Bengals' Joe Burrow Sacked 70 Times in 2021-2022 Season, 3rd-most in NFL History
Feb 14, 2022
Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald (99) tackles Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 56 football game Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. The Los Angeles Rams won 23-20. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
The Cincinnati Bengals' top priority this offseason as they attempt to repeat their AFC championship? Protect Joe Burrow.
The Bengals quarterback was sacked seven times in Cincinnati's Super Bowl LVI loss to the Los Angeles Rams, bringing him to 70 total sacks on the season. That is the third-highest total in NFL history behind David Carr (2002) and Randall Cunningham (1986).
Burrow looked worse for wear as Sunday's game went along, hobbling off the field in the second half after taking a hit to his knee. While he remained in the game, it was clear Burrow wasn't 100 percent the rest of the way as the Rams came back for a 23-20 victory.
The Bengals' offensive line troubles are no secret. Their porous front five led to Burrow taking a constant barrage of hits during his rookie season, which ended when he suffered a torn ACL. Things weren't much better in 2021, when Burrow was sacked an NFL-high 51 times in the regular season before adding 19 more in the playoffs.
This, of course, was a conscious decision—both by the Bengals and Burrow. Cincinnati had the option to take one of two can't-miss tackle prospects, Penei Sewell or Rashawn Slater, with the No. 5 overall pick in last April's draft. The team instead added Ja'Marr Chase, doing so at Burrow's behest.
While few would argue they made the wrong decision, don't be surprised if the Bengals spend hard and heavy in free agency to keep Burrow upright in 2022.
Bengals' Joe Burrow Says Knee 'Feels Good' After Injury Scare in Super Bowl 56
Feb 14, 2022
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) is assisted off the field during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 56 football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
It's hard to find a silver lining in a Super Bowl loss, but the Cincinnati Bengals got one following Sunday's 23-20 defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Rams.
Joe Burrow told reporters his knee "feels good" after he grabbed it in pain and limped off the field in the second half.
"I wasn't coming out," he added.
One of the biggest storylines of the game was Cincinnati's inability to block Los Angeles' defensive front.
Burrow was sacked seven times and under heavy pressure on his way to finishing 22-of-33 passing for 263 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions. He was constantly chased out of the pocket, which has been a problem for the Bengals throughout the season.
Burrow took a league-high 51 sacks during the regular season, and the Rams continually exploited this vulnerability.
Much of the credit still goes to that Rams front, as Aaron Donald and Von Miller each finished with two sacks and three quarterback hits. Leonard Floyd, A'Shawn Robinson and Ernest Jones each posted one sack as well.
While Cincinnati's defense was unable to clinch the Super Bowl with a stop when it was leading 20-16 in the final minutes, the offensive problems proved particularly costly. The Bengals had five possessions in the second half with the lead and stalled for a field goal on one and punted on the other four.
The blocking was a major problem during those stretches.
Kevin Patra of NFL.com noted Burrow had an average of 2.41 seconds to throw and was pressured on 42.5 percent of his dropbacks, which was the second-highest total of his career. That is simply not a formula for victory, even if the AFC representative made it this far with said issues.
Fortunately for the Bengals, it wasn't a formula for a long-term injury to their quarterback on Sunday.
Joe Burrow 'Disappointed' in Super Bowl 56 Performance, Says Loss Will Fuel Bengals
Feb 14, 2022
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) is seen against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half of Super Bowl 56, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022 in Inglewood, CA. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Burrow believes he could have done more to help his team in its 23-20 Super Bowl loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
"I was disappointed in my performance overall," he told reporters after the game. "I thought I could play better."
He later tweeted the following:
Sorry we couldn’t get it done. Proud of our team and our fans. Love these guys
The quarterback finished 22-of-33 for 263 yards and one touchdown in the loss, good for a 101.0 passer rating. On the other hand, the Bengals failed to score in the last 25 minutes of game time as the Rams came from behind. Cincinnati had a chance to tie or win with 85 seconds left, but the five-play drive ended with a fourth-down stop.
Even in defeat, Burrow has faith in his team going forward.
"We'll take this and let it fuel us for the next few years," he said.
