Why Joe Burrow Has Made Cincinnati Bengals The NFL's Most Dangerous Team Before Pittsburgh Steelers Clash

Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals are rolling into a huge AFC North clash with Pittsburgh Steelers.© Image via: X/@NFL

Joe Burrow just played a football game in Madrid, and the Cincinnati Bengals walked away with another loud statement. Cincinnati beat the Atlanta Falcons 34-17 on Sunday, hit 30 points for the fourth straight week, and moved to 6-2. Burrow finished 24 of 29 for 271 yards, three touchdown passes and one more on the ground. The Bengals now own one of the NFL's most dangerous offenses, and their quarterback sits right in the MVP conversation. Next comes a huge AFC North test against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the stakes just got a lot bigger.

Joe Burrow Is Playing The Best Football Of His Career For The Cincinnati Bengals

Start with accuracy. Burrow completes 74.0% of his throws, so nearly three of every four passes land in a teammate's hands. Brock Purdy ranks next among full-time starters at 69.1%. That gap is huge by NFL standards.

Touchdowns tell a similar story. Burrow leads the league with 23 scoring passes, three more than Kirk Cousins. Jordan Love holds the yardage lead at 2,618, but he has played one extra game. Per game, Burrow tops everyone at 298.3 yards.

Keep this pace and he finishes near 5,070 yards and 49 touchdowns. His career highs are 4,918 yards and 43 touchdowns, both from 2024. He has thrown six interceptions, and three of them came in one rough day against Tennessee. Madrid was a clean answer.

TRENDING: This video of Cincinnati #Bengals superstar quarterback Joe Burrow speaking during his postgame press conference has gone viral on social media. What do you notice about Burrow…? https://t.co/n04lVymNBV

— MLFootball (@MLFootball) November 10, 2026

Projections do carry risk, since injuries and tougher defenses can change a season fast. Still, a pace like this deserves attention.

Russell Wilson Explains Why Joe Burrow Looks So Locked In Before The Pittsburgh Steelers Game

Russell Wilson, now an analyst for CBS Sports, watched the Madrid win and did not hold back.

"The idea of being on the zone. That moment when everything freezes. It's a screenshot snd you can move the puzzle pieces and move the picture how you want too. Joe Burrow's doing that," Wilson said. "He's doing it with Ja'Marr Chase, he's doing it with Tee Higgins…. but his last four games. 35.8 points per game, 77.0% completion, and total touchdowns 18. He's got 23 total passing touchdown passes so far this season."

Wilson then turned to mindset.

"He's got the will to take his team to the Super Bowl again. Cause he's been there before… he's very motivated and I think the cool part about Joe Burrow is the confidence he's playing with."

That second point matters. Burrow has felt the Super Bowl stage, and he plays like a man who wants it back. With Chase and Tee Higgins on the outside, defenses have few easy answers.

Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers arrive at 6-2 for Sunday Night Football in Cincinnati. Burrow will need another sharp night, and the last month suggests he is ready.