As Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, who is about to begin his second NFL season, recently conveyed his frustration on Twitter. One of his biggest gripes was the team’s failure to clinch a match-up against the Miami Dolphins in Spain this year. Burrow called the missed opportunity a big blow for him and the team.
The Cincinnati Bengals are preparing for a Week 13 short week, holiday matchup with division rivals the Baltimore Ravens. Burrow said the timing of the game wasn’t great. Adding to the drama, this matchup will occur on Thanksgiving night, yet another prime-time game for the team. Burrow noted that he’ll be making his fourth-straight prime-time trip to Baltimore.
“Playing in Baltimore for the fourth straight prime-time year isn’t ideal,” Burrow said. He further added, “Maybe we can get one of those in Cincinnati next year. Please.” He dreams of home games, as he’s as addicted to the comforts of home as any college kid. He too wants a chance to display the squad in front of their home fans.
Burrow and his squad certainly aren’t shying away from the major test that lies ahead. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor emphasized their commitment to embracing the challenge, stating, “Playing on Thanksgiving night in a stand-alone game with the whole world watching, sitting on their couch, is really exciting.”
In 2024, they took three of five contests. In their first meeting last season, they lost to the Ravens by a hair, falling 35-34 as a part of Week 10 last season. As the Bengals’ organization moves on and awaits their next opportunity to duel with their biggest rivals, Burrow’s attention is still drawn to that frustrating history.
Moving forward, the Bengals should not be eligible for an international game until 2027 at the earliest. This long gap comes despite Burrow’s efforts to promote the sport globally. He has actively worked to expand the league’s footprint internationally over the past 18 months. At least that’s the hope, as his recent cameo on the Netflix docu-series “Quarterback” would be music to these ambitious plans.
As the Bengals head into their Thanksgiving night matchup, Burrow is filled with instinctive pride. Beyond that, he shows a clear, earnest enthusiasm for the overall development of the league itself. The team would love to make a strong statement during this holiday game, but they’re just trying to navigate the minefield of their daunting schedule.
Leave a Reply