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Sunday marked the first game of the Joe Burrow era in Cincinnati. Though it ended with a gut-wrenching defeat at the hands of the Chargers, it was still a very promising debut for the Bengals’ No. 1 overall pick.
While Burrow’s numbers weren’t anything to boast about — 23/36 passing for 193 yards with one pick and a rushing score — it was how well he played late with the game on the line that really impressed.
After getting the ball at the Cincinnati 18-yard line with three minutes left, Burrow marched the Bengals right down the field and appeared to throw the game-winning touchdown to A.J. Green before refs happened.
Not counting a spike, Burrow went 8/10 on the drive, and one of those incompletions was a beautiful pass to John Ross that he bobbled going out of bounds, resulting in an incompletion. Burrow made tight throw after tight throw with the game on the line and was completely unfazed while leading his offense right down the field against one of the NFL’s best defenses.
It didn’t result in a win, but it was still a great performance to build off, and one that the national media took notice of. Even noted Bengals hater Colin Cowherd is sold on Burrow being what this franchise needed.
"This morning, I think Joe Burrow is a better prospect than Sam Darnold and Josh Allen... You've got a player in Cincinnati." — @ColinCowherd pic.twitter.com/EYsXL7JyLZ
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) September 14, 2020
If I’m a Bengals fan, I’m bummed but not devastated. You got a real one in Burrow.
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) September 13, 2020
The Bengals have themselves a QB. Joe Burrow’s poise, control, and decisiveness on that drive was unbelievable for a player in their first career NFL start.
— Jordan Reid (@JReidNFL) September 13, 2020
Completely ruined by the kicker.
Paradigm shift for the Bengals when you wake up and realize a No. 1 pick calmly worked his way down the field with three minutes left, put the team in a spot to win and did it all with zero preseason games while adjusting to pro speed and hits on the fly behind a bad line. Whew.
— Chris Roling (@Chris_Roling) September 14, 2020
"He got it. He got the sauce, he got the flavor, he got the confidence. I loved everything I saw from Joe Burrow." - @nateburleson #Bengals | #BurrowSZN | @JoeyB pic.twitter.com/tmjL952gZI
— Cincinnati (@CincyProblems) September 14, 2020
Joe Burrow is a stud, don’t matter what happens from here. What a drive in his 1st game in the NFL.
— 100T Nadeshot (@Nadeshot) September 13, 2020
Joe Burrow is going to be a really good pro.
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) September 13, 2020
.@danorlovsky7 gives his opinion on #JoeBurrow and #BakerMayfield with a shout out to Kevin Stefanski’s LACK of play action. pic.twitter.com/2uSwsIpFuK
— The Brown Spider!!! #D4L (@BrownSpiderCLE) September 14, 2020
Joe Burrow isn't alone ... some other notable QB's lost their rookie debut too:
— ESPN (@espn) September 14, 2020
Peyton Manning
Russell Wilson
Cam Newton
Those guys turned out just fine pic.twitter.com/kk57TI8aiy
Joe burrow the best qb in ohio pic.twitter.com/3uFVBizWPx
— Tony X (@soIoucity) September 13, 2020
JOE BURROW.
— Saturday Down South (@SDS) September 13, 2020
THAT’S THE TWEET. pic.twitter.com/RojIrlzzYj
Joe Burrow... still has it pic.twitter.com/0lAcRnUU5n
— trey wingo (@wingoz) September 13, 2020
Who Dey!