Overview
- Burrow told reporters that "something's got to change," stressing higher standards and openness to personnel upgrades or internal improvement.
- Cincinnati’s defense ranked last in yards allowed per game and near the bottom in points allowed, underscoring a major offseason priority.
- Burrow missed nine games following toe surgery; the Bengals went 5-2 with him starting and 1-8 without him.
- He emphasized his role as a conduit between the locker room, coaching staff and front office rather than acting as a de facto personnel executive.
- Cincinnati enters Week 18 already eliminated and hosting the Browns, with Myles Garrett chasing the single-season sack record against an improved Bengals offensive line.