The Bengals reached the Super Bowl after an incredible run through the postseason, having beaten the AFC No. 1 seed Tennessee Titans and No. 2 seed Kansas City Chiefs. It was part of a remarkable turnaround after they went just 4-11-1 in 2020.
"I'm still going to celebrate with the guys and reminisce on what we did all season," Burrow said after the loss.
The quarterback is only in his second season in the NFL, while other top teammates such as Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are also just scratching the surface of their ability. As impressive as Cincinnati's run was, there is also plenty of hope for the future.
There is work to do, however, especially improving the offensive line, which allowed seven sacks Sunday. One of those hits seemingly caused a knee injury for Burrow, but he did not miss a snap.
Burrow will hope to get more championship opportunities in the future.
Bengals' Zac Taylor Calls Super Bowl 56 'Really Well-Officiated' Despite Late Flags
Feb 14, 2022
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor watches warmups before the NFL Super Bowl 56 football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
The Los Angeles Rams' game-winning drive of Super Bowl LVI went 15 plays for 79 yards and cemented Matthew Stafford's legacy, but Cincinnati Bengals fans could be forgiven for thinking about the officials after the 23-20 loss.
Head coach Zac Taylor apparently doesn't share that opinion.
"I thought it was a really well-officiated game," he told reporters.
The biggest flag came on 3rd-and-goal from the 8-yard line when Logan Wilson was whistled for defensive holding on an incomplete pass. That call was borderline at best, and there was unnecessary roughness and defensive pass interference on the next two plays before Cooper Kupp's winning touchdown.
It should be noted Cincinnati's biggest touchdown of the game also came on a questionable call.
Tee Higgins hauled in a 75-yard touchdown pass on the first play from scrimmage in the second half, but he also got away with yanking Jalen Ramsey's facemask as he went downfield on his route.
The Bengals also had plenty of chances to win regardless of the officials.
They had the ball with the lead for five possessions in the second half, and those possessions ended with a field goal inside the red zone and four punts. Had they done more with those chances, the flags at the end of the game would not have made a difference.
Cincinnati's offensive line also fell apart as the game progressed, and the Rams ended up with seven sacks. That pressure on Joe Burrow is a major reason the Bengals were unable to pull away when they had those possessions in the second half and underscored how much they need to improve along the offensive front during the offseason.
The Bengals also turned the ball over on downs on their final possession after they gave the ball to Samaje Perine on a critical third down. It was an unusual play call in the moment, especially since the clock was an issue at the time.
Still, the fans will surely have trouble forgetting about some of those flags at the end of the game.
Chiefs' Mecole Hardman Rips Eli Apple After Cooper Kupp's Game-Winning Super Bowl TD
Feb 14, 2022
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) grabs a touchdown pass as Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple (20) makes the tackle during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 56 football game, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
In the waning moments of Super Bowl LVI, Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple surrendered the game-winning touchdown to Los Angeles Rams receiver Cooper Kupp.
After the game, Kansas City Chiefs wideout Mecole Hardman piled on and ripped Apple for his performance:
@EliApple Wish you was a better corner bro then the game winning touchdown wouldn’t been scored on you 🤷🏾♂️
Hardman's animosity towards Apple stems from the cornerback's victory lap on social media after the Bengals defeated the Chiefs in the AFC Championship.
One of Apple's former teammates also chimed in, as New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas expressed his lack of astonishment with the result:
Apple, who played 25 games for the Saints from 2018-19, made some disparaging remarks about the city of New Orleans last month.
Mattress Mack Loses $9.5M After Betting on Bengals to Beat Rams in Super Bowl 56
Feb 14, 2022
HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 17: Houston business owner Jim Mattress Mack McIngvale poses for a portrait at his store Gallery Furniture in Houston, Texas on February 17, 2021. Gallery Furniture opened up its doors to help people with food and shelter during the power outages.
(Photo by Mark Felix for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVI wasn't a good one for Mattress Mack.
The Houston-area businessman, real name Jim McIngvale, wagered $9.5 million on the Cincinnati Bengals in Sunday's big game, but the squad fell short with a 23-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
McIngvale initially wagered about $4.5 million on the Bengals moneyline before adding another $5 million bet, the largest in Super Bowl history, per Darren Rovell of The Action Network.
That put $16,207,800 on the line through Caesars Sportsbook.
