On Monday night football, in front of a packed home crowd eagerly eyeing a potential playoff berth despite the loss of their franchise quarterback Joe Burrow, the Cincinnati Bengals, standing at 5-6, and new signal-caller Jake Browning delivered a spectacular performance. The game, which went into overtime, ended in a thrilling 34-31 Bengals victory. The matchup showcased seven combined touchdowns from both teams, highlighting the offensive firepower on display. However, the standout difference was the exceptional playmaking by quarterback Jake Browning, the former undrafted 2016 Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year from the Washington Huskies.

After beginning his career with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent, Browning spent two seasons with the Vikings, before signing to the Bengals’ practice squad in September 2021. Throughout this process, Browning was waived multiple times before eventually getting a true regular season opportunity when Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury in week 11. In relief, Browning was quite efficient, completing 8 of 14 passing attempts for a total of 68 yards and a touchdown. However, the following week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he missed several opportunities, including a key interception to safety Trenton Thompson, which turned the tide and led to the Steelers’ 16-10 victory.

Facing the AFC South-leading Jacksonville Jaguars, Browning embraced the challenge head-on, unafraid to utilize both his arm and legs to make plays. The 27-year-old was consistently sharp, ending the game with an impressive stat line: 32 completions out of 37 attempts for 354 yards and a touchdown, a 115.5 passer rating. Notably, his combination of 350+ yards and an 85% completion rate in a single game places him in an elite group where only five quarterbacks have achieved this feat before.

The list of QBs with 350+ Pass Yards and 85% comp pct in a game over the last 20 years

▪️Tom Brady
▪️Peyton Manning
▪️Drew Brees
▪️Justin Herbert
▪️Lamar Jackson
▪️JAKE BROWNING pic.twitter.com/qwCyelhAoX

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 5, 2023

Browning’s performance has not only intensified the AFC North race, where the Bengals are still a key contender, but also impacted the AFC South standings, bringing the 7-5 Indianapolis Colts within striking distance of the Jaguars. Additionally, with a 6-6 record, the Bengals remain in contention to clinch a playoff spot, even without their franchise quarterback.