Joe Burrow has never been short on confidence.
So perhaps it’s no surprise that the brash quarterback is looking at what he hopes is a smooth path ahead for the Cincinnati Bengals (4-8), as opposed to the rocky road they’ve traveled.
Burrow will look to keep the Bengals’ faint postseason aspirations alive on Sunday when they visit reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills (8-4) in Orchard Park, N.Y.
“We have everything in front of us,” Burrow said on Wednesday. “We just got to go take care of business.”
Burrow, 28, has done precisely that when the weather gets cold. The two-time Pro Bowl selection boasts a sterling 13-3 record in December and January.
Wearing a steel-plated shoe in his return from a turf toe injury, Burrow threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns in Cincinnati’s 32-14 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Thanksgiving. The win, coupled with the Steelers’ 26-7 loss to the Bills last Sunday, moved the Bengals within two games of co-leading Baltimore (6-6) and Pittsburgh (6-6).
Trusted target Ja’Marr Chase had seven catches for 110 yards last week, marking the sixth time in his past seven games that he has at least six receptions.
Running back Chase Brown also had seven catches and reached triple digits in scrimmage yards for the sixth straight game after totaling 113 (78 rushing, 35 receiving) against the Ravens.
The Bengals boast a potent offense when all the key cogs are in play, and wide receiver Tee Higgins could return to action following a one-game absence — provided he moves past concussion protocol.
Higgins was limited in practice on Wednesday, while star defensive end Trey Hendrickson did not participate in the session due to a hip/pelvis injury. Coach Zac Taylor said Monday that Hendrickson is considered doubtful to play against the Bills.
Wide receiver Andrei Iosivas and tight end Tanner Hudson each recorded a touchdown reception last week for Cincinnati, however Burrow admitted it likely won’t come easy this week against Buffalo’s top-ranked pass defense (163.2 yards per game).
“They’re well coached, they make it difficult,” Burrow said of the Bills. “They give you a lot of different looks in the secondary. They try to make everything look the same and they’ve got good players that have been there for a while. Most of their guys have been in that scheme for several years now.”
Buffalo benefited from a 23-0 run in the second half to pummel Pittsburgh last week to keep hold of the final wild-card spot in the AFC.
Allen threw for a touchdown and rushed for another, with the latter score — his 76th on the ground — allowing him to surpass Cam Newton for the most all-time by a quarterback.
Now, the calendar has flipped to December, and Allen owns a 12-1 record in that month over the past three years.
“I don’t know the statistics or anything like that,” Allen said, when asked about his gaudy mark in the month. “I’m assuming we’ve done a good job of protecting the football. Especially games at home, being able to use cadence. Making sure that we’re able to communicate well.”
James Cook III headlines the Bills’ top-ranked rushing attack. He rolled up 177 scrimmage yards (144 rushing, 33 receiving) last week.
Defensive end Joey Bosa (hamstring/wrist), linebacker Terrel Bernard (elbow) and wide receiver Josh Palmer (ankle) did not participate in practice on Wednesday. Offensive tackles Spencer Brown (shoulder) and Dion Dawkins (concussion) and tight end Dalton Kincaid (hamstring/knee) were limited in the session.
