The 2022 Cincinnati Bengals started their season with a 2-2 record through their first four games as they looked to defend their AFC championship title. They ranked seventh in Offensive DVOA — not terrible, but you could tell that things weren’t quite right.
Then, in Week 5, things changed. All of a sudden, quarterback Joe Burrow was making the ridiculous pinpoint throws we’re used to from the first overall pick in the 2020 draft, and the Bengals have rolled up a 6-2 record since. That puts them with an 8-4 record, and the fifth seed in the AFC as they prepare to face the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Cincinnati has ranked sixth in Offensive DVOA since week five, and that’s despite four games without top receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who was out Weeks 8-1 with a hip injury.
What’s been the difference?
As James Palmer of the NFL Network reports, there’s one thing that’s changed since then: The Bengals’ coaches have given Burrow more freedom to react to what he sees pre-snap, and to make plays post-snap.
I'm told the #Bengals changed their offense Week 5 to give Joe Burrow more control to make adjustments. QB coach Dan Pitcher and OC Brian Callahan have helped this offensive evolution since then and after Week 5, Cincinnati has won 6 of 7 and Burrow is in the MVP race.
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) December 11, 2022
Making adjustments is the name of the game. The #bengals do it so we’ll as a defense, but on offense we saw a major change and it has paid off. A quick report on @nflgameday on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/BiiXXYMqC3
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) December 11, 2022
The difference in Burrow has been quote amazing. Per Sports Info Solutions:
Joe Burrow, Weeks 1-4: 100 of 156 for 1,099 yards, 537 air yards, 8TD, 4INT, ANY/A of 5.7, rating of 91.3, EPA of -15.59.
Joe Burrow, Weeks 5-13 (four games without Ja'Marr Chase): 204 of 282 for 2,347 yards, 1,180 air yards, 17TD, 4INT, ANY/A of 7.9, rating of 111.2, 47.53 EPA. https://t.co/X47wpWa4bD
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) December 11, 2022
It helps when you have a quarterback who can make utterly ridiculous throws like this 14-yard banger to Tee Higgins against the Chiefs…
…and when you give that quarterback full control of the offense pre- and post-snap, good things tend to happen. They certainly have for the Bengals of late.
