CINCINNATI — Joe Burrow isn't letting a three-year postseason drought temper his ambitions. The Bengals' franchise quarterback is embracing Super Bowl expectations for 2026, and he's not afraid to say it out loud.
In a revealing interview with SI.com's Albert Breer, Burrow drew parallels between this year's Bengals squad and the 2019 LSU team that captured a national championship. He believes the pieces are in place — especially after the trade for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II — to make a deep playoff run.
"I've never understood why people are scared to say it," Burrow told Breer. "I guess people get scared of how the media will portray them or their team in a certain way. But you have to set expectations with yourself, your teammates, your organization. Everybody says they want to win the Super Bowl, you talk about it every day, you set that expectation every day, you go and work for it every single day."
The quarterback's confidence stems from experience. He's been on a championship team before, and he knows the feeling is unmatched. "I won the championship in college, and there's no freaking better feeling than that," he said. "And if you don't talk about it, I don't know how you can do it."
Burrow's mindset is exactly what Bengals fans want to hear, especially given the urgency surrounding the 2026 season. After back-to-back losing seasons, the pressure is on both the quarterback and head coach Zac Taylor to deliver results. Burrow isn't dodging that pressure — he's leaning into it.
One of the biggest reasons for Burrow's optimism is the transformation of Cincinnati's defense. The unit struggled with depth last year, but the additions of Lawrence and Jonathan Allen have changed the complexion of the front seven. "The vibe of the defense is really good right now," Burrow revealed. "Our defensive line is so deep this year. The depth of that unit was a weak point last year, [but] now we have nine or 10 guys that we feel good about putting out there in five-down sets. Obviously, Dexter plays a big role in that. Jonathan Allen plays a big role in that. And those guys have been vocal leaders for us to start this out, which is something that we needed."
With Burrow healthy and an offense that remains explosive, the Bengals have the firepower to compete with anyone. The question now is whether the defense can hold up its end of the bargain. If the early returns are any indication, this could be a special season in the Queen City.
Burrow's confidence is contagious, and he's not backing down from the challenge. "I always expect to be the best," he said. "The best version of me is going to be the best. I always expect to be the best version of me."
For a team that hasn't won a playoff game since 2022, Burrow's bold talk is a welcome change. He's setting the bar high, and he's not afraid to say it.