Despite the lofty wagers, Mattress Mack seemed relatively calm as the game neared its conclusion:
The game eventually ended with Cooper Kupp scoring a go-ahead touchdown in the final minutes.
McIngvale won $2.75 million in last year's Super Bowl, successfully betting on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to beat the Kansas City Chiefs. There have also been big losses with these wagers, including his $2.4 million bet in the Kentucky Derby.
Mattress Mack was on the losing end this time around, but he likely isn't done at the sportsbooks.
Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp Lift Rams over Joe Burrow, Bengals to Win Super Bowl 56
Feb 14, 2022
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 13: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams attempts a pass during the second quarter of Super Bowl LVI against the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium on February 13, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Rams are champions for the first time since the 1999 season.
Los Angeles won its second Lombardi Trophy in team history with a 23-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Sunday's Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium. Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp—who was the MVP—led the way for the champion Rams, who had lost their previous two Super Bowls since they won in the 1999 campaign.
Stafford's touchdown pass to Kupp in the final two minutes put the Rams ahead, and the Bengals' final drive stalled when Aaron Donald forced a Joe Burrow incompletion on fourth down.
A solid showing from Burrow was not enough for the Bengals, who have now lost all three Super Bowl appearances in franchise history.
Notable Player Stats
Matthew Stafford, QB, LAR: 26-of-40 passing for 283 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs
Cooper Kupp, WR, LAR: 8 catches for 92 yards, 2 TDs
Joe Burrow, QB, CIN: 22-of-33 passing for 263 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
Tee Higgins, WR, CIN: 4 catches for 100 yards, 2 TDs
Ja'Marr Chase, WR, CIN: 5 catches for 89 yards
Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp Become Rams Heroes Forever
Sunday was all about legacies for the Rams.
Stafford was searching for a Super Bowl title to add to his potential Hall of Fame resume. Donald could further make his case as one of the best defenders in league history with a title on the defensive side. Kupp was looking to cap off his incredible season with a win. And head coach Sean McVay might just walk away on top and head into the broadcasting booth with a championship.
Those legacies were well on track out of the gates. Stafford picked Cincinnati's secondary apart for much of the first half while finding Odell Beckham Jr. and Kupp for touchdowns. Even with a muffed snap on an extra point, the Rams were up 13-3 and seemingly in full control.
However, the Bengals cut the deficit to 13-10 by halftime, and Beckham was questionable (then out) with a knee injury. Throw in Stafford's interception to Jessie Bates III in the end zone, and momentum was on the Bengals' side going into the second half.
That momentum continued to slip away from the Rams when the first two plays from scrimmage in the second half were a Bengals touchdown and a Stafford interception to Chidobe Awuzie. A promising drive then resulted in a field goal for the NFC representative, and the offense fell apart from there without Beckham and the Bengals committing more attention to Kupp.
The rushing attack was also invisible for much of the game, which put even more pressure on Stafford without Beckham, Robert Woods and Tyler Higbee.
Talk about coming through in the face of that pressure.
Stafford marched the Rams 79 yards on 15 plays for a drive that Los Angeles fans will remember forever. He was helped by a questionable defensive holding call on third down inside the 10-yard line, which set up the winning touchdown pass to Kupp and cemented that legacy in Super Bowl lore.
Bengals Fall Just Short of 1st Lombardi Trophy
Two wins in the 2019 season. Four wins in the 2020 season. Super Bowl in the 2021 season.
That's the Burrow effect.
Burrow has completely revamped the entire Bengals organization in two quick years, and Sunday was the opportunity to forever become a Cincinnati legend. Yet things certainly did not get off to an ideal start for the AFC representative after it turned the ball over on downs on its first possession to set up Los Angeles' opening touchdown.
The deficit expanded to 13-3, although the Bengals seized some momentum with an incredible one-handed catch by Ja'Marr Chase to set up an Evan McPherson field goal and then a trick-play touchdown pass from Joe Mixon to Tee Higgins. It felt like a win for Cincinnati to be down just three at the half after the abysmal start, especially since Burrow hadn't been playing particularly well.
It truly felt like a win when Burrow launched a 75-yard touchdown pass to Higgins on the first play from scrimmage in the second half to take the lead even if the receiver appeared to get away with offensive pass interference.
