5 dream scenarios for Bengals in 2023 season
By John Buhler
4. Joe Burrow wins NFL MVP with something akin to his 2019 Heisman season
There are really only two things Joe Burrow needs to do at this point of his pro career to be well on his way towards eventual Canton enshrinement: Lead the Bengals to their first Super Bowl championship in franchise history and win NFL MVP. The former would mean more to him and the entire region, to be honest, but he could join Ken Anderson and Boomer Esiason with a great year.
Given their dysfunctional nature historically, we tend to forget just how great the quarterback play has been throughout much of the Bengals history. Most franchises would be lucky to have an Andy Dalton or Carson Palmer as their No. 2 guy all time. Now, with Burrow’s ascendance, they’re fourth and fifth behind Anderson, Esiason and now The Geauxt. Burrow has a runway to become the best.
So what is it going to take for Burrow to be a league MVP? Well, Cincinnati needs to win around 12 or more games and be a top-two seed in the postseason, first and foremost. After that, maybe try to approach the ungodly amount of stats Burrow compiled during unforgettable final year at LSU. No, he doesn’t have to throw for 6,000 yards, but to approach around 5,000 would be so stellar.
Burrow winning MVP means the Bengals will have way more positive momentum beyond 2023.