Bigger Disappointment: Bengals or Bills? Joe Burrow or Josh Allen?

The 2023 regular season has been unkind to two of the expected contenders in the AFC. The Cincinnati Bengals, fresh off a Super Bowl trip in 2021 and an AFC Championship loss in 2022, were thought to make a similar run this year. The Buffalo Bills, with four straight postseason berths, also positioned themselves for a deep run in January.

Alas, as things currently sit in the AFC, the Bengals and Bills would be left out of the playoff field, with both boasting a pedestrian 5-5 record. How can a team with Josh Allen at quarterback not qualify for the postseason? In what world is a Joe Burrow-led squad struggling to score points? Well, the answer is: this world.

The Bills Tried To Commit To A Rushing Attack, But It Hasn’t Worked

Now, let’s be fair. Although the Bills flex one of the most efficient offenses on paper, the coaching staff still hasn’t figured out how to properly establish a running attack. Former offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey was surely the scapegoat after being fired last week, but the adjustments he made in 2023 weren’t working.

After years of fans and media begging the Bills to become more balanced on offense — Dorsey tried. But there’s a difference between having a well-thought-out game plan and just running the ball for the sake of running it. Buffalo went from a 67 percent throw rate on first downs to a 51 percent throw rate on first downs since Dorsey became the play-caller.

Again, on paper, this represents the balance that many have coveted. But in actuality, the offense has become way too predictable, and the constant decision to put Josh Allen behind the eight-ball on second and third downs has led to some boneheaded decisions this season.

Don’t get me wrong — plenty of these turnovers fall squarely at Allen’s feet. Certain throws should never be attempted and even his form while handing the ball off can be inconsistent. The superstar signal-caller shouldn’t be absolved of any blame, but a deeper dive into the tape and numbers from 2023 shows why regression has occurred.

It doesn’t help that the injury bug continues taking bites out of the Bills roster, especially on the defensive side. The Buffalo unit is still one of the most fearsome in the league, but losing guys like Matt Milano and Tre White is a difficult thing to overcome. Not to mention that Von Miller, returning from a major knee injury, looks like a shell of his former self.

Injury After Injury: When Does Joe Burrow Catch A Break?

As far as the Bengals go, injuries have not been kind to them, either. Let’s start with franchise quarterback Joe Burrow. Entering the year, Burrow was clearly less than 100 percent, still dealing with an offseason calf injury. It led to a disjointed start to the year for the offense.

Elsewhere on offense, star wideout Tee Higgins has missed multiple games in what could be his final stint in Cincinnati. Other young pass catchers like Andrei Iosivas and Charlie Jones dealt with injuries further down on the depth chart, leaving the once-stacked wide receiver room in tatters.

The Bengals' defense, to their credit, has been (mostly) incredible in the 2023 regular season. Trey Hendrickson looks like a bonafide stud pass rusher while Cam Taylor-Britt continues his ascension at cornerback. But, as is evident each season, injuries can kill a team’s playoff hopes in one fell swoop — and the final nail in the coffin might have been hammered on Thursday night.

Burrow, after finally getting the offense back on track and looking healthy, injured his wrist early on in the contest vs. the Ravens. Unfortunately, a devastating yet clean hit from Jadeveon Clowney will likely knock the LSU alum out of action for the next few weeks — at minimum. A sprained throwing wrist is the culprit.

At 5-5, and playing in the most competitive division in football, the Bengals cannot afford this type of setback. Longtime backup Jake Browning tried his best to move the offense against Baltimore, but that won’t be sustainable week in and week out. Sorry, Mr. Browning, I’m just keeping it real.

Josh Allen Still Has A Chance To Rebound; The Bengals Are In Trouble

So, given what we know now, which of these two presumed Super Bowl contenders is the most disappointing in 2023? The Bengals or the Bills?

Personally, I had both teams going 10-7 and earning a spot in the crowded AFC playoff picture. For the Bengals, it would require Browning winning a few games as the spot starter and/or Joe Burrow returning from injury way sooner than expected. Even then, with how shaky Cincinnati has been in this latest campaign, it would present an uphill battle.

Bengals Remaining Schedule:

•vs. Steelers (6-3)
•@ Jaguars (6-3)
•vs. Colts (5-5)
•vs. Vikings (6-4)
•@ Steelers (6-3)
•@ Chiefs (7-2)
•vs. Browns (6-3)

The Bills, as long as Josh Allen is still breathing, will have a chance to win any given Sunday. That’s the reality of the situation here — one team likely still has its star quarterback at full strength, while, at best, the other squad will have a hobbled passer behind center; one that couldn’t use his throwing wrist last night.

Bills Remaining Schedule:

•vs. Jets (4-5)
•@ Eagles (8-1)
•@ Chiefs (7-2)
•vs. Cowboys (6-3)
•@ Chargers (4-5)
•vs. Patriots (2-8)
•@ Dolphins (6-3)

Based on expectations, there’s an argument to be made for both franchises as the “biggest” disappointment. I expected better play from each side, but the Bills, in particular, take the cake. The Bengals have been decimated by injuries, including one to its franchise player. The Bills, on the other hand, have been decimated by turnovers, mostly from its franchise player.

Make no mistake — Burrow and Allen are still top-five signal-callers in the league. This isn’t meant as a hit piece on either one (or both). But it’s fair to say neither guy has accomplished what they set out to do when the season began. And due to injury, Burrow may not get a chance to right the ship. That puts the onus on Allen to make sure his crew finishes ahead of the likely Burrow-less Bengals.