CINCINNATI, Ohio — Few quarterbacks have been more accurate in the last few seasons than the Bengals’ Joe Burrow. He has been in the top 10 for completion percentage in each of his last four seasons, including leading the NFL in 2021 (70.4%), finishing second in 2022 (68.3%) and coming in fourth in 2024 with a career-best 70.6%.
In Thursday’s press conference, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor pulled back the curtain, offering a glimpse into what makes Burrow among the NFL’s most accurate passers.
“He does it through hard work,” Taylor told reporters, his admiration evident. “I mean, this guy works as hard and asks the right questions and does a great job with the communication with the linemen and the receivers as much as any human on earth does. He lets no detail go by. He’s deadly accurate.”
That deadly accuracy doesn’t materialize by accident. According to Taylor, Burrow’s approach involves an extraordinary commitment to perfecting every aspect of his craft. From footwork to release point, no element of quarterback play escapes his scrutiny.
“He overemphasizes his footwork, his technique, his timing, the location,” Taylor continued. “I mean everything is just so buttoned up. He works on off-platform throws, moving in the pocket. He knows that that’s going to be stuff he does during the games. So he works on it intently.”
What separates Burrow from other talented quarterbacks is his exceptional field vision and processing speed. While many signal-callers can make accurate throws in controlled environments, Burrow maintains his precision amid the chaos of live action.
“He does an unbelievable job seeing all other 21 guys in the view of his peripheral,” Taylor noted. “He understands the locations they’re supposed to be at and so he can anticipate and studies it.”
Perhaps most telling was Taylor’s assessment of Burrow’s best attribute. After considering all the quarterback’s remarkable skills, the coach landed on his accuracy as the crown jewel.
“The pinpoint accuracy is probably ultimately what is best,” Taylor said. “He puts the ball. He might not always say it’s exactly where he wanted to put it, but to my eye it’s exactly where he wanted to put it.”
Beyond the technical aspects, Burrow’s decision-making philosophy plays a crucial role in his extraordinary completion percentage. Unlike quarterbacks who chase statistics or highlight-reel throws, Burrow approaches each play with a strategic mindset.
“He’s not greedy for the completion percentage. He’s not greedy,” Taylor explained. “He’s not looking to force balls. He’s looking to take it if it’s there.”
This unselfish approach pays dividends for the entire offense. By willingly taking the underneath throw when it’s available, Burrow forces defenses to adjust, ultimately creating opportunities for explosive plays downfield.
The consistency in Cincinnati’s offensive system has undoubtedly contributed to Burrow’s development. Taylor highlighted the stability of the coaching voices in the quarterback room and the continuity with his primary receivers as factors in his success.
What’s particularly striking about Taylor’s assessment is how the coach, himself a former quarterback, seems almost in awe of Burrow’s abilities. “I mean you can’t say enough as a quarterback guy, right? Like you can’t say enough. You can go on for hours talking about all the things that he does really well,” Taylor admitted.
For Bengals fans, Burrow’s surgical precision represents their greatest hope for bringing a championship to Cincinnati. For opposing defenses, it presents a nearly unsolvable problem – a quarterback who combines elite physical tools with unmatched preparation and decision-making.
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