Bengals QBs coach Dan Pitcher believes Joe Burrow will improve vs. AFC North foes in 2021

As the Cincinnati Bengals and their fans anxiously await year two of the Joe Burrow, Bengals quarterbacks coach Dan Pitcher already has predicted one area that his young quarterback will improve next season.

In an interview with Bengals.com, Pitcher said he expects Burrow to perform well against the teams’ AFC North foes due to his great recollection.

“He’s got excellent recall,” Pitcher told Bengals.com. I think as time goes on and he has more chances against those division teams, he can put stuff in the bank mentally and then access it the week of the game. Over time, I think he’ll be really good against the teams he’ll see over and over again.”

Before tearing his ACL and MCL, Burrow started four divisional games and faced all three of the teams’ AFC North rivals, including two matchups against the Cleveland Browns.

Here’s a look at his passing numbers in those games:

Week 2 at. Cleveland Browns: 37-61, 316 Yards, 3 TD’s, 0 INT’s

Week 5 at. Baltimore Ravens: 19-30, 183 Yards, 0 TD’s, 1 INT

Week 7 vs. Cleveland Browns: 35-47, 406 Yards, 3 TD’s, 1 INT

Week 10 at. Pittsburgh Steelers: 21-40, 213 Yards, 1TD, 0 INT

While Burrow was sharp in both games against the Browns, he struggled with Pittsburgh and Baltimore, who again figure to have the better of the three defenses next season.

The Bengals (4-11-1) were the only team from the AFC North to miss the postseason, with the Ravens (11-5) and Browns (11-5) each winning their Wild Card Round matchups and advancing to the divisional round while division champion Pittsburgh (12-4) lost to Cleveland in that Wild Card Round.

Thus, Burrow will have his hands full returning from major knee injuries and facing off with three quality opponents twice a year, but if Pitcher’s prediction is correct, the former LSU Tiger should fair just fine.