The scoreboard at Paycor Stadium read 24-0, a brutal visual representation of a season gone wrong. With that shutout loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the Cincinnati Bengals officially kissed their playoff hopes goodbye. Sitting at a dismal 4-10 record, should Joe Burrow keep playing?
In the modern NFL, where draft positioning often takes precedence over late-season pride, the logic for sitting a franchise quarterback makes sense on paper. Why risk your $275 million man in meaningless games against the Dolphins, Cardinals, and Browns?
No Shutdown For the Franchise Quarterback
When asked bluntly if the coaching staff considered sitting Burrow for the final three weeks to protect him (and perhaps secure a better pick in the 2026 NFL Draft), Head Coach Zac Taylor didn’t hesitate.
“No,” Taylor said. The follow-up question was inevitable: Why? “Because we want to win.”
It is a simple answer, but one that carries weight. While fans might be firing up mock draft simulators to see who the Bengals can snag with a top-10 pick, the locker room operates on a different frequency. You don’t build a winning culture by quitting, even when the math says you’re eliminated.
Battling Through a Forgettable Season
Let’s be honest—it hasn’t been a banner year for number 9. Due to that nagging toe injury, Burrow has only suited up for five games this season. While he’s put up 959 yards and 8 touchdowns, the rust has been visible. He’s thrown four interceptions in just the last two weeks, including a pick-six in the fourth quarter against Baltimore that effectively served as the nail in the coffin.
Sunday was a historic low point. It marked the first time Burrow had been shut out in his NFL career. The offense looked disjointed, managing zero points despite five trips into Ravens territory.
“That’s not who we are. That’s unacceptable. Never saw that coming,” Taylor said after the loss, citing “silly penalties” and unorthodox mistakes that killed drives before they could start.
Pride Over Draft Position
For the tanking crowd, Taylor’s decision is frustrating. The Bengals are currently projected to pick ninth overall. Losing out could push them into the top five. Winning meaningless games hurts that stock.
But for Burrow, these last three games aren’t meaningless. They are vital reps. They are an opportunity to wash the taste of a 24-0 shutout out of his mouth before the offseason begins. The Bengals are 3-2 with him starting and a catastrophic 1-8 without him. If this team wants to hit the ground running next year, they need their leader taking snaps, not watching from the sideline in a parka.
The playoffs are out of reach, and the Lombardi Trophy isn’t coming to Cincinnati this year. But Burrow is playing. Because, as Taylor said, they want to win. And sometimes, playing for pride is the only thing you have left.
