Joe Burrow got revenge on Wink Martindale in blowout Week 16 win

The Cincinnati Bengals are guaranteed to have a winning record for the first time since 2015 and quarterback Joe Burrow is a big reason as to why the stripes are where they are right now. With their 41-21 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, the Bengals now are in sole possession of first place in the AFC North.

The Bengals have also swept both the Ravens and Steelers for the first time since 2009. Burrow has changed the dynamic of this team and it shows on and off the field.

Most of you reading this are probably aware of the comments made by Ravens defensive coordinator Wink Martindale ahead of Sunday’s matchup between the AFC North rivals.

Martindale was asked if he would double/triple-team Ja’Marr Chase as he did against Davante Adams when the Ravens faced the Packers the week before. The response from the Ravens’ defensive coordinator was one he’d live to regret.

Joe Burrow addressed the Wink Martindale comments after dismantling the Ravens defense

When asked if he was aware of what was said about him, Burrow confirmed that he knew about the comments. He had the perfect response when stating “I didn’t think it was a necessary comment.” 

Burrow is right. Martindale knows that his defense is being held together by duct tape at this point and that it was essentially all practice squad players taking the field for this game. Yet, for whatever reason, the guy decided to poke the bear and he’s probably regretting doing so now.

The former No. 1 overall pick threw for a career-high of 525 yards and tacked on four touchdowns against Martindale’s defense. The media asked Burrow if the comments inspired him to keep piling on and he played coy.

It’s reactions like these that make it hard not to love Burrow. The guy has the swagger and confidence that the Bengals desperately need and it shows. He didn’t like the comments made by Martindale and he made the guy pay for it when he took it to his defense on Sunday.

With this team being so young, it’s hard sometimes for them to continue to have that “killer instinct” that Zac Taylor wants them to have each and every week. Burrow says the guys are getting there.

Oh and I’d be remiss if I failed to mention Burrow’s post-game attire. He rolled into his press conference donning a Santa hat and a “Krusty Krab” sweatshirt. How can you not like this dude?

Burrow continues to put the Bengals in a strong position to win every week. The good guys have two regular-season games remaining and next week’s against the Chiefs is a huge one. He’ll need that swagger to follow him into that game so that he and the Bengals can take down a Kansas City team that is a Super Bowl favorite.

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For now, however, let’s celebrate a career day for Burrow and the fact that he made a Ravens coach look foolish.