Surprising QB now most accurate passer through three starts since 1950

When Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow tore his ACL and MCL last month, it looked like the season was over for Cincy. However, thanks to the play of backup QB Jake Browning, the Bengals are very much alive in the AFC playoff race.

Browning is 2-1 as a starter, and the Bengals are one of six teams in the AFC with a 7-6 record vying for wild-card spots. Even more impressively, the QB has been more than serviceable for the Bengals — he's made history through his first three starts. 

Per the NFL communications department, Browning's 79.3 completion percentage is the highest by a QB in his first three career starts since 1950. Furthermore, Browning and former New York Jets QB Chad Pennington are the only QBs since 1950 with a 70+ completion percentage and 95+ passer rating in each of their first three career starts. 

In the Bengals' 34-14 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Browning came up clutch down the stretch, going 10-of-11 for 140 yards with one touchdown. Browning saved his best stuff for the second half the previous week as well in a 34-31 overtime win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he was 15-of-19 for 176 yards and a touchdown. Browning's performances have some of his teammates thinking he's a superhero. 

"He might as well be Batman," offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. said. "The way he's coming in here with all the tools and the tips and things he using, he's executing at a high level. I just like his poise. What stands out to me is his confidence and moxie."

Browning, 27, has been in the NFL since 2019 and with the Bengals since 2021. While he's a veteran by virtue of time, he never attempted passes in the regular season until this year. Even so, the Bengals knew what they had in him. 

"Jake had all the intangible stuff, the skills we saw that made us think he can be an effective player for us," Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said. "All he's done is continue to prove that right."

Browning's next test comes against the 7-6 Minnesota Vikings and their formidable defense. Minnesota just shut out the Las Vegas Raiders 3-0.

No matter the opponents, Cincinnati needs to string together wins from here on out if it wants to play meaningful postseason ball in January. Browning's play will continue to loom large and be a decisive factor in Cincy's playoff push. 

"He just needs to step up, be prepared, and play as best as he can without our starter out," Taylor said.