Joe Burrow on Bengals’ Mindset, Approach Ahead of Do-or-Die Matchup vs Steelers
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00:00Did you have a good bye week?
00:02Yeah, it was all right.
00:03Did you have any fun?
00:04Nope, sat on the couch.
00:06What do you think about Oshun?
00:08Has that been reflective on how things have gone since the game?
00:12Hasn't gone great.
00:16You know, we are where we're at.
00:19We're not happy with that, but he's been a lot of good too.
00:23What do you feel like has gone wrong?
00:27You know, we've been really explosive on offense.
00:30I've been happy with how the O-line is playing.
00:33Jamar is obviously playing great.
00:36Our great players are playing great.
00:39We just got to find ways to close these games out at the end
00:42and find ways to win them.
00:46Pittsburgh's obviously pretty good at limiting explosive plays.
00:49How much do you have to be patient against them?
00:52You know, go into the game thinking the same way we always do.
00:55See what they're doing.
00:57Find opportunities to take our explosives.
01:00Find my opportunities to create plays outside the structure
01:05and be smart about it.
01:08And then play the game the way that I think it will have to be played
01:12against these guys.
01:13A lot of defenses, you know, you watch tape
01:16and they're playing one way and then they play you guys
01:18like a totally different way.
01:20Is Pittsburgh a team that's like, this is what we do
01:22and this is how we do it?
01:24Do they kind of morph a little bit when they play against you?
01:28It's tough to tell because we haven't had both T and Jamar
01:32out there at the same time since 2021 really.
01:38And that was before we, you know, became who we are.
01:41So, they haven't changed much.
01:44But those two guys also haven't been out there.
01:47So, we'll adapt to anything that we see.
01:49But expect the unexpected.
01:52You mentioned the great players on this team are playing great.
01:55What would it mean to get Orlando Brown Jr. back?
01:58Obviously, he was playing at a high level before he got hurt.
02:00Yeah, he was playing great.
02:02Best of his career, one of the top tackles in the league
02:04the way he's been playing this year.
02:06So, when we have him back, I think that opens up some things
02:11that we can do.
02:13You know, he wants to get it back out there.
02:15I know he does.
02:17You know, we'll see if he is.
02:18But I think, you know, Cody stepping into his spot,
02:21he's done an admirable job.
02:23But it would be great to have him back out there.
02:25Mike Tomlin said that you guys come out like gangbusters
02:29in the fourth quarter.
02:30He was saying that, you know, they've got to be able to play
02:33well for 60 minutes against you guys
02:35because of the way you guys played recently in the fourth quarter.
02:38In the games that you started fast and got up on some teams,
02:42what do you think has been the difference
02:44when you've been able to score early on in the games
02:47and the games that you haven't been able to do it?
02:50You know, we've also lost, I think we were 3-5
02:53when we scored first this year.
02:54So, I don't think that's been, you know,
02:58we've found a lot of different ways to lose games this year,
03:01not just scoring first or coming back and losing it at the end,
03:05but a lot of different ways.
03:08You guys are, you've won three straight games
03:10coming out five, including putting 37 on Pittsburgh
03:13a couple years ago.
03:14Is there a coincidence or is there something to the way
03:17you guys handled the bye week that you seem to really
03:19kind of hit the ground running coming out of it?
03:21I think you should be at your best after the bye.
03:23You know, your body's fresh.
03:25You've got two weeks to prepare for an opponent.
03:27And, you know, if you're not feeling your best
03:30coming out of the bye, then you did something wrong.
03:32The Steelers don't have as many sacks and freshers
03:34as they've had in years past,
03:37but they're very effective on passing downfield.
03:40Why is that?
03:42We've got great players up front.
03:43It's hard to hold on the ball long enough
03:45to push the ball down the field.
03:47You know, teams haven't really tried to do that
03:50because of their guys up front.
03:52Teams try to run the ball, quick play action,
03:55get the ball on the perimeter.
03:57You know, you don't want to let those edge rushers
04:01get off the ball, make you push up into the pocket
04:05into their really good interior rushers.
04:07So, you've got to play the game a certain way.
04:10They've got to reconstitute secondary anything
04:12that stands out about those new guys.
04:15They're physical.
04:16They're really good tacklers.
04:17You know, their safeties are, you know,
04:20two of the best tandems in the league.
