Latest news with #Burrow
Fox Sports
2 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
The 10 Best Individual Championship Performances Since 2020
Everyone who plays sports dreams of stepping up on their sport's biggest stage as a kid, hoping to make history en route to a championship. Sam Reinhart got to fulfill that dream on Tuesday night. The Florida Panthers center scored four goals in his team's 5-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday night, helping his team secure back-to-back Stanley Cup titles. Reinhart's four goals matched the most ever scored in a Final game, with five other players scoring that many goals in one since it began in 1914. (It should be noted that Reinhart's last two goals came against an empty net, but both of those goals were outside the Oilers' attacking zone.) As Reinhart and the Panthers celebrate in South Florida, let's take a look at the 10 best individual championship performances since 2020. There are two caveats to this list. The performance had to have come in a series-clinching game (MLB, NBA, NHL) and the player had to have won the title. LSU QB Joe Burrow vs. Clemson (2020 National Championship Game) After an eight-touchdown performance in LSU's semifinal win, Burrow nearly matched that in the national championship game against Clemson. He completed 31 of 49 passes for 463 yards for five touchdowns to go with 58 rushing yards and a rushing score. Burrow actually had to help LSU climb out of an early 10-point deficit against the defending national champs, leading three straight touchdown drives in the second quarter. His 29-yard scamper before halftime highlighted a 95-yard drive that gave the Tigers a 28-17 lead. Burrow then sealed the win with a pair of TD passes in the second half, capping off the best passing season in college football history. Alabama WR DeVonta Smith vs. Ohio State (2021 National Championship Game) The Heisman winner set title game records for receptions (12) and receiving touchdowns (three) — and he did it all in one half. His final grab came in the second quarter, but it was a huge one. Smith ran right past an Ohio State defender while hauling in a 42-yard strike from Mac Jones to give Alabama a 35-17 lead going into halftime. The star wideout suffered a finger injury early in the second half that forced an early exit. But the damage was already done, as he put a bow on one of the best wide receiver seasons in college football history. He finished the game with 215 receiving yards as well, helping Alabama win, 52-24. Milwaukee Bucks F Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. Phoenix Suns (2021 NBA Finals, Game 6) In his first NBA Finals appearance, Antetokounmpo had already dropped multiple 40-point performances heading into Game 6 against the Suns. He also made two big plays in the clutch in the Bucks' Game 4 and 5 wins, getting a game-sealing block in the former and a game-sealing dunk in the latter. Still, the two-time MVP saved his best for last in the 2021 NBA Finals. Antetokounmpo scored 50 points in the Bucks' 105-98 win over the Suns, making 16 of 25 shots from the field and shooting an impressive 17 of 19 from the free-throw line. Thirty-three of those points came in the second half, with Antetokounmpo scoring 13 of the Bucks' final 21 points to help them pull away late. He also had 14 rebounds and five blocks in that game. A day later, Antetokounmpo celebrated the win by ordering 50 chicken nuggets from Chick-fil-A. Atlanta Braves OF Jorge Soler vs. Houston Astros (2021 World Series, Game 6) Soler had already lived up to the billing as a worthy trade deadline acquisition for the Braves before Game 6. He hit 14 homers in 55 regular-season games for Atlanta, and while he was quiet at the plate in the NLDS and NLCS, Soler hit two major homers in Games 1 and 4 of the World Series. His Game 4 home run came as a pinch-hitter, and served as the game-winning run. The slugger had another homer in him for Game 6. With the game scoreless in the third inning, Soler crushed a three-run shot off Astros pitcher Luis Garcia that cleared the train tracks at Minute Maid Park and went 446 feet. Soler walked in his next at-bat and later scored thanks to Freddie Freeman's home run that made it a 5-0 game en route to a 7-0 win for the Braves. Soler went 6-for-20 at the plate in the 2021 World Series, with his homer helping him earn World Series MVP. Los Angeles Rams WR Cooper Kupp vs. Cincinnati Bengals (Super Bowl LVI) Kupp arguably had one of the best seasons for a wide receiver in the 2021 regular season, becoming the first player in 16 years to win the receiving triple crown (lead the league in receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns). But he arguably saved his best performance for last. The Rams' star receiver had eight receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns in their 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI. Kupp's first touchdown came in the second quarter, an 11-yard grab that gave the Rams a 13-3 lead at the time. However, Los Angeles found itself trailing for much of the second half. With Cincinnati holding a 20-16 lead late in the fourth quarter, Kupp rushed for a seven-yard gain on a fourth-and-1 play before grabbing four receptions for 39 yards on Los Angeles' penultimate drive. The final catch was a one-yard touchdown grab that gave the Rams the lead with less than 1:30 remaining. To no surprise, Kupp wound up winning MVP of Super Bowl LVI. Golden State Warriors PG Stephen Curry vs. Boston Celtics (2022 NBA Finals, Game 6) Curry's best performance of the 2022 NBA Finals came in Game 4. He scored 43 points in that game to help the Warriors get a comeback win and prevent them from going down 3-1 in the series against the Celtics. When the series returned to TD Garden two games later, Curry had another stellar performance in him. The Warriors' star went off for 34 points, adding seven rebounds and seven assists. Following one of his six made 