Why Jake Browning's 'MNF' performance leaves Bengals sick to stomach

The Bengals (6-6) upset the Jaguars (8-4) 34-31 on "Monday Night Football." The main reason why was the play of QB Jake Browning. 

Here is why his performance has left those in Cincinnati sick to their stomachs.

Browning, an undrafted rookie in 2019, took over for injured QB Joe Burrow, who was ruled out for the rest of the season, in Week 11. The Bengals then lost that game as well as their Week 12 matchup against the Steelers.

Then, Browning completed 32-of-37 for 354 yards and had two total touchdowns in Week 13.

"Boy had a hell of a game," wide receiver Tee Higgins told reporters after the game, via Mike Petraglia. "Ya'll asked about his confidence all week, and ya'll just seen it there. You couldn't ask for better than that."

Browning's big night proved the offense is still one of the best in the league and can hang with any team, knocking off the current No. 4 seed in the AFC playoff race.

It was a performance by the quarterback that Cincinnati has become accustomed to seeing from Burrow, but the inconsistency the fifth-year quarterback brings assures the Bengals aren't going to go on a Super Bowl run in 2023 and certainly leaves them questioning what could have been if Burrow would had never gotten injured or still had a chance to return in 2023.

Cincinnati shouldn't just throw away its season, but it is difficult to not think about the future and that every win only hurts the team's 2024 draft stock. 

One positive the Bengals can take away is that Browning looks like he will be a great backup to Burrow for the future, but for now, they are left with just a glimpse of what 2023 could have looked like, which must leave them sick to their stomachs.