04:23You know, I have a lot of respect for those guys,
04:25the way that they're playing right now,
04:27the way that they disguise their coverages.
04:29You just consistently see them making open field tackles
04:32on plays that should have been explosives,
04:35and they come out and make an open field tackle
04:37to limit that.
04:38So, you know, we're going to have to be great
04:40in the open field, making guys miss
04:42and creating some plays.
04:44Do you feel like y'all have to win out from here
04:45over that shot before?
04:47I'm not worried about the playoffs at this point.
04:49You know, I'm worried about trying to play my best,
04:53be as consistent as I can, get our offense
04:56to an even higher level, and continue to, you know,
05:03create big plays, put points on the board.
05:05And I'm just focused on trying to be the best that I can be.
05:07Do you have to do anything different
05:09with your wrist rehab to get ready
05:11for, like, a cold-weather game, or is that something...
05:14I don't know.
05:15You know, that's a question that remains to be answered.
05:19I haven't experienced a cold-weather game with that yet.
05:23You know, in the past, when I've had injuries,
05:25cold weather does affect it.
05:27So we'll find out if I, you know, maybe I'll have a heater
05:30on the sideline or something.
05:32I haven't really thought about that yet,
05:33but, you know, we'll see.
05:35How do you feel like you could have been?
05:38Could have been better.
05:40Does the glove help, or, I mean, in training camp,
05:43you're doing the thing with the glove on and off.
05:45When you put a glove on, what does it help you
05:48in terms of the wrist?
05:50Just keep...
05:51I wouldn't say it helps anything in terms of my wrist.
05:53That's just something I've always done
05:55when it's, you know, cold or dry outside, just to...
05:58You know, when your hand is dry, it's hard to hold the ball.
06:02So that's something that I've always done
06:04to keep my hand moist and be able to get that tack
06:07on the ball that I need.
06:09As you're kind of looking at, you know,
06:11thinking about playoffs right now,
06:12as you go through these next six games,
06:13how much are you giving your position
06:15and your role on the team, looking at holistically
06:17as to kind of how this thing is built
06:19and kind of maybe what needs to look like,
06:21not only for the rest of this year, but maybe beyond?
06:23How much do you think about that
06:24as you kind of go through these next six games?
06:26You know, those are probably thoughts
06:31that I'll have postseason or, you know,
06:35towards the last couple games.
06:36It's not something that I've thought about yet.
06:38Joe, do you reflect back on your first 11 games
06:42during the bye week, or do you just kind of put it
06:44all in the rearview mirror?
06:45How do you handle that?
06:46Yeah, you reflect on things that you've done well,
06:48things that you could do better,
06:50things that, you know, overall as a unit,
06:55you could be doing better, or things that have gone well
06:58that you need to continue to play at a high level.
07:01So you think about all those things.
07:03What things are you thinking you want to do better
07:06in the next six months?
07:08Be more consistent in my ball location.
07:13And then when that play comes up to go and win the game,
07:17go seize that opportunity.
07:19You know, every game there's an opportunity here
07:23and an opportunity there that you could have seized
07:27that maybe you didn't.
07:28So that's what I'm focusing on,
07:30is just trying to seize every opportunity that's there.
07:33What was your reaction to the FA talk that he was holding back?
07:36I wouldn't say I had a reaction.
07:38Did you watch Russell play at all down through the years?
07:41Yeah.
07:42What do you think of his game?
07:44Obviously one of the best.
07:47He's been fun to watch for a long time.
07:50High level playmaker.
07:53I admire the way that he throws the football.
07:55He throws it consistently with great spin and velocity
08:00and touch to all levels of the field.
08:04You know, I've admired him for a long time.
08:06Did you have a talk with him?
08:08Yeah, I met him a couple times.
08:10Knows family a little bit.
08:11Good people.
08:12What's impressed you looking around the league
08:14at quarterback this year?
08:16What's really stood out in your mind?
08:22You know, I think Bo Nix is playing at a high level right now.
08:27We've had a lot of like opponents.
08:30You know, those are really the, when you have like opponents,
08:34you see teams on film.
08:36I think Bo's playing at a high level.
08:38I think Jayne Daniels is playing at a high level.