3-pointers in that game, Curry sensed that the Warriors were close to capturing another title, pointing at his ring finger. Curry capped off Game 6 by scoring 13 points in the fourth quarter, holding off the Celtics' late rally to lift the Warriors to a 103-90 win. He won his first Finals MVP as a result, averaging 31.2 points per game in the series. Argentina striker Lionel Messi vs. France (2022 World Cup final) The 2022 World Cup final had two performances that could've met this list, but we're only picking winners here. Messi and Kylian Mbappe were arguably the two best players in the world when Argentina and France met in 2022. They certainly played like it, too. Messi opened up the scoring, netting a goal in the 23rd minute. After Argentina took a 2-0 lead late in the first half, Mbappe gave France two necessary goals to send the game to extra time. He scored a penalty kick in the 80th minute before netting a pass from Marcus Thuram. In extra time, it appeared Messi had notched the win for Argentina when he scored in the 108th minute. However, Mbappe scored on another penalty kick in the 118th minute after a handball was called on Argentina. In penalty kicks, Messi and Mbappe each scored in the opening round. But France missed on its next two shots, allowing Argentina to win the penalty kicks, 4-2. Messi won his first World Cup and received the Golden Ball for the tournament, while Mbappe became the second player to ever score a hat-trick in a World Cup final. Boston Celtics F Jayson Tatum vs. Dallas Mavericks (2024 NBA Finals, Game 5) Offensively, Tatum didn't have the best series in the 2024 NBA Finals when the Celtics took a 3-1 lead. But he stepped up in all facets in the Celtics' 106-88 win over the Mavericks in Game 5. He had 16 points and nine assists in the first half to help give his team a 21-point edge. He added to his scoring total in the second half, finishing the game with 31 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds and two steals to help the Celtics seal their 18th title. PSG midfielder Desire Doue vs. Inter Milan (2025 UEFA Champions League Final) Doue proved that he wasn't too young for the big stage in the 2025 UEFA Champions League Final. The then-19-year-old midfielder scored two goals in PSG's 5-0 win over Inter Milan in May, with the brace giving his side a 3-0 lead by the 63rd minute. As he won man of the match, Doue became the youngest player to ever score a brace in a UEFA Champions League Final. He also became the second player to ever score a goal and dish out an assist in a UEFA Champions League Final. Florida Panthers C Sam Reinhart vs. Edmonton Oilers (2025 Stanley Cup Final, Game 6) Reinhart joined a group of select few with his four-goal performance in Game 6 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. He became the sixth player to score four goals in a Stanley Cup Final game, the first to do so since 1957. He also became just the second player to score four goals in a series-clinching Stanley Cup Final game, and the first player to do so since 1922. The four goals Reinhart scored in Game 6 gave him seven in the series. Not only was that the most in the series, but it was also the most in a Stanley Cup Final since Wayne Gretzky scored seven goals in the Oilers' 1985 series win. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily. recommended Get more from National Hockey League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bengals Burrow Warns NFL That He Is Capable of More
Bengals Burrow Warns NFL That He Is Capable of More originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Cincinnati Bengals are not satisfied with their 9-8 record and absence from playoff contention last year. Even star quarterback Joe Burrow - who had a career-best season statistically - feels he can do better. Advertisement As the Bengals wrapped up OTAs and minicamp, Burrow heads into the break with a growth mindset for training camp, focusing on the, apparently many, areas he can improve. "There's room to improve in every area," Burrow said to broadcaster Dan Hoard. "Movement, accuracy, spin rate, bigger, faster, stronger – all of those good things." Last season, Who Dey faithful still saw a lot of good things from their dynamic duo of Burrow and receiver Ja'Marr Chase. Burrow led the NFL in passing yards (4,918) and touchdowns (43) on a wildly efficient 70 percent completion. Chase became just the 13th receiver ever to accomplish the "triple crown" by leading the league in all three major categories, receptions (127), yards (1,708) and touchdowns (17). Advertisement In the end, of course, it wasn't good enough. Cincinnati went on a five-game win streak to close out the season, but still barely finished above .500 and missed the playoffs. For a tandem like Burrow and Chase who have made a Super Bowl once before, there is no season that will satisfy their hunger unless it ends with the Lombardi Trophy in arms. Burrow, now 28 years old, is entering sixth season in the league and believes he still has a lot to prove in a tough AFC North. With this mindset and a loaded offense at his disposal, Burrow is capable of putting last year's disappointing mark behind him. Advertisement This should be taken as a warning to the rest of the NFL. If the league's most productive and efficient quarterback believes he can up his accuracy and versatility? Defenses are in trouble. If he can continue his upward trajectory, Bengals fans should see "all those good things" even more this season. According to Burrow's last Instagram post, that breakthrough will be "coming soon". Related: Bengals 2025 Training Camp Dates Announced This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
AFC Contenders Can't Sleep on Bengals
