Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow managed to work his way into the Most Valuable Player discussion in 2024, and for good reason.
Burrow completed 70.6% of his passes for 4,918 yards and 43 touchdowns to just nine interceptions. His yardage and touchdowns were tops among quarterbacks, while his completion rate was the highest of his career.
Unfortunately, his outstanding season did not lead to an MVP award. Burrow did not receive a single first-place vote, but did garner at least one vote for second, third, fourth and fifth place.
The most likely cause of Burrow falling short was the fact that the Bengals did not make the postseason, although that was not his fault. Cincinnati’s defense let the Bengals down and was the biggest culprit in the team falling short.
Looking ahead to 2025, Burrow is primed to have another big season. The Bengals have made some additions to their offensive line to improve the group upfront, and Cincinnati signed both Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase to massive contracts.
With that in mind, Jeffri Chadiha of NFL.com predicts that Burrow will finally get his first MVP award in 2025.
Burrow is going to receive a lot of attention for this honor because he got plenty last year, when the Bengals were stumbling and fumbling their way through a frustrating season that ended with them missing the playoffs for the second straight year. There were people out there loudly saying that Burrow deserved to contend for the game’s top individual award because of sheer productivity. He led the league in passing yards (4,918) and touchdowns (43) while only throwing nine interceptions. It is true that Burrow would’ve had a strong case if Cincinnati had made the postseason in 2024. It’s even more logical to think that more people will be singing his praises if he repeats those efforts. The Bengals made it clear that they wanted to keep his weapons happy (wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins both signed massive extensions). It’s also still a mystery as to what Cincy’s defense will look like after an offseason that has included contract disputes with All-Pro edge rusher Trey Hendrickson and first-round pick Shemar Stewart, the hiring of new defensive coordinator Al Golden and some high-profile personnel changes. If the Bengals return to the playoffs, then their offense is going to be prolific. That puts Burrow in a position to earn a lot of love.
Burrow took falling short of MVP in stride, noting that the team not making the playoffs — and more specifically, winning the division — was going to make it difficult for him to take home the hardware.
“Usually, you’ve got to win your division. It is what it is. That’s how it’s voted. I don’t necessarily disagree with it, I would say,” Burrow told Bengals.com.
As long as Burrow can stay healthy, you know the numbers are going to be there. However, the Bengals’ defense could once again derail his MVP candidacy.
Cincinnati is currently in a standoff with star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, who is seeking a new contract. Based on everything we’re seeing, Hendrickson and the Bengals look primed for a split.
The Bengals are also embroiled in some controversy with another key defender in rookie edge rusher Shemar Stewart, who has yet to practice with the team this offseason due to a dispute over his contract.
Adding to those two concerns, the Bengals are depending on a lot of young players, they cut ties with Germaine Pratt, and the cornerbacks room remains tough to gauge and can be considered a boom-or-bust unit.
Burrow has been an elite quarterback for years now and deserves his flowers. Sadly, we remain skeptical the Bengals’ defense will be able to provide the necessary support to get the team back to the playoffs.
