Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper (0) sacks Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) in the third quarter of the NFL Week 17 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Denver Broncos at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. The Bengals took a 30-24 win in overtime to remain in the post season chase. Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Cincinnati Bengals All Alone in Rough Quarterback Protection Statistic This Decade

Originally posted on Cincinnati Bengals on SI
By Russell Heltman | Last updated Jul 2, 2025 5:28 PM ET

The Bengals' protection problems around Joe Burrow have been an issue all decade and Warren Sharp laid that out bare in his latest article for Sharp Football Analysis.

He noted the Bengals are the only team in the NFL to rank 25th or worse in Pass-Block Win Rate each of the past four seasons (2021: 30th, 2022: 30th, 2023: 27th, 2024: 32nd).

"Statistically, Burrow is quite literally one of, if not the, top quarterbacks in the NFL, and he’s doing it all behind the worst pass blocking offensive line in the league under the type of quick duress no other quarterback faces," Sharp declared. "The spun up narratives to try to tear down a great quarterback in the prime of his career to criticize him for things like pocket movement or awareness when he already has one of the fastest release times of any quarterback, while still delivering the best comprehensive performance of any quarterback, is unfortunate and disappointing."

Burrow has carried a massive burden on his shoulders for years, and he's taken the hits in stride.

Seeing him on the ground less this season and finally breaking through that 25th or better mark starting in September would make a Super Bowl run much easier to envision.