As Joe Burrow ran off the Paycor Stadium field Saturday night after authoring another pinch-yourself moment in Bengals history, he heard Who-Dey nation chanting "MVP, MVP."
Asked about the moment after a New Year's Eve walkthrough, Burrow did what we all did Tuesday and looked to the future.
"I'll win one one day," Burrow said.
Even though he's leading the league in touchdown passes, passing yards, first downs, completions and attempts while also in the top five in everything else, he doesn't think 2024 is the year.
"I doubt it,' he said of an award announced during Super Bowl week.
He senses the overlying stat is the Bengals' 8-8 record, which they take into Saturday night's must-win game (8-Cincinnati's Channel 9, ESPN) in Pittsburgh. And he seems to be OK with that. Bills running back O.J. Simpson in 1973 and Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas in 1967 are the only league MVPs who didn't go to the playoffs. The Bengals can still go if they beat the Steelers and on Sunday the Jets beat the Dolphins in New York and the Chiefs beat the Broncos at Mile High.
"Usually," Burrow said, "you've got to win your division. It is what it is. That's how it's voted. I don't necessarily disagree with it, I would say."
But he found out Tuesday what everyone knows. He's one of the most popular players in the NFL. A peek at his upcoming accolades arrived Tuesday with news he finished fourth in the fans' Pro Bowl voting behind Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs, and Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels.
As Burrow looks for his second Pro Bowl berth, the teams are announced Thursday after including votes of the coaches and players.
"That does mean something to me," Burrow said. "I didn't quite expect that, so that was a nice surprise."
He's the favorite to win his second Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year Award after rebounding from his season-ending wrist injury on Nov. 16, 2023 to become the first man in NFL history to throw for three touchdowns and 250 yards in his current eight-game streak.
Burrow, who won his first one when he led the Bengals to the 2021 Super Bowl after injuring his knee during his rookie season of 2020, would become the first player to win two Comeback Players with the same team. Jets and Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington won it in 2006 and 2008, respectively.
"That one I would be proud of," Burrow said. "It's not exactly an award you want to be up for. But if you're up for it, you might as well try to win it."
