The Cincinnati Bengals dropped to 0-3 after a heartbreaking 38-33 loss to the Washington Commanders on Monday night, and the post-game analysis has sparked heated debates. One particularly fiery exchange occurred on ESPN’s First Take, where Shannon Sharpe blamed Joe Burrow for the Bengals’ loss, resorting to what many viewed as simplistic and lazy criticism of the star quarterback’s performance.
Monday night’s game was historically unusual, as it marked the first time since 1940 that neither team punted nor committed a turnover. Burrow put on an impressive display, completing 29 of 38 passes for 324 yards and three touchdowns, with every Bengals drive in the second half ending in a touchdown.
Despite Burrow’s efforts, Cincinnati’s defense struggled to contain Commanders’ quarterback Jayden Daniels, who was nearly flawless, completing 21 of 23 passes for 254 yards, adding 39 rushing yards, and accounting for three touchdowns.
Given Burrow’s stellar performance, most analysts would be hard-pressed to place the blame on the quarterback for the Bengals’ loss. However, First Take is known for its heated debates, and Sharpe took a different stance. He pinned the blame on Burrow, citing the Bengals’ inability to convert three first-half drives into touchdowns, settling for field goals instead.
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“He played well, but not well enough to win,” Sharpe argued, drawing an exasperated response from co-host Marcus Spears. Sharpe’s comparison of Burrow to legendary quarterback Tom Brady, who famously “found ways to win” in similar situations, only intensified the debate.
At this point, Spears had had enough. Visibly frustrated, the former defensive lineman stood up and walked away from the debate desk, struggling to comprehend Sharpe’s argument. As Sharpe continued to speak, Spears buried his face in his hands, clearly grappling with the absurdity of what he was hearing.
“I don’t want to live in a world where a quarterback can throw for 330 yards and three touchdowns with no turnovers, and we say he didn’t do enough to win the football game,” Spears retorted, highlighting the absurdity of blaming Burrow for Cincinnati’s defensive shortcomings.
Spears, clearly aggravated, re-approached the desk, leaning over it with his head buried in his hands, a gesture that caught the attention of both host Molly Qerim and fellow analyst Stephen A. Smith. The former defensive lineman tried to regain his composure before offering a pointed question to Sharpe: “Did Patrick Mahomes play well enough to win when he threw for 151 yards and two interceptions in the Chiefs’ Week 2 win over the Bengals?”
Rather than answering the question directly, Sharpe pivoted to an offbeat metaphor. “I open up a restaurant in Louisiana,” Sharpe began. “It’s called Club Shay Shay and Swagu. The only thing on my menu is wins and losses. You can’t order anything else.”
A bewildered Spears could only shake his head in disbelief. “You can’t do this,” he muttered, clearly at a loss for words over Sharpe’s deflection.
As Sharpe continued his point, insisting that Burrow should have realized he needed to play like “Superman” to secure the win, Spears finally lost his cool. “When the hell is 300 yards and three touchdowns not Superman?” he shouted, jumping out of his chair in frustration. “Shay, he needed six touchdowns?”
The heated exchange highlighted the ongoing challenge of analyzing quarterback performances in a team sport like football, where a great individual effort can sometimes be overshadowed by defensive struggles or other factors outside the player’s control. Sharpe’s take that Burrow’s performance was somehow lacking struck a nerve, not only with Spears but with many NFL fans who felt that Sharpe’s critique missed the mark.
While First Take is known for its lively debates and strong opinions, this particular episode became a viral moment, with Spears’ passionate defense of Burrow resonating with viewers who felt Sharpe’s analysis was unfair. As the Bengals continue their difficult season, it remains to be seen whether Burrow can turn things around—but if his current play is any indication, he’s doing everything in his power to lead his team to victory.
Sharpe’s take, on the other hand, left many wondering: if a performance like Burrow’s isn’t enough to avoid criticism, what more can a quarterback do?
