Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow won’t have an easy task on his hands to start his career.
Burrow and the Bengals get a visit from the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1, setting up a rare home debut for a Cincinnati quarterback.
And it’s a brutal matchup at face value. The Chargers will deploy elite pass-rushers Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram to get after a rookie quarterback and offensive line still trying to find chemistry.
Adding history to the fray makes the task even more daunting. According to ESPN Stats & Info, the last 12 No. 1 quarterbacks have failed to win their first career start.
The last to do it? David Carr all the way back in 2002.
We can add a little more here too, courtesy of Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com:
By all accounts, Burrow should be plenty ready. His confident attitude and leadership is part of what made him such a surefire pick. And he’s been open the entire process about prepping to be the best rookie possible, not to mention he went over the offense with the Bengals before the draft and just had a virtual minicamp.
Based on Burrow’s last year or so, he’ll be ready to rise to the occasion in Week 1.
