Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals have been away from the playoffs for the past three seasons. After making back-to-back appearances in the conference championship, including a Super Bowl berth, things haven’t been easy for the Bengals, and they sense an opportunity to fix their problems this year.
NFL Analyst Reveals Joe Burrow’s Change of Tone Before the 2026 Season
For a quarterback of Joe Burrow’s quality, so many years away from the playoffs doesn’t feel right. The strong start to his career, fighting directly with Patrick Mahomes in the playoffs, has turned into inconsistency with injuries and an underwhelming defense in Cincinnati.
The vibes coming from Cincinnati during the minicamp, however, were different than in previous years. The Bengals have been confident about their potential after adding many players to their defense. And Burrow also knows that the pressure to perform is on: He can’t spend another year watching the playoffs at home.
Speaking on ESPN’s NFL Live, Bengals reporter Ben Baby gave his insight on how the 2026 season looks different. He noted that Burrow has been more vocal in his efforts, while players have also pointed out his renewed sense of urgency during the preparations for the season.
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“Urgency was definitely the theme. Not only did he throw for an extended session yesterday, he also did that today, despite the team cutting things short. Inside that quarterback, there’s definitely a sense of urgency, because he feels that this team can go out and compete for a championship.
And talking to him, that changes the way that he talks to players inside the locker room this season. He says he’s tried to be a little bit more mean as he’s been more vocal. A little more blunt and immediate with his feedback, but the message is clearly been received. And talking to players, I get the sense that this team is sick of missing the playoffs,” Baby said.
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There have been many additions for the Bengals’ defense as they try to recover from a disappointing season. Cincinnati sent the 10th overall pick of the 2026 draft to the New York Giants to acquire Dexter Lawrence, while Bryan Cook, Boye Mafe, Jonathan Allen, and Kyle Dugger joined as free agents.
Burrow, on the other hand, also needs a fully healthy season. He played in just eight games in 2025, which did not help the Bengals’ prospects.
He’s the best player on the roster and one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Cincinnati needs him at his best.
