Bengals' Survival Without Joe Burrow: Analyzing Their Remaining 15-Week Schedule
Cincinnati Bengals Face Challenges with Joe Burrow's Injury
The Cincinnati Bengals, considered a Super Bowl contender for the 2025 NFL season, have faced an unexpected setback with quarterback Joe Burrow's toe injury. The star player is expected to be out for at least three months, causing the Bengals' Super Bowl odds to drop from 20-to-1 to 80-to-1.
Burrow's absence will be filled by Jake Browning, who has experience as a starter, having made seven starts in 2023 when Burrow was injured. The Bengals are relying on Browning to lead the team during this period, and they have also been exploring options to sign other free-agent quarterbacks. Desmond Ridder, who was previously part of the Bengals roster, and potential candidates like Logan Woodside, C.J. Beathard, Mike White, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Tommy DeVito, and Taylor Heinicke are being considered as further backup options.
The Bengals have scheduled the signing of veteran quarterbacks Mike White and Sean Clifford to the practice squad.
Despite Burrow's injury, coach Zac Taylor remains optimistic about the team's chances of achieving their goals. He believes that the team's offense, which is predicted to have confidence against teams that are currently struggling defensively, will help them in the upcoming games.
The Bengals' schedule includes several winnable games in the early part of the season. They are predicted to win against the Jets and Bears, with scores of Bengals 31-20 over Jets and Bengals 30-23 over Bears. However, the team is also predicted to face tough challenges, losing to the Ravens, Bills, and Ravens again in Weeks 13, 14, and 15 with scores of Ravens 34-24 over Bengals, Bills 30-20 over Bengals, and Ravens 31-23 over Bengals.
In Week 7, the Bengals will play the Steelers at home in primetime, a game they are predicted to lose with a score of Steelers 24-17 over Bengals. However, the team has a chance to steal a playoff berth if they can manage to win just one of the predicted tough games against teams like the Broncos, Lions, Packers, Steelers, Ravens, Bills, and Ravens again.
The Bengals' season will continue with a game against the Vikings in Week 3, with Carson Wentz filling in for J.J. McCarthy, who is expected to miss the game due to an injured ankle. The team is predicted to lose to the Patriots in Week 12 with a score of Patriots 19-16 over Bengals.
If Browning can lead the team to a 4-3 record from Week 3 through Week 9, the Bengals will maintain a 6-3 record heading into their Week 10 bye. The team will then face the Cardinals in Week 17, a game they are predicted to win with a score of Bengals 24-20 over Cardinals. The season will conclude with a game against the Browns in Week 18, a game the Bengals are predicted to win with a score of Bengals 20-17 over Browns.
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