Bengals QB Joe Burrow still not fretting about noise vs. Chiefs

Cincinnati Bengals starting quarterback Joe Burrow raised some eyes around the NFL earlier this week when he compared the noise at Arrowhead Stadium, often referred to as one of the league's loudest venues for away offenses, to road SEC games he experienced during his time at LSU. 

Burrow spoke with reporters Friday ahead of Sunday's AFC Championship Game at the Kansas City Chiefs and left no doubt he's ready for what he'll encounter. 

"It's always going to be a topic when you're playing on the road in the playoffs," Burrow explained, per Ben Baby of ESPN. "It was loud last week. We handled it OK. We had a couple of mistakes.

"But I think we've had a good week of practice within that noise. I think we're going to be more well prepared for it."

Burrow didn't throw a touchdown but nevertheless helped the Bengals earn a 19-16 victory at the Tennessee Titans last Saturday. 

As teams often do ahead of road contests, Burrow and company spent time practicing with artificial crowd noise pumped in to simulate what they'll be up against Sunday afternoon. "Joe Cool," as he's affectionately known, connected on 28-of-37 passes for 348 yards and an interception in the win at Tennessee. 

Also on Friday, the Pro Football Writers of America named Burrow the 2021 NFL Comeback Player of the Year. His rookie season prematurely ended when he suffered a serious knee injury in November 2020.