01-13-2025, 12:15 AM
(01-12-2025, 11:57 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: I think part of it is when you're in line for a win, don't blow it because you really can't afford to let a W you already have in hand go away. Burrow actually didn't play great with a lead this year.
With A Lead
Lamar Jackson: 70.7% completion, 9.7ypa, 20 TD/2 TD, 132.5 QB Rating
Josh Allen: 67.0% completion, 8.2ypa, 14 TD/3 INT, 107.6 QB Rating
Joe Burrow: 66.2% completion, 7.0ypa, 11 TD/5 INT, 93.1 QB Rating
That's just passing, so not even any rushing TDs included. Just for a reference point, for the entire season the average QB this year had 65.3% completion, 7.1ypa, just a hair above a 2 TD:1 INT ratio, and a 92.3 QB Rating.
For whatever reason with a lead this year Joe Burrow turned into roughly a league-average QB and had a hard time icing the game to put away the W which led to some tough losses. He was incredible whenever the game was tied or we were trailing, but as we saw that didn't actually translate to many wins early on with no 4th quarter comebacks or game winning drives until game 13, after we were already 4-8.
I have no idea if it was because of Burrow, or Zac, Pitcher, or some combination of the three, but our franchise QB can't be turning league average when we have a lead.
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That said, Lamar should easily win MVP this year, and personally I would give Barkley the MVP before Allen. As for Burrow, you need to be a playoff team and probably also win your division if you want to be MVP.
Last non-playoff MVP was OJ Simpson in 1973. The Bills were 9-5 and missed the playoffs, and in just a 14 game season Simpson rushed for over 2k yards at 6.0 yards per carry, over 143 rushing yards per game. Burrow had a great year, but he didn't have THAT level of a year, and had 3 more losses with 0 more wins. (The NFL added the second wildcard 5 years later.)
Burrow doesn't have a run game to lean on like those two. Which then leads to more play action for both of those Qbs. We need to be better at running the football next season. Especially, in short yardage situation.