AFC Contenders Can't Sleep on Bengals originally appeared on Athlon Sports. It's been a frustrating offseason for Cincinnati Bengals fans wishing that their front office could put one foot in front of the other until they found themselves at a contract extension for edge rusher Trey Hendrickson (or common sense for rookie Shemar Stewart). Advertisement Cincinnati is certainly not immune to criticism. But it's worth remembering the moments before the Bengals were eliminated from contention a season ago. They had won in Week 18, capping off a five-game winning streak to end the season. Before that Sunday's festivities knocked them out of the playoffs, AFC teams and their fans were uneasy. Cincinnati was the hottest team in football. Quarterback Joe Burrow was playing the best football of his career. And he was so close to bringing that momentum into the playoffs, where a franchise quarterback makes anything possible. Just about everything on the defensive side of the ball went wrong in 2024, and the offense was hit hard by injuries, too. Things don't need to go great for the Bengals to be poised for a massive rebound in 2025. They merely can't be cataclysmic. Subsequently, Pro Football Focus ranked Cincinnati as one of the most overlooked teams heading into the new season. Advertisement 'One of the biggest stories of the 2025 regular season was the Bengals finding ways to lose games despite continuous heroic efforts from quarterback Joe Burrow,' Dalton Wasserman wrote. 'Burrow ranked second in the NFL in PFF passing grade, but the team's lack of balance around him on both sides of the ball prevented them from making the playoffs. 'Cincinnati lost seven of its 11 one-score games last season. The franchise was realistically only a handful of plays from having one of the best records in the league, even accounting for its plethora of flaws.' Burrow, once again, will be expected to perform like an MVP. With Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins back (and paid), the sport's most lethal passing-game trio is primed to explode again, especially with a below-average defense. Cincinnati is due for positive regression, both on defense and in one-score games, which Wasserman noted. Burrow can keep them in any game, and with better luck, he's bound to come out on top more often. Advertisement 'The AFC is loaded with contenders who have excellent quarterbacks,' Wasserman concluded. 'Burrow has proven time and again that he can beat any of them, including Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. Cincinnati just needs to find him a little more help and execute better in big moments.' It's easy to see the Bengals in the playoffs in 2025. If fortune truly falls in their favor and they host a playoff game or two, no one would be surprised to see Cincinnati make a run. Related: Bengals Burrow Warns NFL That He Is Capable of More Related: Bengals Must Stop 'Distracting' From Contending This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Bengals QB Joe Burrow's Latest Message Is a Warning to the NFL
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Cincinnati Bengals and Joe Burrow are looking to bounce back from their disappointing 2024 season with a much stronger 2025 campaign. Burrow and company finished last season with a 9-8 record, narrowly missing out on a spot in the playoffs. After coming up just short last season, the Bengals are highly motivated to come out and play a much better year. While the team did not make the playoffs, Burrow had a career season. He was an MVP candidate, but that isn't good enough for him. Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals jogs off the field after beating the Minnesota Vikings 27-24 in overtime of the Cincinnati Bengals against the Minnesota Vikings at Paul Brown Stadium on September 12, 2021... Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals jogs off the field after beating the Minnesota Vikings 27-24 in overtime of the Cincinnati Bengals against the Minnesota Vikings at Paul Brown Stadium on September 12, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. More Photo byThroughout the course of the 2024 NFL season, Burrow completed 70.6 percent of his pass attempts for 4,918 yards, 43 touchdowns, and nine interceptions in 17 games. He's looking to build off of that and do even more in 2025. Read more: Chiefs Star Travis Kelce Has Made Huge Physical Change Dan Hoard, the voice of the team, shared a message that Burrow sent out about his goals for the upcoming season. "There's room to improve in every area," Burrow said. "Movement, accuracy, spin rate, bigger, faster, stronger – all of those good things." Simply thinking about Burrow improving every aspect of his game is a scary thought for opposing defenses. He's already one of the best in the business and an MVP candidate. If he's able to make the kind of leap that he's targeting, Cincinnati might just be a Super Bowl contending team. At 28 years old, Burrow has put up impressive numbers throughout his five-year NFL career. He has thrown for 19,001 yards, 140 touchdowns, and 46 interceptions, while completing 68.6 percent of his passes in 69 games. Those numbers have come despite two seasons with major injury issues. There is no other way to view this than as a warning to the rest of the NFL. Burrow is targeting his best season yet and he's confident that he can reach his goals. Read more: Vikings QB JJ McCarthy Called Out in Brutally Honest Breakdown During the offseason, the Bengals also were able to lock up his two best weapons. Both Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins were given lucrative contract extensions. Once again, Cincinnati is going to have one of the most talented offenses in the NFL. If Burrow takes his game to the next level, the Bengals are going to be very difficult to stop. That could help them compete at the top of the AFC. He will still need to prove it on the field, but this comment from Burrow should excite the Cincinnati fan base. For more Cincinnati Bengals and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
USA Today
13-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
The AFC North is a division made up of quarterback haves and have-nots.
