The Cincinnati Bengals have had a terrible season. Given preseason Super Bowl expectations, the team consistently underperformed in games it should have won.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t bode well for an NFL MVP because team success is part of the equation. However, Cincinnati is getting a career year from superstar quarterback Joe Burrow, who signed an extension to become the NFL’s highest-paid player in 2023.

It’s still unlikely that Burrow’s Bengals will make the playoffs, but statistically there is a chance. They have to beat the Broncos in Week 17, the Broncos have to lose the rest of their game, and the Colts and Dolphins have to lose as well.

It may be unlikely, but it is not unthinkable. However, if they get in, ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky buys Burrow stock for MVP.

“I think if Cincinnati gets in, Joe Burrow absolutely has a case. He’s having an incredible season. At one point they were 1-5 or 1-4. They play Denver this weekend, whoever is ahead of them, they beat Denver, that means they’re going to play Pittsburgh in Week 18 and if they beat Pittsburgh then I know they need the Colts and Dolphins (to lose once). ). If they come in, Joe Burrow can definitely have a seat at that table,” Orlovsky said on ESPN Stand up.

Burrow has thrown at least three touchdowns in six straight games and has also rushed for more than 350 yards in three of them. He currently leads the league in passing yards with 4,229 yards and passing touchdowns with 39, the latter already the most of his career.

However, the team’s 7-8 record doesn’t do justice to Burrow’s phenomenal stats. For a Cincinnati player to win MVP, one would have to look back to Boomer Esiason in 1988. Let’s hope Burrow can break this drought in the coming weeks.