The big storyline entering the Cincinnati Bengals‘ final regular-season game was if Joe Burrow or the rest of the starters would play on Sunday against the Browns. Well, in the biggest dose of Bengals news of the day, Zac Taylor announced that Burrow won’t play. He might still dress for the season finale, however.
Taylor spoke to the media on Wednesday and whether or not Burrow would play was on everyone’s mind. He said Burrow won’t play and it’s not a huge shock to anyone, as the quarterback hobbled off in the final minute of the win over KC and has been battered and bruised all season long.
Now it’s official, however. Burrow’s regular season is over.
Zac Taylor says he hasn't decided on who will start or rest Sunday yet but confirms Joe Burrow will not play. Hasn't decided whether he will dress or not.
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) January 5, 2022
Joe Burrow gets a week off ahead of the playoffs.
Sure Cincinnati could still win the No. 1 seed in the playoffs but both the Titans and Chiefs would have to lose in order for that to happen. Tennessee faces the lowly Texans (who did beat them earlier in the season, for what it’s worth) while Kansas City visits the Broncos. The Titans winning means they’re the No. 1 seed, if they lose and KC wins, then the Chiefs get that top spot instead.
The Bengals will know entering their game on Sunday if the No. 1 seed is in play or not, as the Chiefs play on Saturday. Perhaps that’s why Taylor went ahead and pulled the plug on the idea of Burrow starting against the Browns since KC is currently 10-point favorites over Denver, per WynnBET.
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Burrow has been sacked 51 times this season and if Cincinnati wants to get past the first round of the playoffs, he has to be healthy or at least close to healthy. That’s why fans should be happy that Brandon Allen will be the one taking the snaps against Myles Garrett this weekend.