One of the unfortunate realities of football is that it is a dangerous game, and injuries are a common part of the sport. Every year, there are devastating injuries that cause superstar players to be taken out for major chunks of the season. These injuries impact odds on gambling sites and can turn favourites into also-runs. One major injury this year has been Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow going down for the season in week 11.
Burrow has been the shining light for the Bengals throughout his career. He has carried this team into a Super Bowl and turned them into one of the NFL’s most competitive squads. His injury will have a massive impact on them and several other teams for the rest of the year. Let’s look at how Burrows’ absence will factor in around the league.
Impact on the Bengals
The most obvious impact that the injury will have is on the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals had recovered from a rough start to the year thanks to Burrows’ steady hand. After starting the year 1-3, the Bengals entered the game against the Ravens at 5-4. They were considered right up there with the other top teams in the AFC and had high odds of making the playoffs on most sports betting sites. With Burrows’ injury, all that changed.
The Bengals are essentially out of the playoff picture now. They are sitting on a sub.500 record, and the offence has been turned over to Jake Browning, the backup quarterback. While Browning might be an adequate backup, the drop-off in talent from one of the league’s star players to an adequate backup is massive. It is highly likely the Bengals will not be able to overcome that drop-off this season.
The offence will struggle in Burrows’ absence. While they still have Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, Browning lacks Burrows’ incredible accuracy and ability to read a defence. These two playmakers will struggle to put up the same numbers without Burrow’s health. The Bengals’ defence is consistently competitive, and they still won’t be pushovers with Burrow gone. The Bengals have enough talent to at least make it relatively hard on the teams they face.
But with Burrow gone, their chances of making the playoffs or making any noise in the playoffs are non-existent. Their odds have tumbled on typical sports betting sites, with most not giving them any chance. This is the unfortunate reality NFL teams face when their star players go down, and the Bengals are just going to have to navigate the unfortunate hand they’ve been dealt.
Impact on the Rest of the League
The biggest impact Burrows’ injury has is on the AFC North, the Bengals’ division. This is the most competitive division in the NFL, and at the time of Burrows’ injury, all four teams were above .500. The major impact that Burrows’ injury has is taking it from a four-horse race for the division crown to three. The Bengals are as good as out, and that means the Browns, Steelers, and Ravens will duke it out for supremacy.
The Ravens seem the most likely to emerge on top, as they have built a lead in the division. Behind Lamar Jackson and a strong defence, they are cruising. They will not play the Bengals again this year. Meanwhile, the Steelers are also playing surprisingly well. The Steelers have been in a lot of close games, and they have been quite shaky at times. But they are getting the job done and are in a position for a playoff spot.
A big impact has been had on the Cleveland Browns. The Browns are scratching and clawing for their playoff life right now. They have had their own QB issues and are currently starting a 38-year-old, semi-retired Joe Flacco. They need all the help they can get to ensure they make it into the playoffs. The Browns are the only team in the division that still has a game remaining against the Bengals, and if that goes down as a win, that will be big for their playoff chances. With an elite defence, it is likely they could suffocate Browning, even if their own QB play falls short.
A big impact of the Burrows injury is that it opens up one more spot in the playoff race for the AFC. It wasn’t like the Bengals had clinched, but with Burrows, they were certainly likely to be in the thick of things. With the injury, teams like the Houston Texans, Steelers, Browns, and Indianapolis Colts have one more available spot with one less team to compete with.
Barry Lachey is a Professional Editor at Zobuz. Previously He has also worked for Moxly Sports and Network Resources “Joe Joe.” He is a graduate of the Kings College at the University of Thames Valley London. You can reach Barry via email or by phone.
