Betsided

Joe Burrow Is Not at the Disadvantage You Think vs. Rams Pass Rush

By Jon Helmkamp

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) is sacked in the fourth quarter against the Tennessee Titans.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) is sacked in the fourth quarter against the Tennessee Titans. / Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY
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This Super Bowl is full of storylines, but one in particular keeps rattling around in my head — how will Joe Burrow and the Bengals handle the front of the Los Angeles Rams? This battle will have a lot to say about the outcome of the game and who hoists the Lombardi Trophy on Sunday night. 

The Bengals offensive line has struggled all year

Last year during the NFL Draft, there was plenty of discussion as to what the Bengals should do with the fifth overall pick, with the conversation seeming to revolve around wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and offensive lineman Penei Sewell. The year before, Burrow was under constant siege and was knocked out for the season on a sack that tore his ACL

If the Bengals had gone with Sewell, it wouldn’t have been a bad choice. Personally, that’s the direction I felt they should have gone in the moment, but Chase has proved to be a special talent that put together one of the best rookie seasons by a wide receiver in NFL history. 

The offensive line is still a problem. Burrow was sacked the most of any quarterback this year, taking 51 sacks during the regular season. Then came the Divisional Round against the Tennessee Titans, who sacked him a whopping 9 times. The Bengals still managed to pull off the win. Burrow has battled through it, still having a stellar season with a 70.4% completion percentage to go along with 4,611 passing yards and 34 touchdowns, willing his teams to victories despite constant pressure.

The Rams defensive front will be Burrow’s toughest challenge yet

During the season, the Rams traded for Von Miller, giving them a top-tier veteran edge rusher to pair with all-world defensive tackle Aaron Donald. In these playoffs, Miller has 2 sacks, Donald has 1.5, and linebacker Leonard Floyd has 1. Miller also has four tackles for loss, and is tied for the team lead in solo tackles this postseason with 10. 

Fortunately for Burrow, he’s been elite under pressure this season. Burrow had a 89.6 passer rating under pressure this season, the best in the NFL. He’s going to need to be the best in the world against pressure on Sunday, because he’ll see plenty of it from this Rams front. 

You can find all of Jon Helmkamp’s picks here.

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