How the Cincinnati Bengals can win the AFC North in 2020

2. QB Joe Burrow is a rookie sensation.

There will be a lot of pressure on the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft. It comes with the territory. LSU quarterback Joe Burrow had quite the year in 2019, capturing the Heisman Trophy and leading the Tigers to a national championship.

However, his arrival in Cincinnati is not all that different from 2011, when second-round draft choice Andy Dalton was installed as the starter as a rookie. That year, the current backup quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys completed 58.1 percent of his throws for 3,398 yards, 20 scores and 13 interceptions and helped lead the team to a 9-7 record and a playoff appearance.

So will it be déjà vu all over again?

“We’re going to put a lot on Joe right out of the gate,” explained head coach Zac Taylor in late July (via Ben Baby of ESPN). “Obviously we have weeks to sort out who’s starting and all that good stuff, but Joe’s going to walk in and take the first snaps at quarterback. He’s prepared for that.”

Cincinnati’s troubled offensive line must perform better. But Burrow will have the likes of running back Joe Mixon and wide receivers A.J. Green (who missed all of 2019) and Tyler Boyd at his disposal. It’s a much different world but it should be fascinating to see if the young signal-caller can carry his 2019 performance into 2020.