08:40Obviously the, you know, the big name guys, Lamar, Josh, and Patrick,
08:46they're all, they're always playing at a high level.
08:48So, you know, there's a lot of high level quarterback play across the league.
08:53Much more than just those names that I mentioned.
08:57You know, those are the names that stand out when you watch them on tape.
09:01When you're watching that film, obviously you're focused on the defense,
09:03but is it hard as a quarterback not to let your eyes drift
09:06and kind of critique and see what the other quarterbacks are doing specifically?
09:09Yeah, you always, you know, you're looking what the defense does,
09:12but you're always watching other quarterbacks too.
09:14You know, you watch what you need to on defense.
09:16Then you shift yourself over to the offensive side on the same play
09:20and see, you know, what the concept was, what other teams are doing on offense,
09:23what quarterbacks are doing well.
09:26You know, that's always the fun part.
09:27You've gotten to know Bo pretty well over the years, correct?
09:29A little bit, yeah.
09:31What's been the most impressive thing, obviously, he's had a lot of ups and downs
09:34throughout his college career, now coming into the situation at Denver.
09:36Why do you think knowing him as well as you do,
09:38like he's been able to succeed given all the circumstances around him over the years?
09:43I think he's always looking for ways to improve, trying to get better.
09:49You know, we talked, he called me a couple years ago
09:53and we talked over the phone about, you know, my process, my journey,
09:59and, you know, it seems like he's just always looking to learn,
10:04trying to find ways to get better and improve himself,
10:07and that's a recipe for success.
10:09Before he went to Oregon, right?
10:11Yeah, I think that was right before he had transferred.
10:14Given what you guys have been dealing with as a team this year
10:17in terms of, you know, a couple of you guys playing really high level
10:21with the record still being four and seven,
10:23does it give you more appreciation for the fact that, like, a coach like Mike Tomlin
10:28has literally never had a losing record before?
10:31Yeah, I would say so.
10:33You know, it's hard to win in this league no matter who you have out there,
10:36and to have that on your resume, I would say, speaks a lot to how you do,
10:44how you go about your business day in and day out.
10:48Zach said T is in good shape right now,
10:53but part of the plan is that he may not be a full participant on Wednesdays.
10:57How do you all as a unit go about making sure that that doesn't hinder
11:01the process leading up to Sunday?
11:03I don't think it does.
11:04I think T has enough reps banked that we've thrown every route
11:09in our route tree a million different times,
11:12and so we have the timing down.
11:14He knows when the ball's going to be there.
11:15I know where he's going to be,
11:17and I think it's good for the young guys to go in there
11:19and get some reps in those situations, too,
11:21where T feels good and try to get him to Sunday,
11:26and so we don't need those reps with T,
11:28and then you can put some young guys in to try to develop them a little bit.
11:32How is playing Pittsburgh different from maybe playing Baltimore?
11:36It isn't much.
11:39You know, all three teams have really good pass rushers.
11:42They're going to be able to affect the throw in a lot of different ways,
11:46whether it's being physical in the secondary
11:49or getting your hands up on quick game or hitting you after the play.
11:54You know, they're always pretty similar games.
11:57You've talked about your leadership at times this year.
11:59Do you have a goal or approach in mind for this final stretch here,
12:04six weeks coming up?
12:05I just told everybody focus on doing what you can do every day
12:09to try to get better
12:11and putting yourself in the best position that you can
12:14and to try to seize that opportunity when it comes your way on Sundays.
12:19You know, we can't look at the big picture anymore.
12:21The big picture doesn't look great.
12:23We just have to focus on the day-to-day,
12:25focus on doing everything with intent to improve yourself.
12:29How important is that to not focus on the big picture,
12:33especially when people like us do?
12:35The big picture, especially for the young guys.
12:37Yeah, I think that's the only way you can approach it.
12:41At this point, I try to approach it.
12:43That way every week from week one,
12:45I think that gives you your best chance of success.
12:48But, you know, at this point in the season,
12:52just focus on what you can do to improve.
12:56You're responsible for anything that you put on tape.
12:58You know, free agency is coming up after the year.
13:00A lot of things happen after the year.
13:02You want to put all the great stuff that you can out there on tape
13:05for the league to see.
13:07And, you know, I'm focused on doing that,
13:10being as consistent and as great as I can be week in and week out.