Still, the Bengals offensive line did its very best to blow that lead. It had no chance for extended stretches against the dominant trio of Von Miller, Donald and Leonard Floyd, and the entire city of Cincinnati was left holding its breath when Burrow grabbed his knee in pain and limped off the field in the fourth quarter.
Fortunately, Burrow remained in the game, but the rest of the contest was about missed chances. Tyler Boyd dropped a critical pass on third down when Cincinnati was attempting to run out the clock, the defense was unable to make a stop at the end of the game and the offense turned it over on downs in the final minute.
Combine that with the fact that Los Angeles' last touchdown came after a third-down penalty and the Bengals made a poor play call on their penultimate offensive play call by giving the ball to Samaje Perine, and Sunday was a day of heartbreak and what-could-have-been for Cincinnati.
Bengals Kicker Evan McPherson Attends Super Bowl 56 Halftime Show
Feb 14, 2022
Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson (2) walks the sidelines during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 56 football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Cincinnati Bengals rookie kicker Evan McPherson was seen on the field during Sunday's Super Bowl halftime show at SoFi Stadium.
Bengals rookie kicker Evan McPherson came out during halftime to watch the show 😂 Can you blame him? pic.twitter.com/0KuqPD3SSE
Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar headlined this year's show. In the past, several hip-hop artists have made guest appearances, including Travis Scott. However, this is the first year hip-hop artists headlined the event.
It's not surprising that McPherson was on the field for the show. The 22-year-old told TMZ Sports Sunday he wanted to experience it.
'I'll be super bummed if we can't at least watch it on a TV or something," McPherson said. "I hope I get to watch it," he added. "I hope I get to be out there to experience it."
McPherson also told reporters after the game that he had planned to stay on the field for the halftime show.
Evan McPherson said he planned to stay out for halftime show the whole time. Felt could compartmentalize football and other things. “Those are some of my favorite artists. Was once in a lifetime”
Based on McPherson's performance throughout the postseason, which has included two game-winning field goals, there was no reason for him not to be allowed to experience arguably the biggest halftime show in Super Bowl history.
Bengals' Vernon Hargreaves Penalized for Celebrating Super Bowl INT While Inactive
Feb 14, 2022
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III (29) engages fans after the Browns defeated the Bengals 21-16 in an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)
A word of advice for all NFL players who are inactive for games: Don't go on the field to celebrate turnovers with your teammates.
The Cincinnati Bengals cut into a 13-3 deficit during Sunday's Super Bowl with a trick-play touchdown that saw Joe Mixon hit Tee Higgins in the end zone. It then built on its momentum when Jessie Bates III intercepted a Matthew Stafford pass.
However, some of that momentum disappeared when cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III came on the field to celebrate with his teammates after the interception.
Hargreaves was inactive, and NFL Officiating explained the penalty:
After the interception by CIN 30, a non-uniformed member of the team enters the field of play to celebrate. This is a foul for unsportsmanlike conduct. #SBLVIpic.twitter.com/y9OcxPhPwc
Fortunately for the Bengals, they trailed just 13-10 at the half despite the penalty.
Video: Watch Joe Mixon Throw Trick-Play TD Pass to Tee Higgins in Super Bowl 56
Feb 14, 2022
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 13: Joe Mixon #28 of the Cincinnati Bengals warms up prior to Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium on February 13, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
The Cincinnati Bengals' first touchdown pass of the Super Bowl was by someone other than Joe Burrow.
Naturally.
After falling behind 13-3 on Sunday at SoFi Stadium, the Bengals marched downfield and into scoring position before breaking out a trick play. Joe Mixon took a pitch from Burrow and found Tee Higgins in the end zone for Cincinnati's first touchdown of the game:
JOE MIXON THREW A TD IN THE SUPER BOWL. #RuleItAll
ESPN's Field Yates noted he is just the third running back to throw a touchdown in the Super Bowl, while Pro Football Reference shared a look at the non-quarterbacks who threw for a score with the Lombardi Trophy hanging in the balance:
Non-QBs to throw a passing TD in the #SuperBowl: Robert Newhouse, Super Bowl XII Lawrence McCutcheon, Super Bowl XIV Antwaan Randle El, Super Bowl XL Trey Burton, Super Bowl LII Joe Mixon, Super Bowl LVI
