Burrow and the Bengals Can Draw Parallels to Namath and the Jets

by Jeff Moeller ,The New York Extra/TheNYExtra.com

The Jets drafted Joe Namath in 1965, and he led them to a Super Bowl victory three years later. It was the expectation that the high-profile and then well-paid quarterback would achieve that goal. Despite contrary belief, Namath was the AFL second overall pick in their 1964 draft, not the top overall one.

Sunday evening on the ultimate sports stage, Cinicinnati’s Joe Burrow finds himself in a similar situation. He is two years removed from winning a national championship and being a number one overall pick.

Burrow also has the opportunity to join Namath in elite company to capture the triple crown of a high school, college, and a NFL championship.

In his Super Bowl run, Namath’s stats were average at best, throwing for 3,147 yards with 15 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. This season, Burrow threw for 4,611 yards with 34 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Namath, however, became the first quarterback to pass the 4,000-yard mark in a season during the 1967 campaign.

Depending on Sunday’s outcome, there are some parallels here. Should Burrow led the Bengals to foootball’s Promised Land, his team will align with the Jets’ Cinderella run in 1968. They slew the Goliath-like Colts, but the Rams aren’t in that same stature in this matchup.

Burrow’s rookie season in 2020 was cut short to 10 games due to injury, but many believed he is on his way to becoming a transcending quarterback who would soon rise to the game’s elite. This season, Burrow has proved it.

Like Namath, Burrow has begun to emerge with a slight swagger in his step, and it could evolve into a larger one. Burrow certainly has all the tool that No. 12 had.

With Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisbeger gone and Aaron Rodgers headed toward the door, Burrow has punched his ticket to secure his spot in the current class of genertational quarterback with Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert, and Kyler Murray. Daniel Jones and Zach Wilson are still on the cusp.

Like Namath had in Matt Snell, Burrow has a solid grinding back in Joe Mixon. LaMar Chase is a game-changing receiver along the same lines as Don Maynard was with the Jets.

Pro Football Focus had the Bengals’ offensive line ranked 20th in the final rankings, a slight improvement from a season ago. They allowed 51 sacks during the season, and that certainly has to improve.

The Jets’ 1968 line of Winston Hill, Dave Heramn, John Schmitt, Randy Rasmussen , and Bob Talamini was a major checkmark for their overall success. Although Namath did suffer a broken finger and an apparent concussion in the AFL Championship game against Oakland.

The rise of the Bengals’ defense had been a significant reason for their postseason run. Phone a friend In Kansas City and ask them.

Similarly, the Jets’ defense meshed togethre at the right time in 1968.

Weeb Ewbank was grizzled coach who was the right fit, and Zac Taylor surfaced from obscurity over the past seven weeks when his team let the league know their presence.

Will this be another miracle run? There are enough similarities, but Burrow hasn’t made any brash predictions.

Win or lose, Burrow and his Bengals already have made their mark, just like an upstart Jets team did 53 years ago.