Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals are looking to get back into contention in the AFC during the upcoming 2025 NFL season.

Following a rough all-around 2024 campaign that saw the Bengals finish with a 9-8 record and miss the playoffs, Burrow and company want to win. They have a solid roster and were able to make two key moves by extending both Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

There are still questions about 2024 NFL sack leader Trey Hendrickson’s future. That situation will need to get figured out and Cincinnati will need him on the field to live up to its full potential. After that, the Bengals should have a playoff caliber team.

Despite the bad result to the 2024 season, Burrow put together one of his best years yet. He has continued developing and was a sleeper MVP candidate with the numbers that he produced.

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In 17 games, Burrow completed 70.6 percent of his pass attempts for 4,918 yards, 43 touchdowns, and just nine interceptions. He also picked up 201 yards and two more scores on the ground.

Peyton Manning took some time to speak out about Burrow recently. He did not hold back his high opinion of the Cincinnati quarterback.

“He’s an incredible quarterback. He’s just fun to watch play. He’s exciting when the ball is in his hands,” Manning said. “The game is never over. He’s calm, he’s collected, he doesn’t sweat. Out there on the field, off the field … he’s very authentic.”

Burrow’s personal success has been impressive, but he wants a Super Bowl. Manning also talked about that goal and revealed that he expects the 28-year-old quarterback to win a Super Bowl.

“There are expectations that come with it, but Joe is well aware of those, and he can carry that burden and wants those expectations on his shoulders,” he said. “And I know he fully expects, as I do as well, to bring a championship here to Cincinnati.”

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Those words from Manning are a massive sign of how good Burrow has become. He is more than capable of powering the Bengals back to Super Bowl contention

Entering the 2025 season, it will be interesting to see if he is able to get the job done. It will start with Cincinnati being a playoff team and with Burrow under center there is no reason the team should fall short of that goal.

Manning is expecting big things from Burrow and it will be interesting to see if he delivers this year.

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