The AFC North is a division made up of quarterback haves and have-nots. Every division in the National Football League has exactly four teams, but the AFC North is extremely unique when it comes to the quality of its quartet of starting quarterbacks. It is the epitome of haves vs. have-nots, all-or-nothing. The Pittsburgh Steelers' signing of Aaron Rodgers, after a very protracted and tedious process, didn't change that. They are still down in the dregs when it comes to QB1s, with the Cleveland Browns. The Baltimore Ravens saw Lamar Jackson have his best statistical season yet in 2024, which is truly impressive considering he entered the last campaign having already won two NFL MVP awards. Jackson actually achieved the fourth-best single-season passer rating (119.6) ever last year. Arguably the best dual-threat quarterback in league history, Lamar's impact was summed up perfectly by ESPN Analyst Dan Orlovsky. In assessing the Steelers' quarterback options before the Rodgers signing, Orlovsky said their goal should be to replicate what the rival Ravens have under center. "You're so scarred from having to play Lamar Jackson twice a year, and you're like, we always got to get ready for that guy," the 11-year-veteran of five NFL teams said in an exclusive with "Can we have somebody that makes everybody else get ready for us? Maybe someday the Steelers will, but it certainly won't happen in 2025. Neither the 41-year-old Rodgers nor Mason Rudolph, the guy who was slotted in as Steelers starter before the long-awaited signing, fits that bill. And the Cleveland Browns are in an even worse position. A club that is seemingly drafting a new franchise QB every couple of years or so (as they seem to be stuck in perpetual rebuild), the Browns took two signal callers in the middle rounds of this past draft- Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Neither rookie is projected to be the starter on opening day. That honor, at least right now, belongs to Ravens legend Joe Flacco, who basically has one foot into retirement already. He's now aged 40, and nothing remotely close to the player he was when he left the Ravens seven years ago. Meanwhile, the fourth and final team, the Cincinnati Bengals, has a leading contender to win the NFL MVP award this season in Joe Burrow. The reigning NFL Comeback Player of the Year, Burrow, is coming off a Pro Bowl season in which he led the NFL in passing yards and passing touchdowns. Various media outlets have published NFL starting quarterback power rankings, and the results convey this polarization. As we covered previously, Pro Football Focus ranked Burrow No. 2, Jackson No. 3, Flacco No. 29, and Rudolph No. 31. Meanwhile, CBS Sports has Flacco and Rudolph in the same slots, but they placed Burrow third and Lamar fourth. Obviously, both were published ahead of the Rodgers signing. However, it is FOX Sports that truly ups the ante, as they give a scorching hot take on AFC North QB1s being so opposite ends of the spectrum. The only power ranking that was conducted after Rodgers signed had him just 26th overall and Flacco dead last at No. 32. Meanwhile, Burrow is second and Jackson fourth. The blurb evaluating Rodgers includes the following: "It seemed that folks in Pittsburgh breathed a sigh of relief when Rodgers signed: Finally, this nightmare is over. "But that's not how it works with this version of Rodgers. The nightmare is just beginning." FOX also felt the need to include the "The nightmare is just beginning" phrase in their headline. Their QB1 power rankings post is pure schadenfreude to anyone who doesn't like the Steelers, or Rodgers for that matter.
