Rams-Bengals Odds Swing Drastically After Joe Burrow Injury Update

The Los Angeles Rams opened as noticeable underdogs in their Week 3 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, but that game has closed substantially with quarterback Joe Burrow's status now in question.

Coming into the season, the Los Angeles Rams' first few games looked to be absolutely brutal.

Two weeks in, though, it suddenly looks much more manageable. The Rams opened their season with a bang, defeating the division-rival Seattle Seahawks on the road in convincing fashion. While they lost to the San Francisco 49ers the following week, they put up a good fight and kept the game close for over three quarters.

Then there's the Rams' Week 3 Monday Night Football Game against the Cincinnati Bengals, a Super Bowl 56 rematch that looked like possibly the most daunting of the bunch. 

With the Bengals looking like a contender once again, and the game being in Cincinnati, the Rams opened as 6.5-point underdogs. Now, though, the odds have taken a massive swing and the Bengals are now favored by just 1.5 points, according to BetMGM.

The reason for the swing? That's due to uncertainty surrounding the status of Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow.

Feb 13, 2022; Inglewood, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams linebacker Von Miller (40) celebrates after sacking Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) during Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Before the season, Burrow suffered a calf injury that was projected to take him out for at least a few games. He was able to return to start the season, but that may have been premature as he re-aggravated the injury late in Sunday's loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The latest setback has left doubt over his status for the Rams game, with coach Zac Taylor telling reporters that it's "hard to say" if he'll be available.

Bengals’ HC Zac Taylor told reporters that it was hard to say whether Joe Burrow would be ready to play next Monday night vs. the Rams due to his aggravated calf injury. The Bengals still are in the evaluation process.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 18, 2023

Another reason for the swing could be the fact that the Bengals have simply underperformed so far. They were completely blown out in Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns, gaining less than 150 total yards in a 24-3 loss. They kept it closer against the Ravens in a 27-24 defeat, but their offense still looked out of sync.

With these recent developments, a game that many wrote off as a Rams loss doesn't seem like such a sure thing anymore.