Stats show offensive line to blame for hits, pressures Bengals' Joe Burrow has endured?

Ahead of the Week 3 game at the New York Jets that the Cincinnati Bengals comfortably won 27-12 to improve to 1-2 on the season, insiders such as Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post and former defensive player Bart Scott discussed who was to blame for why Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow endured a league-high 13 sacks over the campaign's first two games. La Canfora suggested the Cincinnati offensive line wasn't doing enough to protect Burrow, while Scott argued the 25-year-old was targeting star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase far too often. 

The Jets sacked Burrow only twice at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, but NBC Sports' Peter King noted in his "Football Morning in America" column that the signal-caller didn't necessarily have an easy day at the office due to those tasked with blocking for him. 

"In our partnership with Next Gen Stats, I looked into the punishment QB Joe Burrow has been taking. Even after the respite of sacks taken Sunday, it’s still not good," King wrote. "Per Next Gen, Burrow was pressured 15 times Sunday against the Jets. For the three-game season, he’s been pressured on 32.9 percent of his pass attempts. That’s very likely unsustainable. Remember after the narrow loss to the (Los Angeles Rams) in the Super Bowl, when the Bengals absolutely, positively said they would take better care of Burrow? In 2021, he was pressured on 28.5 percent of his pass drops, so the fixes haven’t worked.

"Now, two sacks is good. Fifteen pressures on 38 pass drops, not so good."

ESPN stats show Burrow took nine quarterback hits against the Jets and that the reigning AFC champion is currently 19th in the entire league with an 85.1 passer rating and a 46.3 total QBR. He's 10th with 812 yards through the air, tied for eighth with six touchdown passes, and tied for second in most interceptions thrown with four. 

Burrow and company have a quick turnaround before they host the 3-0 Miami Dolphins on Thursday night. As a team, the Dolphins notched six total sacks over their three victories.