4, 2026. (AP Photo/Tanner Pearson) Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow speaks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Cincinnati, Sunday, Oct.
Joe Burrow has changed his tone about the Cincinnati Bengals’ offensive plan after their 22-17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 4. The Bengals managed only 23 rushing yards on 15 carries, while Burrow threw the ball 54 times for 428 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. The Jaguars also put pressure on him throughout the game and finished with a 22-17 win. NFL.com reported that Burrow faced 20 pressures, his highest total in a game since Week 11 of the 2024 season.
Because of the turnovers, he said he could have done more in certain situations and avoided putting the Bengals’ defense in difficult spots.
Burrow initially said the Bengals should throw more after their poor rushing performance, but he later admitted he may have been emotional after the game. The quarterback now says the team needs better balance and believes improving the run game is important to making the offense work. “I might have been a little emotional after the game,” Burrow said, via Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. “When you get into a game like Sunday, and they’re a really good defense, really good front seven, and I felt like we were moving the ball pretty well in the pass game,” Burrow said. “Under center play actions are built off the run game,” Burrow said. “Teams have to respect the run first and foremost so you don’t just get jet rushers off the edge.”
Burrow made his original comment after a frustrating game against Jacksonville. Burrow also took some responsibility for what went wrong against Jacksonville. “I could have been better in spots to help our guys and not put our defense in bad positions with the turnovers. We’ve got to be more balanced going forward, and a big part of that is the run game. Burrow also explained why the running game matters so much to the team’s play-action plans. If defenses do not respect the run, they can focus more heavily on rushing the quarterback, which can make life harder for the offensive line.
“Obviously, you want to have balance as an offense, and the run game wasn’t good enough on Sunday, and I feel confident in myself that you put it in my hands and I’m going to make it work.