The Cincinnati Bengals have struggled to meet expectations in their games last season after they finished with a 9-8 record with Joe Burrow sitting it out after playing only 10 games, which many led to believe as the collapse of the club. Now that he’s healthy and ready to roll, it seems that Burrow seeks a massive comeback that would put him back into MVP discussions in the long run.

The Bengals were two wins away from securing a wild-card spot in the 2024 NFL Playoffs last season, and it cannot be denied that Burrow’s injury has played a huge role in the team’s collapse, which seems to be the big talk of expectations in the coming campaign. The Bengals are hyped to reclaim their place in the NFL next season, especially with the AFC North having no clear dominant team aside from the Kansas City Chiefs.

Confidence is never an issue for the Bengals, and it is easy to say that Burrow’s unwavering desire to win a championship will play a huge role in the team’s hopes of making a splash in the coming season.

Burrow’s Desire to Prove People Wrong

Of course, injuries means that you won’t get a chance to be the MVP talks, let alone be hyped for a chance at a championship. But with the Bengals falling to the division cellar, it is only quite fitting that Burrow will need to work hard in order to prove his worth with the critics and elevate the Bengals’ chances of winning the Super Bowl in the 2024 season as well.

"That's what happens when you get hurt," Burrow said. "You don't play football, people forget about you. ... I love the spot I'm in. ... You're not out there, people aren't watching you, then there's nothing to talk about. So I'm gonna give people something to talk about this year. I'm excited."

Burrow benefitted well from the extra recovery time that he has by the end of the 2023 season. He successfully rehabbed from a wrist surgery, and that seems to be a promising look given how the Bengals really need him to come back into the fold now more than ever. Prior to his injury, Burrow was a promising signal-caller in the game and is considered one of the best in his position.

Health in Best Consideration

Of course, injuries means that you may no longer play at a high level like you used to. For Burrow, 18 games is too much and it can be a massive difference between being healthy for the whole season and not being able to play in the playoffs. Fatigue is a massive factor in the NFL, and it means that Burrow has to capitalize on every turn if he will have to play at a high level.

“Got to have two bye weeks," Burrow said. "I think it would be cool to do a normal bye week schedule that it is now, have it spread out, but then like Week 13 do the Pro Bowl break where you're doing like the 7-on-7 and all the skills challenges like the NBA does because I think that would get more ratings for the Pro Bowl. Then, it would also give everybody that bye week going into like the last six games of the year.”

Injuries have definitely forced Burrow to be more careful about his game and find out what he can maximize to be able to play at a high level for his team. With the NFL lobbying a possible shift to an 18-game season, the Bengals star is sure to advocate a way to play through it all and still be available for his team.