What a couple of weeks it’s been for Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. Last weekend, everyone was asking him about facing Tom Brady, the guy who took the New England Patriots to glory countless times and cemented himself as the G.O.A.T.
Now, it’s all about the other guy who made the Patriots the scary-looking franchise; head coach Bill Belichick.
The latter had high praise for Joe Burrow and the Bengals and he even pointed out one specific trait that can fly under the radar.
“First of all, he’s tough,” Bill Belichick told reporters about the Bengals quarterback. “He’s a tough kid. He’ll stand in there, throw the ball and take a hit to make a play.”
Usually, coaches and players love to talk about Burrow’s accuracy and what that means for the Bengals. They also talk about his poise in the pocket. His decision-making is also brought up consistently.
Everyone knows Cincinnati boasts one of the league’s best quarterbacks.
But if Family Feud’s Steve Harvey asked you what are Joe Burrow’s biggest strengths I’d bet “toughness” wouldn’t exactly get you a lot of points. Here’s what I think that board would look like:
Coolness (39)
Accuracy (24)
Pocket presence (20)
Clutch factor (17)
But the Patriots head coach couldn’t be more correct by bringing it up as his leading strength. The Bengals quarterback is tough. And if you can’t think of an example right now, let me help you out.
Third and eleven versus the Kansas City Chiefs. Not only does Burrow find Tee Higgins on an absolute laser to seal the deal but he stands tough in the pocket before taking a hit.
Bengals put the Chiefs on ice as Joe Burrow hits Tee Higgins to seal the victory 🔥pic.twitter.com/zgEUMxpYTF
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) December 5, 2022
Then, Belichick expanded on Joe Burrow the best way he knows how. Just throwing out a bullet-point description of the quarterback. But don’t let his press-conference voice fool you.
“Accurate. Makes all the throws. Tough to tackle. Manages the game well. Productive in critical situations – third down, in the red area.”
“He’s impressive,” concluded the future Hall of Fame coach in his classic monotonous tone.
Impressive or not, no one is better at conjuring up the right defensive scheme to take away your biggest strength, though. Sure, Tom Brady helped Belichick reach legendary status. But his legacy is also built on an ability to adjust his defense with hybrid players for every situation.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow better be ready to win while being uncomfortable on Saturday.
