The Cincinnati Bengals trailed the Baltimore Ravens 13-0 heading into the third quarter of Sunday’s matchup.
Although Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow finally found the end zone, his first-half struggles left Cincinnati scoreless through the opening two quarters.
Joe Burrow's slow start sparks backlash
Burrow completed just 6 of 12 passes for 43 yards before halftime, disappointing both fans and fantasy football managers, many of whom took to social media to vent their frustration over his performance.
Deep Dive
How did Joe Burrow perform in the first half against the Ravens?
How did Joe Burrow turn around his performance after halftime?
Why was Lamar Jackson unavailable for the Ravens against the Bengals?
A fan tweeted on X, “This is arguably the most incompetent half in the Joe Burrow era.”
Another user posted, “This could easily be the worst Bengals game of the Joe Burrow era, I’m not even exaggerating.”
Another X account tweeted, “What’s wrong with Joe Burrow.”
Another account posted, “Is it time to have an uncomfortable Joe Burrow conversation?”
Also read | Juwan Johnson caught only 5 passes in last 3 starts as Week 7 Steelers loss compounds Saints' woes
{{/usCountry}}Also read | Juwan Johnson caught only 5 passes in last 3 starts as Week 7 Steelers loss compounds Saints' woes
{{/usCountry}}One frustrated fan took to social media to question Burrow’s focus and work ethic, writing, “Joe Burrow is the least focused Franchise QB in NFL History. I’d love to know if there’s work ethic concerns inside the Bengals building. I’m OVER hearing Joe Burrow in the conversation amongst the league elites.”
Burrow makes second-half comeback
However, the 29-year-old quarterback appeared to find his rhythm after the break, throwing two touchdown passes while completing 15 of 22 attempts for 143 yards with just over four minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Burrow’s complete turnaround helped the visitors take a narrow one-point lead heading into the final quarter.
Also read | Troy Aikman reveals stance on Cowboys return as Jerry Jones backs his NFL future
Across five games this season, the Bengals quarterback has connected on 135 of his 189 passes for 1,361 yards and 11 touchdowns, while throwing three interceptions. He boasts a 71.4% completion rate and a 104.4 passer rating, but has been sacked nine times.