The Cincinnati Bengals finally picked up their first win of the season with a 34-24 victory over the Carolina Panthers in Week 4, as quarterback Joe Burrow delivered a rare pregame speech in the locker room.
Burrow isn’t known for his speeches and is considered a relatively quiet quarterback despite being the Bengals’ leader. With Cincinnati 0-3 to start the season and facing an uphill battle to become playoff contenders, Burrow knew it was time to step up and deliver a message and remind everyone of his leadership.
“[I] just felt like I had something to say,” Burrow said to reporters after the game. “I’m not going to go out of my way to be somebody I’m not. But when I have something to say, I’ll definitely step up and say it.”
Burrow wouldn’t reveal what he said, but it inspired the Bengals ahead of facing a rejuvenated Panthers team on the road. Burrow knew that the Bengals had to win to stand any chance of reaching the postseason, and showed his leadership qualities when it mattered.
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In the Super Bowl era, 164 teams have started the season 0-4 and only one has managed to turn things around and reach the playoffs. That team was the formerly known San Diego Chargers in 1992, who ended the year 11-5 under head coach Bobby Ross.
“There was really no other option other than to figure out a way to win this game,” Burrow said after the game. “We got it done. Still a lot of room to improve.”
Burrow believes that if the Bengals match that performance level for the rest of the season they’ll be one of the best offenses in the league. “If we can do that all year, we’re going to be one of the best offenses in the league consistently,” Burrow added. “Credit to the offensive line and those running backs. Hopefully, we can keep that going.”
Burrow had the Bengals locked in after his pregame speech in the locker room. (
2024 Getty Images)
The Bengals quarterback was 22 for 31 with 232 yards and two touchdowns, the highlight being a 63-yard score after finding wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. The other was to running back Zack Moss, while Chase Brown rushed for 80 yards and two touchdowns.
Ironically, Chase admitted that he missed Burrow’s speech as he had a towel over his head in the locker room while listening to Kodak Black with his headphones on. Still, Chase continued to dust off the rust following his summer holdout for a new extension and now has 203 yards and three touchdowns in his last two games after going scoreless with 97 yards to start the season.
The receiver was delighted with Burrow on Sunday and will continue to be after the quarterback vowed to throw to him more moving forward. “That was an unbelievable play,” Burrow said when reflecting on the 63-yard Chase touchdown. “He continues to make incredible plays like that, and it’s a reminder for me — you’ve just got to find ways to get him the ball.”
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