The Cincinnati Bengals’ 2024 season was something of a whirlwind.

Joe Burrow was one of the best quarterbacks in the league, connecting in a big way with Ja’Marr Chase, but they couldn’t figure it out well enough to make the playoffs.

It seems like offense alone might have propelled the team to the postseason, but analyst Warren Sharp recently posted a “brutal stat” that reveals what might have gone wrong.

“Joe Burrow has been blitzed at the No. 1 lowest rate of any QB the last 4 years, but he has been hit within 2.5 seconds of [the] snap at the No. 1 highest rate. Burrow has been hit within 2.5 seconds 25% more than the No. 2 most hit QB in the NFL,” Sharp wrote on X.

most brutal stat you’ll read today:

Joe Burrow has been blitzed at the #1 LOWEST rate of any QB the last 4 years

–but–

he has been hit within 2.5 seconds of snap at the #1 HIGHEST rate 👀

Burrow has been hit within 2.5 seconds 25% MORE than the #2 most hit QB in the NFL 🤯 pic.twitter.com/QOCOmIvRgg

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) July 1, 2025

This is a disproportionate amount of durress compared to all other NFL QBs, and it might be a contributing factor to the injuries Burrow has suffered over the past few seasons.

Burrow might be great when he has time, but even the best quarterbacks struggle to perform when they’re pressured immediately.

It will be interesting to see how the Bengals’ offseason adjustments help their outlook heading into 2025, and if Burrow can feel more confident in his protection.

Cincinnati has the makings of a Super Bowl contender if it can stay together and stay healthy, which has been its biggest challenge lately.

The AFC is filled with teams trying to chase down the Kansas City Chiefs, so top-tier franchises have to stay on their toes rather than resting on their laurels.

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