If you were to ask most NFL fans and analysts who the best three quarterbacks are right now, the answers would likely be Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Joe Burrow, not necessarily in that order.
While Mahomes dazzles millions with his unorthodox but effective passes in third-down situations, and while Allen has an enviable combination of passing and rushing ability, Burrow is simply ridiculously reliable, productive and consistent.
In fact, according to Pro Football Focus, Burrow has been the highest-graded quarterback in the whole league over the second half of this season.
The best passers in the 2nd half of the season 🎯 pic.twitter.com/OZRsqmG554
— PFF (@PFF) December 26, 2022
So far this year, Burrow is sixth in passer rating at 102.3, second in passing yards with 4,260 and second in passing touchdowns with 34.
More importantly, he has the defending AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals in first place in the AFC North with an 11-4 record and in position for another run at the Super Bowl.
Cincinnati Is Quietly Gaining Steam Ahead Of The Playoffs
Right now, many people agree that the San Francisco 49ers are the hottest team in football, as they have an eight-game winning streak and the best defense in football, not to mention perhaps their new franchise quarterback in Brock Purdy through serendipitous circumstances.
Maybe the Bengals haven’t gotten as much publicity as the big-market 49ers, but they have been almost as hot.
They have a seven-game winning streak themselves, and although several of those wins have been close, they did manage to defeat Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs in Week 13.
Cincinnati doesn’t have the type of scary defense the Niners have, nor does it have an offense as potent as the Chiefs or Philadelphia Eagles, but what it excels at is all-around proficiency.
Don’t be surprised if Burrow ends up cradling the Vince Lombardi trophy several weeks from now.
NEXT: Can The Bengals Make It Back To The Super Bowl?