The race for NFL MVP is taking shape as we prepare for Week 13. Quarterbacks Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson are among the favorites to win the award, along with running backs Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow’s name would certainly be included among the leading candidates for league MVP if it weren’t for Cincinnati’s 4-7 record entering Sunday’s home game against Pittsburgh Steelers. That fact is not lost on Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, who is 2-3 against Burrow-led Bengals teams dating back to Burrow’s rookie season.
“If you watch the tape, he’s MVP-caliber in terms of what he’s doing for them,” Tomlin said of Burrow, who currently leads the NFL with 27 touchdown passes.
Tomlin was specifically impressed with Burrow’s performances in Cincinnati’s two games against the Baltimore Ravens, their fellow NFC North rival. Burrow threw for 820 yards with nine touchdowns against just one pick in those games. Of his 820 yards, 457 of them were thrown to wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who caught 21 passes and five touchdowns against the Ravens.
“It’s just a reflection of what he and they are capable of doing,” Tomlin said.
Despite the heroics of Burrow and Chase, the Bengals lost both of their games against the Ravens by a combined four points. Those games have been a microcosm of Cincinnati’s season so far.
While their offense has been prolific, the Bengals defense has woefully underperformed, especially on third down and in the red zone. The defense’s shortcomings have been the main reason for Cincinnati’s difficult record. It’s also the main reason Burrow isn’t considered a legitimate MVP candidate.
While things in Cincinnati are bleak, the fact that the Bengals still have Burrow keeps the door ajar for Cincinnati to make a postseason charge. But to do so, the Bengals need to defeat a Steelers team hoping to bounce back from last Thursday’s upset loss in Cleveland.
“We have to run enough defense schematically,” Tomlin said of facing Burrow and the Bengals, “but within that, we better perform at a high enough level. You better do a lot of things.”
