Netflix has released the second season of their behind-the-scenes show "Quarterback" after a year off that focused on wide receivers rather than signal callers. This summer's production covers the 2024 campaign for the Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Burrow, Atlanta Falcons' Kirk Cousins and Detroit Lions' Jared Goff.
Burrow would have the best statistical season of his career, but experienced the least amount of team success since his 2020 rookie season.
One episode chronicled a memorable interaction between a fiery Burrow and his empathetic head coach Zac Taylor, an exchange that sparked rumors about in-house tension with the Bengals at the end of last season.
Despite the clock hitting all zeros in a win, Burrow exploded in frustration on the sidelines with a NSFW rant about the offenses incompetencies during the game.
"Embarrassing performance by us," Burrow said after Taylor attempted to console and applaud his QB for the victory. "(Expletive) embarrassing ... We sucked today. That was embarrassing. We jumped offsides (expletive) eight times."
Taylor understood that, in the heat of the moment, the interaction with Burrow comes from a place of strong desire to play well.
"Sometimes I walk into an emotional moment and I know I'm walking into an emotional moment and it becomes a really emotional moment, and it may be viewed as a conflict," Taylor admitted. "It's really just passion for the game."
Cincinnati defeated the Tennessee Titans 37-27 in mid-December's Week 14 game on the road. Burrow threw for 271 yards and three touchdowns, but a season-high two interceptions - his only multi-interception game of the season. The Bengals also struggled with the snap count, filing 14 total penalties on the game.
Burrow acknowledged the win, but believed the performance wasn't good enough. At the time, the Bengals were in need of multiple things to go their way if they wanted to sneak into the playoffs. That started with piling on wins at the bottom of the schedule.
The Bengals would do just that, stretching a win streak up to five games to close out the regular season. Unfortunately, Cincinnati's slow start to the season would haunt them, finishing just a game over .500 at 9-8 for the second straight season and missing the playoffs.
Taylor and Burrow will be under a mountain of pressure this season as they try to reach double-digit wins for the first time since their 12-win AFC Championship Game berth in 2022.
And when things inevitably get worrisome, it's important to remember that Burrow's passion may bleed out in the form of a foul-mouthed rant...
Win or lose.