13:14I think it's the first year since probably that 18-year-old knows you,
13:17what you play, finishing your healthy,
13:19but haven't had kind of the stakes at the end of the season.
13:22It seems like you kind of understand the realism
13:24of what is at stake right now.
13:26How tough has that been?
13:27I know it's the first time since then.
13:29You really might not have anything to play for
13:31despite finishing your healthy.
13:32We're not out of it yet.
13:34We're not out of it yet.
13:35You know, it's going to take a lot for us to get in.
13:38But, you know, at this point,
13:40just focus on what you can focus on, control what you can control.
13:45And that's trying to get better every week,
13:47putting great stuff out there on tape week in and week out.
13:51That's what I'm focused on doing.
13:52You talked in the offseason about bulking up
13:54to withstand the punishment, the hits.
13:56And do you feel as it's moving into December now,
13:59do you feel like that's been beneficial?
14:00Do you feel better at this point in the year than in years past?
14:04Yeah, I would say I always feel pretty good.
14:07You know, at this point in the year when you're healthy.
14:11But, yeah, I feel great right now.
14:13I feel like I'm moving the best I've ever moved.
14:17You know, my strength is there.
14:19My weight is there.
14:20So I'm happy with where I'm at.
14:21You took quite a few hits in the two games before the bye.
14:24Was there a point in the bye where you were like,
14:26all right, I'm not sore?
14:28By Tuesday, I'm usually pretty good to go.
14:32You know, you're always sore on Mondays,
14:36whether you take hits or not.
14:39You know, Monday is usually pretty rough.
14:41But then by Tuesday, you get in there, get your lift.
14:44And then, you know, usually by Wednesday, you're pretty good.
14:47With Thanksgiving tomorrow,
14:49what is it that you're thankful for this year?
14:52Thankful to be healthy currently.
14:55Thankful to be playing quarterback in this league.
14:57Thankful for all my friends and family.
15:00Excited about the opportunity that I have week in and week out
15:03to go and prove myself and show all the hard work
15:07that I've done for a long time.
15:09So, you know, I'm always grateful for that opportunity.
15:12What's on the menu?
15:14Ham, green bean casserole, little pumpkin pie, hopefully.
15:20I don't know. We'll see what else.
15:21Usually little mashed potatoes, too.
15:23No turkey?
15:25Maybe a little turkey, but mostly ham.
15:28What's the one dish that's always on the table
15:30that should not be on the table in your opinion?
15:34I don't know.
15:38I'll eat just about anything for the most part.
15:41Speaking of tables, are you a ping pong table guy?
15:44Depends on my mood.
15:45We played a little bit this week.
15:47I used to be a big ping pong guy.
15:51Haven't played in a while, but maybe since it's back in there,
15:54we'll get a couple games in.
15:56Do you think it helps?
15:57Does it help with, you know,
15:58they're talking about bond and camaraderie.
16:01Does that help?
16:03Who knows? Can't hurt.
16:06Do you want to play on Thanksgiving someday?
16:08Yeah, I would love to play on the holidays.
16:10That's something I've always wanted to do
16:11since I was little.
16:13You know, play on Christmas,
16:14watching the NBA games, I wanted to play in those.
16:17Watching the football games on Thanksgiving,
16:19that's something that I've always wanted to do.
16:22Having families get together on the holidays,
16:25watch me play football,
16:26I think that's an exciting opportunity.
16:29How's the jumper?
16:30The what?
16:31Jumper.
16:32Jumper's pretty good right now.
16:33Yeah.
16:35Speaking of basketball,
16:36Kevin Durant today kind of came out and said
16:39he believes in you more than anyone else
16:41when he was asked about his playoff predictions.
16:44What's the connection between you and Kevin Durant?
16:48We just met each other a couple years ago.
16:51Got to know each other over the years.
16:53He's become a friend.
16:55You know, I always enjoy seeing him,
16:57hanging out with him.
16:58You know, watched a couple UFC fights together
17:01a couple years ago.
17:02I might have been,
17:03I guess I might have been last,
17:06who knows at this point,
17:07when that was.
17:08But, you know, it's always good to see him
17:10and, you know, talk about your process,
17:14your greatness, you know,
17:15and everything in between.
17:17So, you know, I've gathered a lot of information
17:20and getting to friend, I would say.