Burrow's breathtaking Bengals fall at final hurdle but make no mistake, this was no anomaly

Chilli, flying pigs, Reds, Bengals…Burrow. Perhaps to the oblivious few this is just a random assortment of words, jumbled together in a futile attempt to sound educated about an American city that no one really knows much about…or has even cared for that matter. But hold the ignorance a moment. For as the sparkling, serene Ohio River embarks on one of its many meanders there lies an adjacent settlement of companionship and unity, and amongst the bridges and green spaces a mass collection of seats overlooking a patch of grass knitted through pride and fidelity exists…with a firmly padded man in black and orange throwing a ball in a potent manner.

So, yes, this fleeted season witnessed the Cincinnati Bengals clinch their third Superbowl appearance in franchise history, and their first since 1988. In command of a newly charged offense was second-year quarterback Joe Burrow who, defying many a hurdle, would harness the power of the NFL deities. Still hurting, Derek Carr, Ryan Tannehill…Patrick Mahomes? Some of the league’s finest on its knees quivering, exiting, as they fall to Burrow’s Bengals. Of course, experiencing excruciating defeat by the thinnest of margins to the Los Angeles Rams at Superbowl LVI a week and a bit ago makes this fairytale a touch incomplete but, reflecting from a wider set of scales, maybe this isn't such a definite closing of the front cover after all.

In 2019 the Bengals roster was home to an unrecognisable offensive arsenal. It makes the index finger and thumbed gently rub the hanging chin. From Andy Dalton and John Ross (yeah, eek), to Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. From 4th in the AFC North Division last year to their best record in six years, no journey has been swifter, no year has been more superior. A continued shake sees further ammunition drip from the tiger themed sack: Joe Mixon, Trey Hendrickson, a respective 1,205 rushing yards and 14.0 sacks between those recognisable names. Yet for all their adrenal, all their chimera, it all stemmed from a 25-year old Iowan named Joseph.

Sent down from the zenith of a midwestern sky this fresh saint would become a Heisman Trophy winner at LSU before a first overall selection in the 2020 Draft landed him at the helm of a dehydrated offense, in an even more drained setting. There is a lesson in here somewhere: to those bereft of belief and expectation, Burrow’s brief reign in the Queen City splashes the spirit of resurrection onto a once deceased canvas. A torn ACL and MCL to conclude his inaugural season in Week 11, the one that followed would end with him walking beneath twinkling confetti as it falls from above, but in a shade more azure than orange.

But those Rams are good. They went ‘all in’ in preparation to this year, were hosts of their own Superbowl, and are in possession of their very own Cooper Kupp. Of course that’s going to result in some shiny lifting, just how it was drawn out for Tampa Bay (well, minus the Kupp part). As the recently departed season begun back in the milder climates of September there was a likeness between the final predictions: some would argue the Rams, others the Chiefs…what about the Packers? And you can never write off Tom Brady. Amongst this scrutinised and researched deck found a Bengals pack far from considered, let alone discussed. Ah, the erroneous panelists strike again.

It’s easy to gloss over a seemingly idle franchise, though. And in truth, even the most sagacious of football experts’ brains would not have assumed Chase to have a year this explosively dazzling as he earned the Rookie of the Year award. Fourth in receiving yards and third in receiving touchdowns, the LSU connection between Burrow and Chase was rekindled under the cloudy Cincinnati skies to the upmost aplomb. Confidence meets quality on the immaculately mowed lawn, with Mixon’s unanticipated impact in the run game pumping the unleaded to already charged offense. The future? Blindingly bright.

4,611 passing yards and 34 passing touchdowns later as franchise records were mauled, division rivals Baltimore and Pittsburgh swept fiercely aside, and a first play off win since 1990 secured. To a jealous neutral that’s quite the solid shift, but to a Bengal follower so loyal this would be quilled a miracle in the dusty books of Cincinnati’s sporting accolades. This was the year of so much: *that* game against the Chiefs, *those* Evan McPherson game winning field goals in consecutive postseason matches, and *the* glistening finale where the Bengals were eighty- five seconds away from a maiden championship.

But for the Cincy faithful sat high in the heavens of the Paul Brown Stadium there is more to life than immediate fame, garish celebrations and deserted bus parades. This is about the foundations of a future, the anlage for growth, where generations have watched with eyes glued, minds fixed with all the beating hope in their hearts for something richer, something to follow with voices sore and smiles galore. And by Jove, we think they've got it: ‘With the first pick of the 2020 Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select … Joe Burrow’.