The AFC North Enigma; Is Joe Burrow Really Healthy? Who’s the Team to Beat?
Photo Credit: Emilee Chinn
After a Week 3 game between the Cincinnati Bengals (1-2) and the Los Angeles Rams (2-1), many fans were hoping to get some confirmation on how the AFC North would really look this season. In reality, it would seem fans were given even more questions, largely due to how the defending division champion Cincinnati Bengals have looked across the first three weeks of the season, especially their star quarterback Joe Burrow. Listening to sports media talk about quarterbacks across the NFL, it’s not uncommon to hear the name Joe “Brrrr” come up as one of the better ones in NFL, leading the Bengals to two straight AFC championship games, including an appearance in Super-Bowl 56, and throwing for over 4,400+ yards and 34+ touchdown passes in both seasons. Naturally, it hasn’t gone unnoticed that Burrow’s start to the 2023 campaign has been less than what Bengals fans have hoped for.
Photo Credit: Darron Cummings
After signing a record breaking $275 million extension with the team in the offseason, Burrow’s first game resulted in him throwing for just 82 yards on 31 attempts, completing less than half of them as the Bengals were snuffed out by what’s proving to be an elite defense in the Cleveland Browns. Burrow’s next two games proved better, throwing for over 200 yards in contests against both Division Rival Baltimore and the Los Angeles Rams, but the star QB still appeared to overthrow more than a fair share of his passes, especially when it came to throwing deep.
Many NFL analysts and fans alike have no doubt attributed this rust from Burrow to be a result of a nasty calf injury he suffered before the season began, causing him to miss all of training camp and the preseason before taking the start in their Week 1 contest against the Cleveland Browns. Of course, citing injuries as the main reason for a player’s regression or poor play is nothing new in the sports world, especially not when it comes to NFL quarterbacks. Just in the past two seasons many fans cited similar reasons when it came to now Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield’s worsened play in 2021, or Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson’s play in 2022 when he was dealing with a shoulder injury throughout the year. Coaching of course is also a major factor, and some NFL fans have talked negatively about Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor, but most still appear to believe the injuries had larger implications when it came to those quarterbacks.
Photo Credit: Justin K. Aller
Outside of the Bengals however, after three weeks of football have gone by, the team favored to win the AFC North division this season is anything but obvious. Originally the favorite to win the division according to betting odds from Ceasar’s Sportsbook, the Bengals are the only AFC North team who is 1-2 after three weeks of play, with the crushing reality being that both of their losses came from within the division. The Steelers, Ravens, and Browns all sit at 2-1, and some would say that all three teams have just as many questions surrounding them as Cincinnati, if not more. Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has faced heavy criticism this season regarding his accuracy through the team’s first three games, which is made even more devastating for a Cleveland offense that just lost star running back Nick Chubb for the season. The Steelers have been facing numerous questions regarding quarterback Kenny Pickett and especially offensive coordinator Matt Canada, who’s name could be heard in chants from fans at Pittsburgh’s home opener calling to fire him after only scoring three offensive touchdowns in the teams first two contests. Lastly, the Ravens are still a very talented team highlighted by 2019 MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson, but they have been crippled by injuries over the past few seasons, and that concern is already creeping up again with starting running back J.K Dobbins being lost for the season to a torn Achilles in practice.
Considering all of these factors, it’s safe to say that the AFC North is only going to become more intriguing to watch as more in-division games creep closer, even as the picture of the division winner seemingly becomes more clear as time passes. As for the Bengals in particular, only time will tell if Burrow’s calf and by proxy the team can hold together. If Burrow is able to get healthy and get back to what he’s been doing in previous seasons, some would say the race for the division, maybe even the conference is theirs to lose. On the other hand, a weakened squad out of Cincinnati only opens the door even more for their adversaries across both the division and the conference to plant their flags in the dirt come January. The excitement will come from finding out who out of this enigma division is able to emerge as the most capable team, should Cincinnati really be in trouble.
