FOXBOROUGH – When he returned to practice on Nov. 10, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow told the local media that he was hoping to play on Thanksgiving when his team took on the Baltimore Ravens.
After missing nine weeks due to a turf toe injury, many thought the Patriots would take on Bengals backup Joe Flacco this week.
However, the Bengals and their quarterback flipped the script this week when Burrow was a full practice participant on Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday, Bengals coach Zac Taylor said no decision on who will start at quarterback had been made and Burrow would be listed as questionable for Sunday’s game.
Since he’s on the injured reserve, the Bengals have until Saturday at 4 p.m. to activate Burrow to their 53-man roster.
Mike Vrabel said that the quarterback uncertainty hasn’t affected his team.
“It hasn’t (changed anything). The stuff they’ve always done and will do has got to remain the same,” Vrabel said on Friday. “Joe (Burrow) is more mobile than Joe (Flacco). Both run the same concepts and same plays and try to get the ball in the same places. We’ll have to be ready for whatever happens Sunday.”
A 2-time Pro Bowler, Burrow started two games this season, throwing 189 yards and 2 touchdowns. Cincinnati was 2-0 in those starts. After the injury, Cincinnati started Jake Browning, who struggled, and the team traded for Flacco after going 0-3.
Flacco started the last five games for the Bengals, going 1-4. The veteran threw 1,453 yards with 12 touchdowns and 3 interceptions.
This week, the Patriots have said all the right things, praising Flacco and Burrow. However, there’s a clear difference between the two quarterbacks. Last season, Burrow led the NFL in completions (460), passing yards (4,918), and passing touchdowns (43). He earned Pro Bowl honors and finished fourth in the NFL’s MVP voting.
For Vrabel’s staff, the situation hasn’t thrown a wrench into their weekly preparation.
“I wouldn’t say so much of a pivot,” said Patriots defensive playcaller Zak Kuhr. “Flacco’s a great quarterback. That’s why he’s been doing it for so long. And Burrow, a great quarterback. Somewhat similar styles with how they operate. Obviously, they have some different physical features to them. As far as game planning, I don’t think much changes. They operate in the same system. Zac does a good job of keeping the continuity within the scheme. “
This week, players said they prepared for both quarterbacks, watching game tape of both. As Kuhr mentioned, the Bengals offensive scheme has stayed the same, so the Patriots have focused on studying Cincinnati’s offense.
In the end, that’s all they could do since they exited Friday with no answers on who will start under center for the Bengals on Sunday.
“You can only go off what gets reported,” Kuhr said. “We’re prepared for both.”
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