Joe Burrow Is All In: ‘This Is It’ for the Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals held a joint practice with the Chicago Bears on Thursday morning as a final preparation before the two teams match up in the second preseason game of the summer. Players spoke to the media following practice, and Joe Burrow did not hold back when talking about his mindset and expectations for the season.

Burrow said he has been trying to manifest the Bengals winning the Super Bowl this season by putting it out into the air as much as possible. He is trying to show the urgency of the situation by talking about it as often as he does, and the team simply has to go out there and get it done.

Perhaps the most significant part of the quote was Burrow saying he is tired of saying that they can do it next year after not making the playoffs — now is the time.

“I’m tired of saying, ‘next year, next year, next year.’ It’s now. Life is too short to keep putting this off.”

For Cincinnati’s franchise quarterback, the message is not simply about making the playoffs or having a successful season. It is about taking advantage of the opportunity in front of him and the Bengals right now. By openly putting Super Bowl expectations on the team, Burrow is embracing the pressure that comes with being Cincinnati’s franchise quarterback — and challenging the rest of the roster to meet that standard.

And the roster has the talent to do exactly what Burrow says needs to be done. The front office made moves to improve a defense that has been a glaring hole over the past few years, and with an offense that currently has everyone healthy heading into the season, all of the pieces are there.

Burrow talked about what the team needs to do in order to live up to the high expectations, and it has more to do with the closeness and trust of everyone on the roster rather than talent.

He said to have a championship-caliber team, the Bengals need to have a team that is willing to go to war for one another. Camaraderie is key — having guys who stick around in the locker room to talk with one another and want to be together.

“You need great players and great coaches, but that, by itself, isn’t necessarily what makes a team a champion.”

Burrow’s message is clear: Talent alone will not be enough to get the Bengals where they want to go. Cincinnati has the pieces to compete for a championship, but building the trust and camaraderie Burrow described will be critical. If the Bengals can come together as a team, the urgency from their quarterback could be the spark that finally pushes them over the top.