Bengals: 3 ways Joe Burrow can shine vs. Vikings in Week 1

The Cincinnati Bengals take on the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday at 1:00 EST and Joe Burrow makes his highly anticipated return to the field. Here are three ways that Burrow can shine against the Vikings’ defense.

1. Let Joe Mixon take pressure off him throughout the game

Burrow will have to rely on his teammates as he slowly progresses in his return. Leaning on and trusting running back Joe Mixon will be a crucial part of the offense’s and Burrow’s success against Minnesota. For Zac Taylor to get the run game going early on will be vital.

The Bengals need to avoid doing what they did last year, where they threw 40-45  times a game and consistently drop back Burrow play after play. Not only is it putting Joe at more significant risk of taking multiple hits, but it also makes it a lot easier on the defense when they know what to expect making it harder for the Bengals to move the ball. Being a one-dimensional offense will only set up failures.

Mixon is just as important as anyone else on the offense this season. Letting him see carries and success in the backfield will help Burrow get more comfortable in his return and open up better looks for the passing game when the Vikings are not anticipating what will happen next.

The Vikings’ front seven is nothing to joke about with Danielle Hunter, Everson Griffen, and Sheldon Richardson, so Cincinnati will need to attack their personnel with Mixon and other schemes that can get Joe Burrow comfortable in the game.

As an offense, we rely on Burrow to be the leader, but other players will have to step up even more so early on this year and take some of the focus off of Burrow.