Netflix 'Quarterback' series reveals Joe Burrow's positive spin on a controversial NFL topic

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By John Sheeran | Last updated Jul 10, 2025 1:40 PM ET

The NFL as a product is extremely strong, but it's not without its problems from a quality, and a morality, perspective. "Thursday Night Football" can be one of those problems from time to time.

Playing two full games with only three full days of rest between them is a tall task for players. Major injuries can and have popped up on Thursday nights, and lack of rest can also lead to sloppy performances in general.

A shortened turnaround time also has mental implications, and for Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, there is a positive angle to look at as well.

Joe Burrow explains why he likes playing on Thursday nights

It's a quarterback's job to lead the offense's game plan throughout the week, and the game plan is predicated on what the upcoming opponent does best and their identity. A standard Monday-Saturday cycle allows the opposition time to make its own tweaks as well, so at least part of that preparation can be nullified.

By cutting down that prep time in half for Thursday night games, Burrow sees this as an advantage. He told Kirk Herbstreit as much in a conversation that was featured in the Netflix series "Quarterback," which starred Burrow as one of the QBs.

"I like them," Burrow said of Thursday night games. "Because there's not enough time in the week for a ton of new stuff, so the game plan is mostly things that you've done, or rep to playing a divisional opponent. You know the opponent."

Burrow and Herbstreit's discussion occurred in the days leading up to Cincinnati's TNF matchup against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 10 of last season.

"This is gonna be a kind of game where I've got to hang in there and take some hits and make some big throws," Burrow said. "Divisional opponents always mean a lot."

His foresight was completely correct. Burrow was hit 13 times that night as the game plan required him to wait a little bit longer before throwing, allowing his receivers to get open against a stingy Baltimore secondary. He ended up with 428 yards and four touchdowns through the air, but the Bengals lost 34-35 after failing a two-point conversion in the final minute of regulation.

Almost exactly a year prior to that game, Cincinnati played another TNF game at Baltimore and Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury. He's got his own reason to dislike playing on short rest, but values the upside nonetheless.

Burrow and the Bengals will be back again in the Ravens' home stadium for "Thursday Night Football" this year, this time on Thanksgiving night. They'll also host the Pittsburgh Steelers on a short week about a month prior.

Two more divisional matchups for Burrow to exercise his theory.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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