Micah Parsons declares Joe Burrow should win NFL MVP if Bengals make playoffs

After Joe Burrow led Cincinnati to a needed win, keeping playoff hopes alive heading into Week 18, Dallas Cowboys star edge rusher Micah Parsons boldly stumped for the quarterback to win the MVP, should the Bengals make it in.

While the race for the award has largely boiled down to Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson and Buffalo’s Josh Allen, Burrow has had a season that would likely be worthy of MVP consideration if the Bengals had a better record. At 8-8, they’re scrapping for a final wildcard slot as the Ravens and Bills are both firmly in the playoff picture.

Either way, Parsons seems unmoved on his opinion of Burrow.

“If Joe burrow takes this team to the playoffs I don’t even think it should be in question who’s MVP!! God damm! Best in the world rn!” Parsons said on social media.

The Bengals won, 30-24, in overtime on Saturday night against the Denver Broncos to stay in playoff contention. Had Cincinnati lost or tied, Denver would’ve clinched the final wildcard spot.

Burrow finished the game 39-of-49 for 412 yards and three touchdowns, all to Tee Higgins, including a walk off touchdown throw to the pylon in the end zone in overtime. He also had a rushing touchdown.

On the season, Burrow now has 4641 passing yards and 42 touchdowns and nine interceptions with one game remaining.

Cincinnati closes the season in Pittsburgh on Jan. 5, and still needs help — including another Broncos loss — to make the playoffs.

Burrow hit The Griddy on Saturday night

While the celebratory dance was first popularized by his former LSU teammate, Justin Jefferson, and since spread across the NFL like wildfire, Joe Burrow hasn’t been one to hit “The Griddy.” That changed on Saturday night.

With Burrow scoring what he likely assumed was a game-winning go-ahead touchdown inside of two minutes to play, he stood in the back of the end zone and took his chance. His rendition of the heel-tapping, arm-swinging dance wasn’t quite as fluid as the like of Jefferson or even Burrow’s Cincinnati teammate, Ja’Marr Chase, but it certainly passes muster.

And it’s definitely better than the debut griddy that current Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki did a few years prior.

HONEY WAKE UP!! @joeyb JUST DID THE GRIDDY#EasyToCelebrate | @budlight pic.twitter.com/ZanYgdVqmN

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) December 29, 2024

And with the win, Burrow can griddy some more as the Bengals continue a playoff chase.