'He's been unbelievable': Steelers endorse Joe Burrow as MVP, scheme to stop Bengals QB

Joe Burrow prides himself on being prepared for anything, so the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback has braced for the likelihood that he won’t win the MVP award despite impressive numbers.

Burrow, who leads the NFL in completions, attempts, passing yards and touchdowns this season, was asked if he’d heard the M-V-P chants from Bengals fans after passing for 412 yards and three touchdowns in a 30-24 overtime win over the Denver Broncos last week at Paycor Stadium.

“I did,” Burrow said. “I’ll win one, one day.”

Burrow is riding that confidence, along with a record streak of eight consecutive games with at least 250 passing yards and three touchdowns, heading into Saturday night’s finale. The Bengals (8-8) have an outside chance of clinching a playoff berth against the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) in an AFC North matchup at Acrisure Stadium.

The Bengals are riding a four-game winning streak behind Burrow, who has completed 75.6% of his passes for a combined 1,304 yards and 12 touchdowns in wins over Dallas, Tennessee, Cleveland and Denver and earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his performance against the Broncos.

For the season, Burrow is 423 of 606 for 4,641 yards and 42 touchdowns, an average of a league-best 290.1 passing yards a game. He needs to pass for 359 yards and three touchdowns against the Steelers to become the fifth quarterback in NFL history with 5,000 passing yards and 45 touchdown passes in a season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Peyton Manning (2013) and Dan Marino (1984), as well as Drew Brees (2011) and Patrick Mahomes (2018).

Burrow also could become the second player all-time with at least three touchdown passes in nine consecutive games, joining Tom Brady (10 consecutive games in 2007). And Burrow has 10 games with at least three touchdown passes this season and can become the fifth player in NFL history with 11 such games in a season, joining Brady (12 in 2007), Aaron Rodgers (12 in 2020), Brees (11 in 2012) and Manning (11 in 2013).

All but Brees won MVP honors in those respective seasons.

“Joe is putting up MVP-like numbers,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “When you’re putting up those type of numbers, everybody has an opportunity to be significant.”

*gasp* Joe Burrow

????: https://t.co/pC69rq0T82#RuleTheJungle x @JoeyB pic.twitter.com/299TxKYTjS

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) December 31, 2024

While Burrow owns the NFL’s career record for highest completion percentage, his 69.8% rate this season is the only statistic separating him from winning the triple crown for quarterbacks. Instead, he plans to put Ja’Marr Chase in position to claim a receiving triple crown. Chase enters the finale against the Steelers leading the league in receptions (117), receiving yards (1,612) and receiving touchdowns (16).

And Tee Higgins has a history of torching the Steelers, as the Bengals have one of the most dangerous wideout tandems in the league. That puts the onus on the Steelers defense to stop the league’s most unstoppable passing attack, a job that will require a defense that has been in disarray during a three-game losing streak to execute with what Tomlin called “collective playmaking.”

“It’s more than just wishing me and Joey (Porter Jr.) good luck,” said Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson, who intercepted Burrow in the 44-38 win over the Bengals on Dec. 1. “It’s also everybody knowing where those guys are at. Obviously, they have the best quarterback in the league with the best receivers in the league, so it takes everybody to do their job and executing.

“He’s just got it. Whatever it is, he has it. He doesn’t really get flustered, doesn’t really make mistakes with the ball. He has the best receiver and another top-five receiver that he’s throwing the ball to. All of those factors come together and makes for a very explosive offense, a triple crown and an MVP at quarterback.”

Yet the Steelers were the last team to beat Burrow and the Bengals despite allowing a season-high point total. They put pressure on Burrow — who has been sacked 44 times this season — and rallied behind a momentum-changing strip sack by T.J. Watt in the second quarter. Burrow passed for 309 yards and three touchdowns but was sacked four times for minus-27 yards and lost a pair of fumbles and the interception.

"He's impressive and continues to impress..." - Zac on @joeyb pic.twitter.com/M3CDIVtbhk

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) December 31, 2024

Known for his cool and calm demeanor, both off the field and in the pocket, Burrow also drew praise from Bengals coach Zac Taylor as “an extension of our coaching staff” because of his attention to detail, preparation, precision and ability to adapt.

“He’s impressive and he continues to impress,” Taylor said. “He’s in a really good rhythm right now. I know he feels really good. His confidence is very high. But, like all of us, you start over every week. You’ve got to put in the prep work. He’s a guy you can point to that follows his process every week. So you know you’re going to count on him Saturday. He’s a great example for everybody else — just keep doing your job. Your prep work leads to great things on the field.”

The Steelers have had their own preparation for facing an MVP-caliber quarterback the past three weeks, taking on Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles, Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens and Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs in an 11-day span.

They are well aware that Burrow’s candidacy is hurt by Cincinnati’s spot in the standings and are hoping to prevent Burrow from doing anything to build his resume for any postseason platforms.

“He’s been unbelievable,” Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said. “But I think the thing is, the guy has been unbelievable all year. I just think they haven’t won as many games, and so he doesn’t get the credit that he probably deserves. But this guy, he’s unbelievable. He’s going to make all the throws. And we’ve got to do a good job of trying to defend him, mix it up, make it hard for him. But he is playing at an MVP level, there’s no doubt about it, and we’re going to have our work cut out getting things together this week.”