The Cincinnati Bengals faced off against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday and prevailed with a 31–27 win. Jake Browning led the Bengals to victory after Joe Burrow’s toe injury.
Can The Bengals Survive Without Joe Burrow?
It will certainly be an adjustment to be without their starting QB for three months.
The good news is that this isn’t new to the Bengals and Jake Browning.
In 2023, Burrow needed wrist surgery after a Week 11 injury against the Ravens. The surgery kept him out for the remainder of the season (seven games). Browning started in his place and was effective, throwing for 1,936 yards along with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
When Browning came into the game, he had an up-and-down performance, throwing for two touchdowns but also three interceptions. It will be interesting to see if Cincinnati can stay afloat in the AFC North.
Cincinnati Has A Chance To Expand Its Division Lead
Even without Burrow, the Bengals can still prevail in their upcoming games. For their Week 3 matchup, they are heading on the road to face the Vikings. Minnesota has struggled to start the season, particularly on the offensive side.
Their quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, has left a lot to be desired. In his most recent game against the Falcons, he threw two interceptions and managed only 158 passing yards. He’s set to miss several weeks due to injury, so the Bengals will face off with Carson Wentz in his place.
The following week, they face off against Bo Nix and the Broncos, who are coming off a loss to the Colts. Indianapolis put up big numbers on the Denver defense, which surprised many. That has to be encouraging for the Bengals as they prepare to host them in a couple of weeks.
End Of My Joe Burrow Rant
The Bengals should be fine without Burrow. Don’t panic, Bengals fans—Browning has the ability to lead the team in Burrow’s absence.
