Bengals Face Another Week Without Burrow as Flacco Steps In Again
So, here’s what’s going on with the Bengals right now, and it’s a storyline that just keeps getting more dramatic. Joe Burrow, who’s been working his way back from that toe injury, won’t be activated off injured reserve this week. That means Cincinnati is headed into the matchup against the Patriots without their franchise quarterback once again, and Joe Flacco will be stepping in for his sixth straight start.
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Now, this decision isn’t exactly shocking when you look at the timing. The Bengals have a quick turnaround coming up with a Thanksgiving game against the Ravens, and even though Burrow has been recovering ahead of schedule — practicing fully twice earlier in the week before moving to a limited session on Friday — the team seems determined not to rush him. It almost feels like the coaches are trying to protect him from himself, especially since his competitive nature would’ve pushed him to play if he weren’t officially held out.
But the bigger issue is the team’s season slipping away. After winning the game in which Burrow initially got hurt back in Week 2, the Bengals have spiraled, dropping seven of their last eight. They’re sitting at 3-7 now, and the defense has been a huge part of the problem, ranked dead last in both yards allowed and points surrendered. The AFC North isn’t completely out of reach, but with the Steelers at 6-4 and the Ravens at 5-5, Cincinnati simply cannot afford many more missteps.
So that puts a lot on Joe Flacco’s shoulders. And honestly, outside of last week’s rough loss to Pittsburgh, he’s been impressive. He’s thrown for over 1,450 yards with 12 touchdowns to just three interceptions since arriving in early October. The problem is, this Sunday becomes even trickier because the Bengals will also be without Ja’Marr Chase, who’s serving a one-game suspension. And facing a Patriots team that’s riding an eight-game win streak isn’t exactly the recipe for an easy afternoon.
Still, if Flacco manages to pull off the upset without Burrow and without Chase, it keeps the Bengals’ season alive — and possibly sets the stage for Burrow to return just a few days later with everything still on the line for Week 13. So while the odds are stacked, the path forward is still there. It’s slim, sure, but it’s there. And Cincinnati just needs one of those gritty, against-the-odds performances to keep hope alive a little longer.
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