• An MVP case regardless of a shaky report: Because the Bengals struggle for his or her playoff lives in Week 18, Joe Burrow will look to solidify his unlikely MVP candidacy.
• If the Bengals handle to clinch, be careful: Cincinnati has an outdoor shot to safe the No. 7 seed, and the Bengals’ latest type ought to scare the Tremendous Bowl hopefuls.
• 2025 NFL Draft season is right here: Strive PFF’s best-in-class Mock Draft Simulator and study 2025’s high prospects whereas buying and selling and drafting on your favourite NFL workforce.
Estimated Studying Time: 6 minutes
Joe Burrow put up one other dominant efficiency for the Bengals, this time in a must-win Week 17 recreation in opposition to the Broncos to maintain their playoff hopes alive. He has virtually singlehandedly — with the assistance of elite receivers — dragged the Bengals into postseason rivalry. Though Cincinnati’s playoff odds are reasonably slim at this level, Burrow has additionally constructed a professional MVP case.
Highest-Graded Quarterbacks in 2024
Burrow completed Week 17 with a 93.6 PFF general grade — the very best single-game grade of his season and profession. He was almost flawless, with zero turnover-worthy performs, an 83.7% adjusted completion share and essentially the most positively graded performs of any quarterback in Week 17.
It’s been reasonably apparent that the Bengals’ defensive struggles this season have put virtually all of the stress on Burrow and the Bengals’ offense. The offense, for essentially the most half, has been as much as the problem. The unit ranks within the high 10 in EPA per play, successful-play share and scoring-drive share, regardless of having the fourth-worst workforce pass-blocking grade. Burrow has needed to be virtually good.
Due to the offensive line’s inconsistency, Burrow has typically handled pass-rushers bearing down on him. His 75.9 PFF general grade underneath stress ranks second amongst quarterbacks.
Joe Burrow making a free rusher miss after which rapidly discovering an open receiver for a TD. Rule of cool ought to apply and the unlawful shift should not depend pic.twitter.com/5HIOlHP9ov
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) December 30, 2024
This play finally will get worn out due to an unlawful shift penalty, with the operating again and large receiver on the high of the display screen transferring on the identical time with out getting set. However, it exhibits what Burrow has to cope with on virtually each play. The Broncos present a heavy-pressure look however have virtually everybody drop out of it on the snap. They find yourself speeding solely three, however the Bengals can’t choose it up, leading to Burrow having to make a free pass-rusher miss. He does so after which flips his physique again round to make an correct throw to Andrei Iosivas sprinting over the center of the sphere. It turns right into a landing that’s, sadly, known as again.
The deep ball has all the time been certainly one of Burrow’s greatest talents. His 92.5 PFF general grade on 20-plus-yard cross makes an attempt is tied for the seventh-best mark this season, and out of doors of his rookie season, that grade has by no means been beneath 84.0.
Burrow dime to Higgins half 1 pic.twitter.com/6fQnsSp1Js
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) December 30, 2024
This play finally ends up as a reasonably easy learn for Burrow, with the Broncos popping out in a two-deep shell. Burrow solely must be cautious to verify the deep security isn’t working excessive of Tee Higgins, lined up on the backside of the display screen. Contemplating the cornerback’s inside leverage, Burrow assumes that it’s straight man-to-man protection on Higgins. He confirms that post-snap after which throws an ideal ball within the again nook of the tip zone for Higgins, who does an ideal job of utilizing “late palms,” a way to idiot defenders on the catch level, to stop a cross breakup.
Burrow has confirmed to be a lethal pocket passer in his profession, however he has additionally continued to make performs on the transfer and out of construction. Along with his sturdy under-pressure grade, his 75.9 mark when he’s been moved off his spot and out of the pocket this season ranks second within the NFL.
Burrow hitting a dagger idea on the run pic.twitter.com/oP1S5uSk4F
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) December 30, 2024
The Bengals run a “dagger” idea on this play, a two-man route idea with one receiver operating deep down the sphere to tug the safeties and the opposite operating an in-breaking route behind it. It’s usually an extended creating play that stresses weak offensive traces. Whereas the Broncos do not generate rapid stress, they’re nonetheless capable of get to Burrow and transfer him out of the pocket earlier than the routes develop downfield. That doesn’t cease Burrow from persevering with to learn out the idea. He is aware of that when he scrambles, it is going to drag one of many beneath defenders out of his zone, giving him simply sufficient room to make a throw on the run. It ends in a big acquire — and an enormous fist pump from Burrow.
Burrow and Higgins have had an unreal rapport this season. However Higgins, whose contract expires on the finish of the season, could be a detrimental loss for this elite passing offense if he hits free company. Higgins’ 88.2 PFF general grade is the very best of his profession, and it couldn’t have come at a greater time for him.
Burrow dime to Higgins half 2 pic.twitter.com/MxApoj6Eca
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) December 30, 2024
Late in additional time after the Bengals had seemingly received the sport twice already, Burrow and Higgins stepped up once more for the most important connection of the sport. The Broncos present a transparent man protection look pre-snap — a protection that Burrow and the Bengals dominate. Towards Cowl 1, Burrow owns a second-ranked 87.7 PFF general grade. The Broncos hope that the inside stress supplied by the blitzing linebackers will get to Burrow, however the Bengals give him time to make the throw. And he finally ends up tossing an ideal ball to set the Bengals as much as win on the subsequent play and preserve their season alive.
Joe Burrow has accomplished almost all he can to get the Bengals into the playoffs, and with one week left, they nonetheless want a win and a few assist to get in. Burrow may not have the wins related to a typical MVP candidate, however when it comes to how helpful a person participant is to a workforce, it’s exhausting to discover a extra deserving participant.
If the Bengals can get into the playoffs, it will be exhausting to argue in opposition to how helpful Burrow is to Cincinnati. Extra importantly, Burrow and the Bengals would have a professional shot at inflicting chaos within the playoffs as a No. 7 that no protection needs to face.
