Joe Burrow’s Cincinnati Bengals narrowly missed out on an appearance in the NFL playoffs despite beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 19-17. The outcome was confirmed when the Kansas City Chiefs lost 38-0 to the Denver Broncos after resting their starters, including quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Mahomes has a glittering 15-3 record in the playoffs, with two of those losses coming against seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady. The other one was handed by Burrow and the Bengals in the 2021 AFC championship game. In addition, the 2019 Heisman Trophy winner holds a 3-2 record against Mahomes.
After Sunday’s games, outspoken former NFL star Robert Griffin III called out Mahomes and the Chiefs on X for apparently denying Joe Burrow a chance to make the playoffs.
“Chiefs did everything they could to make sure the Bengals didn’t make the Playoffs. MY GAWD,” Griffin tweeted.
If the Bengals had clinched the No. 7 seed, Mahomes and Burrow would have been on a collision course in the AFC divisional round.
Former LSU star Joe Burrow addresses MVP discourse
During a Sunday interview on ESPN with fellow former Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton, Joe Burrow revealed his thoughts about not being the favorite for the NFL MVP title despite his stellar season.
“I’m proud of the season that I have had,” Burrow said. “You know, I would love to win an MVP at some point in my career. This year is probably not that year just because of how the season has gone for us. I think I’m deserving of it, but the MVP usually goes to the quarterback of the best team and that’s not us this year.”
Newton made his case for Burrow to win the league MVP, citing former winners Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers as references.
“Burrow is one of three players all time to throw for 4,500 yards, 40 passing touchdowns (and) fewer than 10 interceptions in a single season,” Newton said. “Who else did that? Tom Brady in 2007 (and) Aaron Rodgers in 2011. You know the thing that they had? They both won an MVP.”
According to DraftKings, the current favorites for the MVP are Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen (-260) and Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson (+200) with Burrow in third (+1,600).
Joe Burrow ended the season with 4,918 passing yards for 43 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He finished at the top for pass attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns.
