Joe Burrow Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) celebrates after the game-winning touchdown pass to Tee Higgins in overtime of the NFL Week 17 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Denver Broncos at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. The Bengals took a 30-24 win in overtime to remain in the post season chase.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has been considered amongst the elite quarterbacks in all of football throughout most of his NFL career. But after a big win in Week 17, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor has no doubt that Burrow is indeed the very best player in the world.

On Saturday, the Bengals yet again found themselves with their back up against the wall. With a loss, the Broncos would clinch a postseason birth and the Bengals would have been officially eliminated from playoff contention.

Luckily, the Bengals had Joe Burrow on their side, who did what he has done all season and had a spectacular game, throwing for 412 yards and three touchdowns in the game.

The game went to overtime. But ultimately, Burrow would keep the team’s postseason chances alive for one more week with a game-winning touchdown pass to Tee Higgins.

Public perception is that the MVP race this season is mostly between Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.

However, if you look at who really is the most valuable player to their respective team, it is hard to argue someone like Burrow isn’t well deserving of the honor.

People were interested in these podcasts
Play Episode
66min
The Play-By-Play
Fox Sports lawsuit, WWE on Netflix, Jason Kelce's late night debut
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/playbyplay for 10% off your first month and get on your way to being your best self.Fox Sports is rocked with a sexual battery and discrimination lawsuit. "WWE Raw" makes its long-awaited debut on Netflix. Jason Kelce's late night show was a dud. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more with AA's Drew Lerner on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.Time Stamps:-1:02: Jerry Jones acting-2:56: Fox Sports lawsuit-26:46: “WWE Raw” Netflix debut-47:27: “They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce” debut-58:12: Amazon hires Dirk Nowitzki-1:00:15: Jalen Rose calling first NBC game-1:03:25: Amazon hires Blake GriffinYou can subscribe to The Play-By-Play wherever podcasts are found. Please subscribe, rate and review!Download The Play-By-Play:Listen on AppleListen on SpotifyAwful Announcing on XAwful Announcing on FacebookAwful Announcing on InstagramAwful Announcing on ThreadsAwful Announcing on BlueSkyAwful Announcing on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Play-By-Play
Cris Collinsworth's extension, Aaron Hernandez show, Caitlin Clark's rookie year
What does Cris Collinsworth's new contract mean for the future of NFL broadcasting? Why is there a scripted TV show about Aaron Hernandez? And what are our sports media takeaways from Caitlin Clark's rookie season? Awful Announcing's Brendon Kleen and Ben Axelrod discuss these topics and more as Lyndsey D'Arcangelo stops by on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.Time Stamps:-1:09: Cris Collinsworth re-signing with NBC-10:14: Domino effect of Collinsworth’s renewal-18:15: Domonique Foxworth on "American Sports Story"-33:09: Welcome Lyndsey D’Arcangelo to The Play-By-Play-56:38: “Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz” 20th anniversary oral historyYou can subscribe to The Play-By-Play wherever podcasts are found. Please subscribe, rate and review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Play-By-Play
Paul-Tyson Netflix fight issues, 'Inside the NBA' to ESPN
Netflix's tech issues made it difficult to watch the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight. "Inside the NBA" finds a new home. More people are heading to Bluesky. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.Time Stamps:-1:23: Netflix’s tech issues during Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight-18:22: NFL Christmas games being “make or break” for Netflix-22:10: “Inside the NBA” heads to ESPN-35:43: Winners and losers to the ESPN/“Inside the NBA” deal-51:21: People heading to Bluesky-1:00:47: Barstool hiring Jon Gruden-1:04:39: Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame announcementYou can subscribe to The Play-By-Play wherever podcasts are found. Please subscribe, rate and review!Download The Play-By-Play:Listen on AppleListen on SpotifyAwful Announcing on XAwful Announcing on FacebookAwful Announcing on InstagramAwful Announcing on ThreadsAwful Announcing on BlueSkyAwful Announcing on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Play-By-Play
ESPN CFP takeaways, AA NFL announcer rankings overview
The first 12-team College Football Playoff is almost over. How did ESPN do? NFL head coaches are rarely traded so why does everyone in sports media want the Steelers to trade Mike Tomlin? Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics, and we discuss our NFL announcer rankings with AA's Andrew Bucholtz, on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.Time Stamps:-1:54: ESPN College Football Playoff takeaways-22:28: AA’s NFL announcer rankings-43:19: Kyle Hamilton tidbit everyone is using-46:24: Tom Brady conflict of interest talk calling Lions playoff game-57:02: Mike Tomlin trade-1:01:26: Danny Goodwin-1:03:36: Pat McAfee’s Field Pass altcastYou can subscribe to The Play-By-Play wherever podcasts are found. Please subscribe, rate and review!Download The Play-By-Play:Listen on AppleListen on SpotifyAwful Announcing on XAwful Announcing on FacebookAwful Announcing on InstagramAwful Announcing on ThreadsAwful Announcing on BlueSkyAwful Announcing on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor argued exactly that in his postgame press conference after the game, explaining how he believes Burrow is the best player on the planet.

“I don’t know that anybody can stand on the field and watch Joe Burrow and say he’s not the best player in the world,” said Taylor. “And you can transfer that argument to Ja’Marr Chase as well. You can argue those two to death. The clearest thing I could say is I would not trade Joe Burrow for anyone in the universe. And so, to me, that is the MVP to me.”

If the team success was there for the Bengals, Burrow would undoubtedly be right in the mix with Allen and Jackson for the award.

That being said, it’s fair to argue that the MVP shouldn’t be a team award and that Burrow should very well be near the top of the MVP discussion.

Perhaps people will change their minds on the matter. But for the time being, Zac Taylor is at least supporting his quarterback by declaring him to be the best football player on the planet currently.

[Cincinnati Bengals on X]

About Reice Shipley

Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.