Bengals wasting best version of Joe Burrow the NFL has seen

If there was ever proof of wins not being a quarterback stat, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is it.

If Cincinnati's record reflected the play of its quarterback, it would be closer to 5-0 rather than searching for its second win over a month into the season.

The Bengals lost a heartbreaker to the Ravens in Week 5, falling 41-38 at home in overtime. They squandered a 38-28 fourth-quarter lead to drop to 1-4, already putting their playoff chances on life support.

Cincinnati isn't in this position because of Burrow, though. He's been fantastic in 2024, including on Sunday when he had arguably his best game of the season.

The 2019 Heisman winner out of LSU was 30-of-39 for 392 yards, five touchdowns and an interception in the loss. This season , Burrow is 125-of-173 (72.3%) for 1,370 yards, an NFL-high 12 touchdowns and two interceptions.

Cincinnati has lost each of its four games by one possession — a total of 15 points. The defense has been a major disappointment, allowing 30.3 points per game in the four losses. Through Sunday's mid-afternoon games, only the Panthers have allowed more points (165) this season than the Bengals (145).

The way Burrow has played so far should give the Bengals hope that they can turn their season around. But it's also disconcerting knowing that the best version of Burrow isn't enough to lead Cincinnati to victories.

The Bengals' next four games are winnable. In Week 6, they travel to the Giants (2-3) for "Sunday Night Football," followed by a road date at the Browns (1-4). Home games against the Eagles (2-2) and Raiders (2-3) follow in Weeks 8 and 9, respectively.

It isn't too late for Cincinnati to avoid wasting Burrow's incredible season, but it's getting close. And the Bengals quarterback acknowledged as much following the game.

"We're not a championship-level team right now," Burrow told reporters. ( h/t ESPN )

Five weeks into the 2024 season, we should be discussing Burrow as an MVP candidate. Instead, thanks to the team's failure around him, the bigger question is whether Cincinnati can claw its way back into playoff contention.

This season, there might not be a greater injustice than the Bengals turning Burrow's excellent year into a footnote.