Joe Burrow not shocked with consecutive AFC title sport appearances: ‘I’d say that successful is predicted’ – NFL.com

Burrow acknowledged that many outdoors of the group could not have anticipated the Bengals to develop into perennial Tremendous Bowl contenders so shortly. It wasn’t all that way back the Bengals went 2-14 earlier than deciding on Burrow the No. 1 general decide within the 2020 NFL Draft. Cincinnati produced a 4-11-1 document throughout Burrow’s rookie season, which was marred by the QB’s torn ACL in Week 10, and it continued a irritating storyline for Cincinnati that included 5 consecutive dropping seasons and an ongoing eight-game playoff dropping streak relationship again to 1990.

The Bengals have since gone 5-1 within the playoffs with Burrow on the helm as they give the impression of being to make consecutive Tremendous Bowl appearances.

“I believe when you would’ve advised folks that we have been going to be on this spot a few years in the past, I believe folks would say we have been loopy,” mentioned Burrow. “However we trusted the method, trusted the group and the entrance workplace and put collectively a fantastic crew and nice folks and obtained us so far.”

Attending to Tremendous Bowl LVII would require toppling the Chiefs on the highway within the AFC Championship Sport for the second straight season. It’s a sport headlined by two of the NFL’s brightest star QBs in Burrow and Patrick Mahomes, however the showdown is about as even a match can get between two well-rounded groups.

It’s additionally one we noticed in Week 13, when Burrow authored a fourth-quarter comeback win over Kansas Metropolis. Burrow accomplished 25 of 31 passes for 286 yards, two touchdowns and added a dashing rating within the victory, which stored his document in opposition to the Chiefs good in three complete matchups within the common season and playoffs.

Going into Sunday, Burrow is anticipating a special Chiefs crew than the one he noticed in early December and acknowledged that each crew evolves over the course of the season, together with the Bengals themselves.

The Bengals QB additionally acknowledged the expansion of the Chiefs’ younger secondary in current weeks.

“Their rookie corners — each of them are getting higher and higher every week,” Burrow mentioned. “You may inform they put in a whole lot of work for what they do, they usually’re two of the higher corners we’ve performed thus far.”

Whereas Burrow isn’t afraid to exude his confidence — maybe finest exemplified by him saying the Bengals’ Tremendous Bowl window is “my complete profession” — the 26-year-old isn’t occupied with the outlook of his legacy within the second, which he believes is a key to his constant success.

Mentioned Burrow: “I simply suppose through the season you’re so dialed in week to week, I don’t suppose it’s actually doable to consider these common, long-term questions, particularly if you wish to achieve success.”