Joe Burrow, the star quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals, is ready to turn the page on a challenging 2025 season. With a renewed focus and a refreshed defense, Burrow is optimistic about the team's prospects for the upcoming year.
The 2025 season was a difficult one for Burrow and the Bengals, marked by injuries and a missed postseason for the third consecutive year. However, the team is now taking steps to address these issues and rebuild their defense. In the words of Burrow himself, they have "everything they need."
The Bengals have made significant moves to strengthen their defense, including a big trade for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, the signing of top safety Bryan Cook, and the addition of edge rusher Jonathan Allen. These acquisitions have already created a positive vibe in the locker room, according to Burrow.
"You can feel the vibe and the leadership has changed in the locker room a little bit," Burrow said. "It's exciting for everyone. B. Cook, in the limited time he's been here, you can feel his presence early. Dexter, too. A lot of guys on the D-Line now. You have Jonathan Allen. Myles [Murphy] is walking around with a little more pep in his step this year. That's exciting to see. I think he grew in confidence from the last five, six games. We need to carry that over, and I'm excited to see that."
The Bengals' schedule also plays to their advantage, with seven consecutive 1 p.m. starts to open the season. This allows them to watch more football, study their opponents, and make strategic adjustments. Burrow sees this as a benefit, as it gives them a head start in preparing for the season.
"That's good," Burrow said. "When we go on the road, we get back home early and watch more football. It's always beneficial to watch more games. See how teams are playing and what teams are doing. See what defenses are doing. We'll try to get flexed a couple of times into the sweet spot later in the season. Everybody feels like this is going to be an exciting season for us, so now we put in the work over the next several months to put the pieces in place to get to where we want."
Despite the challenges of the past season, Burrow remains confident in the team's ability to turn things around. With a renewed defense and a fresh start, the Bengals are poised to make a strong push for the playoffs in 2026. The quarterback's enthusiasm and determination are infectious, and the team is ready to embrace the challenge of a new season.
