Exclusive: Bengals’ Pro-Bowler Orlando Brown Jr. Reveals What Makes Joe Burrow Great

Key points

• On what makes Joe Burrow such a special quarterback to protect, Brown said: “Joe is so special at what he does. He’s unique in his own way. In terms of how he’s able to navigate the pocket, deliver the ball, his ability to get in and out of plays, his cadence. He does so many different things that always kind of keep defenses and defensive coordinators on their heels.”
• Comparing the current Bengals team to the Super Bowl-winning Chiefs side he played for, Brown said: “To be honest, this is nothing like I’ve ever been a part of. We are very unique in so many different ways when I look at our offense, defense, and special teams units. I’ve never been a part of anything like this.”
• On the biggest threat Cincinnati’s offensive line will face against the Steelers: “T.J. Watt. Just what he’s done over the course of his career and how consistent he’s been, I think that’s the easy answer there.”

The Cincinnati Bengals are rolling. With big wins over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Houston Texans to begin the season, the Bengals are the early frontrunner in a competitive AFC North division, and it feels like they may just be discovering the full potential of their powers. If they can keep this up, Cincinnati is going to be one of the top teams in the league in 2026.

In a surprise twist, the story of the season for Cincy so far has revolved around its defense. It’s clear, though, that the offense is going to continue to dictate just how far this team can go this year. While stars like Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase draw the majority of the attention from fans, it’s becoming clear that one of the Bengals’ more overlooked stars, left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., is going to play an increasingly big role in their success.

A four-time Pro Bowler, Brown is one of the best left tackles in the NFL, and with Cincinnati emerging as an early Super Bowl contender, protecting Burrow’s blindside has become a more important job for him than ever before. Brown has protected other superstar quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes earlier in his career, but in his fourth year with Burrow, he made it clear that there’s nothing like working with the Bengals’ star quarterback.

“Joe is so special at what he does,” Brown said in an exclusive interview. “He’s unique in his own way. In terms of how he’s able to navigate the pocket, deliver the ball, his ability to get in and out of plays, his cadence. He does so many different things that always kind of keep defenses and defensive coordinators on their heels.”

Bengals Have to Keep Joe Burrow Protected Throughout the 2026 Campaign

Through two games this season, the Bengals have relied heavily on their defense, which is a change of pace for this team. Typically, the offense has been the unit getting the job done, but Cincy’s defense forced four turnovers in Week 1, before holding a Houston offense that scored 31 points against the Buffalo Bills in Week 1 to just six in Week 2.

Against the Texans, the Bengals’ offense did enough, but it wasn’t their best outing. Brown, in particular, had a tough time against their loaded defensive front, and while his team still got the win, he made it clear after the game that he wasn’t pleased with his performance. Moving forward, Brown outlined how he and the rest of the offensive line can do a better job of keeping Burrow standing upright under center.

“So much of football, and especially what we do up front, is co-dependent on everything going on around us as well,” Brown admitted. “For me personally, obviously, it wasn’t my best performance or the standard that I hold myself to, no matter who we’re playing. But just coming out, setting the tone early, being the more physical team … all of those things are gonna be important for us.”

Houston features one of the top pass rush duos in the league on defense this year (Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter), so there’s no shame in having a rough day against them. However, things aren’t going to get any easier for Brown and Cincinnati’s offensive line, as a tough Pittsburgh Steelers team is on the schedule next in Week 3.

Similar to the Texans, the Steelers are loaded in the pass-rusher department, as T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig all have proven they can get to the quarterback on any given play. Brown is quite familiar with Pittsburgh, having spent the majority of his career in the AFC North, and when asked which player on its defense he is keeping an eye on, his answer came as no surprise.

“T.J. Watt. Just what he’s done over the course of his career and how consistent he’s been, I think that’s the easy answer there.”

Can the Bengals Make a Super Bowl Run in 2026?

Brown is only 30 years old, but he’s already established himself as a strong veteran presence in the Bengals’ locker room. His Pro Bowl-caliber play obviously does the talking on the field, but he also has Super Bowl experience, having won Super Bowl LVII as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs.

The previous season, Cincinnati advanced all the way to the Super Bowl, but it came up just short against the Los Angeles Rams. It’s still early, but Cincy is looking like a team that is capable of making a Super Bowl run. Brown obviously knows what that takes, but when asked to compare his current team to the Chiefs’ 2022 championship squad, he issued an eye-opening admission that will certainly catch fans’ attention.

“To be honest, this is nothing like I’ve ever been a part of,” Brown stated. “We are very unique in so many different ways when I look at our offense, defense, and special teams units. I’ve never been a part of anything like this.”

Considering how Brown has a Super Bowl championship to his name, that is saying quite a bit. A lot would have to go right in order for the Bengals to win it all, but the early returns are encouraging. Brown and the rest of his teammates will look to keep up the positive momentum in Week 3, where a challenging divisional matchup against the Steelers awaits.