Dan Orlovsky calls Chris Canty out for ‘ludicrous’ Joe Burrow take

The fallout to Joe Burrow leading the Cincinnati Bengals to an 0-3 start is pitting ESPN’s Chris Canty and Dan Orlovsky against each other.

Continuing their propensity for slow starts, the Bengals hampered any Super Bowl expectations by losing their home opener to the Washington Commanders on Monday Night Football, leaving them with an 0-3 record on the season. Despite the brutal 38-33 loss to Washington, Cincinnati’s offense had no turnovers and never punted the ball, seemingly saving quarterback Joe Burrow of blame. Just don’t tell that to ESPN Radio host and NFL analyst Chris Canty.

“When your quarterback has a chance to go win the game, he’s gotta win the game. And Joe Burrow didn’t do that, Jayden Daniels did,” Canty ranted on his morning radio show.

“I’m tired of all the excuses for Joe Burrow. ‘Oh the defense let Joe Burrow down.’ No! Joe Burrow let Joe Burrow down! Joe Burrow let the offense down! Joe Burrow let the team down! Great stats. Great stat line, ‘Oh it’s amazing, he’s had all of these touchdowns, no interceptions.’ But what did you do when the game was in the balance, what did you do when the game was on the line. You know what the answer is? It’s not enough.”

After ESPN Radio clipped the rant and posted it on social media, Canty’s colleague Dan Orlovsky responded with, “I got a lot of love for Chris. This is ludicrous to say.”

Canty argued the Bengals are paying their offense to win games, not their defense. Cincinnati is top-5 in salary on the offensive side of the ball and they’re 22nd on defense. Because of that, Canty says it’s on Burrow and the offense to win games.

Yes, if the Bengals are going to overcome their 0-3 start to make the playoffs and possibly the Super Bowl, it’s going to be because their offense carries them there. But it’s really hard to fault Burrow against the Commanders Monday night. Because if Cincinnati’s offense performs the way it did Monday night every game for the rest of the season, then Burrow very well could lead them to a Super Bowl, despite their 0-3 start.

The only possession that didn’t end in points for the Bengals on Monday Night Football was a missed field goal in the first half. And when the game was on the line in the second half, Burrow led the Bengals to three touchdowns on three drives. Cincinnati only had the ball for 10 min and nine seconds in the second half and they scored three touchdowns.

Credit Jayden Daniels and the Commanders for winning the game, blame the Bengals’ defense for losing it, but don’t watch Burrow score three touchdowns on three drives in the second half and use that to question his ability “when the game is on the line.”

[ESPN Radio]