The Cincinnati Bengals seem to have all the pieces for a deep playoff run, except one. NBC broadcaster Mike Tirico highlighted how Joe Burrow's health could be the key factor in the Bengals' quest for another postseason run.

"Can they stay healthy? Can they protect Joe? If they can, they can be in every game," the broadcaster said.

That one line sums it up for the Bengals. Burrow has a history of injuries. Back in 2020, the QB had to miss his final six games due to a torn ACL, MCL, PCL, and meniscus.

Again in 2023, he missed the final seven games due to a torn scapholunate ligament. Last season as well, Burrow missed nine games due to a severe Grade 3 turf toe injury.

The Bengals have never ranked higher than 27th in pass block win rate since 2020. On top of that, they allowed 55 sacks in the 2021 season, one of the highest totals in the league at that time. That kind of pressure certainly makes it tough to remain healthy.

The Bengals have a different kind of beast to face this season in the form of Joe Brady, the very same man who served as the passing game coordinator for the historic 2019 LSU team.

Brady is now the head coach of the Buffalo Bills, and Mike believes that Brady and Burrow could face off somewhere down the line.

"Maybe we'll see Joe Burrow against Joe Brady's team in the AFC Championship this year. Who knows?" said Mike.

Injury concerns are the biggest factor that could make or break the Bengals, but what does Joe Burrow think?

Joe Burrow welcomes the spotlight as Cincinnati eyes a Super Bowl run

As the mandatory minicamp came to a close on Wednesday, the Bengals have shifted their focus to the training camps with bigger goals in sight.

That said, after an eventful offseason, Burrow made one thing clear: the expectations are sky high, and they are preparing for pressure plays.

“I hope so, I think that’s great,” Burrow said as per Roundtable. “Put pressure on guys. I love it, I thrive in it. We’ll find out who else does. I know that we have the kind of people who want to be in that spot.”

Burrow’s latest comments are nothing new. He predicted that they would look to win the Super Bowl this season back in May.

“We’re gonna go win a lot of games this year, play great, and win a Super Bowl,” said Joe.

On Wednesday, when asked about the depth of the roster, Burrow expressed that the team has everything needed for a championship run.

“We have everything we need,” Burrow said. “We’re deep at just about every position on the team. This year, there’s a lot of competition for those spots. It’s an exciting place to be, where you have too many good players.”

Burrow is confident about the 2026 season, but as Mike predicted, the team's fate might depend on the quarterback's health.

Read more at Quarter Back Central!

Written by

Suryakant Das

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote