PITTSBURGH – Joe Burrow will root for Aaron Rodgers on Sunday, but it won’t just be because of the impact the Jets’ play has on the Bengals’ playoff hopes.
A Jets win over the Dolphins is one of the two things the Bengals need to clinch the AFC’s seventh playoff spot (Denver must also fall to Kansas City). Burrow also supports the Jets because of Rodgers, a four-time league MVP who could very well be playing in the final game of a 20-year career that will one day be immortalized in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“I’ve been a fan of his for a long time,” Burrow told CBS Sports after the Bengals’ Week 18 win over the Steelers. “When you watched him growing up, he was one of those guys you loved watching. When Monday Night, Sunday Night Football came on, you hoped he was there. Hopefully he can help us tomorrow and break out big.” time game for us.”
Burrow was 8 years old when Rodgers came in N.F.L in 2005. He was in high school when Rodgers won his only one Super Bowl after leading the Packers to a 31-25 victory over the Steelers Super Bowl XLV. Early in the 2021 season, after their only game in the N.F.LRodgers gave Burrow some good advice about how to protect himself on the field. Burrow led the Bengals to the Super Bowl that season.
“Yes, he did,” Burrow said when asked if Rodgers inspired him growing up. “First of all, I think he revolutionized the way quarterbacks throw the football. I think the way quarterbacks coaches coach the football now is because of the way he did it. I haven’t had a chance to do it yet talk to him about it, but I’d love to sit down and talk to him about his journey, about his throwing motion, how he came up with that.
“I also think he’s a very good person to look up to, when it comes to being yourself and how to deal with this whole fame and football thing. It’s not easy: you go through a lot of things and setbacks. He seemed to stay the same through everything, and that’s something I strive for. You don’t have to agree with what everyone says or does to admire the way they do it.
Ironically, Rodgers’ unique throwing motion is one of the reasons for his infamous fall to the Packers late in the first round of the 2005. NFL draft. However, Rodgers proved his doubters wrong by continuing to work on his throwing motion and taking advantage of his opportunity to watch and learn from Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre during his first years with the Packers.
Rodgers ended up being as good as Favre, if not better. His four MVPs are second only to Peyton Manning, who won five during his storied career.
Rodgers’ 2020 season is one of the best ever recorded by a player at any position. From a physical standpoint, it’s been said that Rodgers might be the greatest quarterback of all time. However, Tom Brady holds the unofficial title as the greatest quarterback ever thanks to his seven championships alongside Rodgers’.
This year, Burrow’s play mimicked one of Rodgers’ MVP seasons. He finished the regular season with 4,918 passing yards and 43 touchdowns against just nine interceptions. Burrow will end the season as the NFLs leader in passing yards and is four touchdowns ahead of Baker Mayfield, who ranks second in the league in that category.
“I thought I was going to have my best year. I think so,” said Burrow, who, like Rodgers, returned this season after suffering a season-ending injury in 2023 that required surgery. “I threw it well this year. I still think I can throw it much better. … So I expect next year to be better. That’s how it was with my knee. That’s how ligament injuries usually go. I expect that it will happen.” grind this offseason and make a jump next year.”
Although Burrow had an MVP-caliber year, the 2024 season was not a banner year for the 41-year-old Rodgers. After last year’s Achilles injury, Rodgers has successfully found a way to be healthy enough to play in every one of the Jets’ games. But the results were not what Rodgers and the Jets clearly hoped for. New York is 4-12 and Rodgers appears to have lost some of the magic that made him one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.
But the NFL is unpredictable after all, so it’s possible Rodgers turns back the clock and produces one of his vintage performances against the Dolphins. The game may also hold some history, as Rodgers is one touchdown pass away from being number 500.
Burrow hopes Rodgers plays well enough to lead New York to a win that could lead to an unlikely playoff berth for him and his team, who are ending the regular season on a five-game winning streak.
“We know the talent we have. We’ve been in those places before,” Burrow said of his team’s prospects if Cincinnati clinches its seventh finals spot in the AFC playoffs. “I know if we can get in, we can make some noise with the players and coaches we have in this building. We just have to hope for some help tomorrow.”