CINCINNATI (AP) — After the Bengals let yet another close game slip away, Joe Burrow acknowledged that this is the most frustrating season of his NFL career. Someone asked why. “Self-explanatory,” Cincinnati's star quarterback said.
That it is. Burrow is playing great football. He's making spectacular throws on the run and scrambling for first downs while regularly taking monster hits from poorly blocked pass rushers.
But the Bengals keep losing the close ones. They are 4-7 at the bye week and in danger of missing the playoffs for the second straight season. They'd likely have to win all of their last six games to have a chance at the postseason.
Burrow, still not completely recovered from surgery on his throwing hand, leads the NFL in completions (274), passing yards (3,028) and touchdowns (27). He has the distinction of being the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 300-plus yards with three TD passes and zero interceptions in back-to-back losses. Star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase is also having an outstanding season.
He's leading the NFL in yards receiving (1,056), yards after the catch (481) and touchdowns (12). Edge rusher Trey Hendrickson is leading the NFL with 11 1/2 sacks. But Cincinnati has been hurt by turnovers, an inconsistent secondary, injuries that have shuffled the offensive and defensive lines, and a kicker with a case of the yips.
Its rushing game is the sixth worst in the league. Six of the Bengals' seven losses have been by one score. Five l.
