Patrick Mahomes is phenomenally talented, truly. The difference between him and Burrow is that Burrow has ice water in his veins. Sacked 9 times? Whatever. On the road against a team hosting their 3rd AFC title in a row? So what. Loudest stadium in the world? Who cares. Down by 18 points? Doesn't matter. The guy is unflappable and the rest of the team feeds off of it. If Joe don't care, then the rest of the team doesn't either. As good as Mahomes is - and I remember him in that bowl game against LSU just making unbelievable play after unbelievable play - you can get in his head, or he can get in his own head, and if he has an Achilles Heel then that is it. I felt like after failing to score before the half, Mahomes was chasing that play the entire second half.
Just like Mahomes' ability to improvise is his gift, the ability to deal with adversity - ANY adversity - is what Burrow brings to the table, not just for himself but for the whole team, offense and defense. That's the thing that makes him special and it's a thing you can't coach. Someone made the point to me that Joe was pretty uninspiring in the first half of the game and it's because he wasn't sacked. The guy needs to get hit to get going - ask the University of Central Florida about that.
Looking ahead, the only unknown I can see, the only question I have is how Burrow will deal with success, because we've only seen him in the role of the feisty underdog. Does he have the mental discipline that players like Brees and Brady have had (or will he develop it) to go from being a flash in the pan or an absolute legend? Can't let that swagger become arrogance or you go from the next Tom Brady to the next Cameron Newton. I hope/expect his family will help keep him grounded when it comes to that.
The only other question is how good the traditionally lack-luster Bengals front office will be. Eventually they are going to have to start paying those young studs and they still have some holes on the roster. If they don't address those issues over time, Burrow might start looking for a stronger support system when his time comes. We'll see.
A few other thoughts:
How deadly a weapon is Evan MacPherson for this Bengals team?
I have NEVER seen a WR who is 6'0" be so effective coming down with one-on-one balls as Jamaar Chase, especially on the fade in the end zone.
I'm sick for Uzomah, that he's going to miss the Superbowl after being such an important part of getting the team there.
It was good to see the Bengals working hard on their screen game since Tennessee. They're going to need that bullet in their gun until that OL gets shored up, especially against the Rams.
IF the Bengals win the Superbowl, they may be the weakest roster that has won it in a very long time. The Bengals collectively have an elite group of skill position players but I consider them average to a little above average on defense and certainly below average along their OL. That is rarely a recipe for success at the highest level. On the flip side, I think it's also the youngest roster in the NFL and might end up being the youngest roster to win a Superbowl in recent memory.
Has a team ever played for a Superbowl on their home field before?
It's going to be fun watching these AFC QB's battle it out for the next decade or two.
Just like Mahomes' ability to improvise is his gift, the ability to deal with adversity - ANY adversity - is what Burrow brings to the table, not just for himself but for the whole team, offense and defense. That's the thing that makes him special and it's a thing you can't coach. Someone made the point to me that Joe was pretty uninspiring in the first half of the game and it's because he wasn't sacked. The guy needs to get hit to get going - ask the University of Central Florida about that.
Looking ahead, the only unknown I can see, the only question I have is how Burrow will deal with success, because we've only seen him in the role of the feisty underdog. Does he have the mental discipline that players like Brees and Brady have had (or will he develop it) to go from being a flash in the pan or an absolute legend? Can't let that swagger become arrogance or you go from the next Tom Brady to the next Cameron Newton. I hope/expect his family will help keep him grounded when it comes to that.
The only other question is how good the traditionally lack-luster Bengals front office will be. Eventually they are going to have to start paying those young studs and they still have some holes on the roster. If they don't address those issues over time, Burrow might start looking for a stronger support system when his time comes. We'll see.
A few other thoughts:
How deadly a weapon is Evan MacPherson for this Bengals team?
I have NEVER seen a WR who is 6'0" be so effective coming down with one-on-one balls as Jamaar Chase, especially on the fade in the end zone.
I'm sick for Uzomah, that he's going to miss the Superbowl after being such an important part of getting the team there.
It was good to see the Bengals working hard on their screen game since Tennessee. They're going to need that bullet in their gun until that OL gets shored up, especially against the Rams.
IF the Bengals win the Superbowl, they may be the weakest roster that has won it in a very long time. The Bengals collectively have an elite group of skill position players but I consider them average to a little above average on defense and certainly below average along their OL. That is rarely a recipe for success at the highest level. On the flip side, I think it's also the youngest roster in the NFL and might end up being the youngest roster to win a Superbowl in recent memory.
Has a team ever played for a Superbowl on their home field before?
It's going to be fun watching these AFC QB's battle it out for the next decade or two.
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