 2023 season, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow recorded 2,309 passing yards and threw 15 touchdowns. However, his season took a downturn in Week 11 when he suffered a ligament tear in his right wrist during a game against the Baltimore Ravens, sidelining him for the remainder of the year.
This injury was particularly disappointing for Burrow, who was targeting a third consecutive season of passing over 4,000 yards. In 2024, he has made a strong comeback, accumulating 1,370 yards, 12 touchdowns, and only two interceptions across five games.
Despite Burrow’s impressive performance, the Bengals have struggled with a 1-4 record, including a narrow overtime defeat to Baltimore last week. Former NFL quarterback Chris Simms contends that if the team had a better record, Burrow would be a leading candidate for MVP.
“If Joe Burrow and company had a better record, he would be the MVP of football… and let me say this too. Ja’Marr Chase is definitely the best receiver in football to this point,” Simms remarked during a Friday appearance on the Dan LeBatard Show.
Chase has indeed begun the season strong, catching 29 passes from Burrow for 493 yards and co-leading the NFL with five touchdown receptions. On Sunday, the Bengals will face the New York Giants, marking the first of two consecutive road games.
The Giants, performing slightly better than expected, will host Cincinnati with a 2-3 record. However, Simms is confident that the Bengals will outscore the Giants. “I think they outscore the Giants,” he stated.
If the Bengals manage to defeat both New York and Cleveland (another team at the bottom of the AFC North), they will gain momentum heading into upcoming games against Philadelphia, Las Vegas, Baltimore, and the LA Rams before their bye week.