Joe Burrow — Week 3: Three Touchdowns, Then the Fumble
2026 NFL Season · Half-PPR Scoring · Monday, Sep 28
Burrow completed 28 of 37 throws for 282 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, and both of his fourth-down throws converted, one of them Mike Gesicki's 25-yard go-ahead score. Down three with 53 seconds left at the Pittsburgh 38, he was sacked and fumbled and Pittsburgh recovered, in a 30–27 loss to the Steelers.
When Joe Burrow's week moves the numbers, you'll know — every episode, in one weekly email.
The full episode, in writing
30 to 27, Steelers, 53 seconds left in the fourth quarter, first and 10 at the Pittsburgh 38. Joe Burrow had moved the Bengals 32 yards in four snaps — 17 to Ja'Marr Chase, −4 to Chase Brown, six to Mike Gesicki and 13 to Chase on third and eight. On the fifth he was sacked at the Pittsburgh 46, the ball came loose, and Pittsburgh recovered at the Cincinnati 49. −4.1 expected points added — expected points added is what a play was worth given down, distance and field position — and −41.9 points of win probability, the chance of winning the game after the play against before it, the largest swing of the game. The Steelers knelt twice and it was over.
The line: 28 completions on 37 throws, 282 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions, one sack, 38 pass plays, and +14.7 expected points on them — second among the 28 teams that have played this week, with four still to go. Before halftime he was 18 of 21 for a hundred 52 yards; after it, 10 of 16 for a hundred 30. The touchdowns: three yards to Chase on first and goal in the first quarter, to tie it at seven; 28 deep right to Tee Higgins with 39 seconds left in the half, to tie it at 17; and 25 deep middle to Gesicki on fourth and two at the Pittsburgh 25 with 13 33 left, +4.9 expected points, for a 27 to 24 lead. Those last two were his only throws that traveled 20 or more yards in the air, and both scored. Both of his fourth-down throws converted — the Gesicki touchdown and a 21-yarder to Chase on fourth and two in the third quarter. On third down he threw nine times, completed five and converted four. He scrambled twice for 13 yards, both on the opening drive of the second half.
Chase and Higgins took 19 of the 37 throws and a hundred 88 of the yards; Dohnte Meyers had five targets, Gesicki and Samaje Perine three each, and nine players were thrown to in all. The one sack was Cincinnati's last pass play of the game.
Back in June the preview called Burrow elite when healthy and said that was the whole bet: eight games last season after a turf-toe injury in Week 2, and an availability record it treated as the variable. He has played all three games this season — 73 of a hundred three, 743 yards, six touchdowns, one interception, seven sacks — and the touchdowns have gone one, two, three. Sunday was the best of the three by expected points, after −0.5 on 36 pass plays last week, and it ended in Cincinnati's first loss. Three games settle little about the health question the preview raised; so far it has not come up. Cincinnati is home to the Jaguars on Sunday the fourth.
_Data via nflverse._
When Joe Burrow's week moves the numbers, you'll know — every episode, in one weekly email.
Keep going