Joe Burrow breaks into the debate of the best QB’s

At the end of an era of quarterbacks in the waning careers of Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers names like Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills) and Patrick Mahomes (KC Chiefs) are being pronounced to take over, but now Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals is stepping in. the conversation more now that he is two games away from winning the Super Bowl.

What Joe Burrow has given the AFC is the start of a new rivalry between Kansas City and Cincinnati, which will be the conference finals for the second time in a row. The Bengals will play Game 4 for the AFC title, seeking their first Super Bowl victory. Patrick Mahomes’ injury may sound like an advantage for Burrow and a loss of points for the Chiefs’ QB in his MVP aspiration.

It’s the third year of the Burrow era, and with each game, he’s cementing his legacy in Cincinnati. He is one of five finalists for the NFL MVP award, along with former LSU teammate Justin Jefferson, and is looking to lead Cincinnati to its second straight Super Bowl after the Bengals came up short against the Rams last season. .

NFL records list Burrow as 1.91 meters tall and weighed 100 kilograms. In 2021, Sports Illustrated wrote that Burrow is “bigger than he appears”, also noting his athleticism and strength. He is an aggressive passer, throws downfield frequently and has a higher completion percentage.

The Bengals finished an incredible playoff run in 2021. They finished fifth in the league in burst pass rate and led the league in expected points gained on burst plays, meaning Burrow’s passes were more valuable than Burrow’s burst passes. any other team.

In 2022, Burrow was pitching regardless of coverage. He led the league in completion percentage above expectations, which was a testament to both his accuracy and his receivers’ sack-point skills. His receivers ranked fifth in tackle rate, generating a ton of extra yardage after the catch, and again serves as a testament to Burrow’s ball placement. He has the ability to throw double coverage, change routes on the fly, and select the right type of pitch for each context (high arc, back to shoulder, fastball).

“Joe’s greatest gift is that he has incredible insight into what everyone on the field is doing and where they’re positioned. When the pattern appears, he can feel things happening, and his decision-making is so quick and so accurate that there’s not a shot down the field that he can’t find,” Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan said. .

That’s right, in today’s NFL era there’s not just Patrick Mahomes. Burrow may not have the arm that Mahomes has, or the size that Josh Allen has, or any other defining trait in other top quarterbacks, but he has this. He has the gift, the perception.

Burrow’s football IQ in particular has often been cited by media, coaches, coordinators, and other players. During meetings with LSU’s passing coordinator Joe Brady and offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger, Burrow pitched ideas for his game plan to face the opposition. Sports Illustrated noted that Burrow “often changed receivers’ routes based on defensive formations.” Burrow plays chess in his spare time, as well as during game preparation, and keeps a chessboard in his locker.

Prior to Super Bowl LVI, Burrow played ten chess games on Chess.com. Bengals cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, who played chess with Burrow, commented, “The fact that he plays chess lets you know that he can prioritize certain things and articulate things very quickly and recognize formation.”

deportes@eleconomista.mx