Bengals head coach Zac Taylor voiced his frustration over the treatment of Joe Burrow during Thursday’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Burrow took several hard hits, including some that came after he had already thrown the ball, which Taylor felt might have warranted penalties for roughing the passer. Taylor acknowledged that the officials call the game as they see it but stated he needed to be more vocal in advocating for his quarterback. He emphasized that, as Burrow doesn’t typically seek penalty calls, it’s his job to step in and push harder for protection, both publicly and privately.
Burrow was under constant pressure throughout the game, enduring 13 hits and being sacked three times in the 35-34 loss. A number of these hits occurred after Burrow had released the ball, placing them in a gray area where roughing the passer penalties might have been warranted. One of the most concerning moments came on a failed 2-point conversion attempt, where Burrow took a hit to the face. Although he felt the hit was too high, no flag was thrown, and Burrow suggested that such no-calls are nothing new for him throughout his career.
Only one of the hits on Burrow was penalized when Ravens defensive end Broderick Washington landed on Burrow with his body weight. This incident, which resulted in a roughing of the passer penalty, stood out among the otherwise unpenalized hits. Burrow, however, did not make much of the situation, pointing out that he is used to not receiving those calls. He felt there were a few borderline hits but added that he didn’t expect to get any penalties for them, as it has been the norm in his career.
Despite the constant pressure, Burrow had an impressive performance, completing 34 of 56 passes for 428 yards and four touchdowns without any interceptions. Two of those touchdowns came in the fourth quarter as the Bengals tried to mount a comeback after letting a 14-point lead slip away in the second half. Burrow’s ability to perform under pressure, particularly in the game’s final moments, highlighted his resilience and skill in critical situations, even when facing such intense physical adversity.
After the game, there were concerns about Burrow’s health, especially as he was seen wincing at times during the broadcast. However, Taylor reassured reporters that Burrow had not suffered any significant injuries, including to his ribs. The soreness Burrow experienced was attributed to the numerous hits he had absorbed, particularly one to his left arm, which was described as a bruise. Despite the physical toll, Taylor emphasized that Burrow was not seriously injured, although the hits clearly took a toll on his body throughout the game.
