Why Joe Flacco is playing QB for Bengals, not Joe Burrow

With more than 11 minutes to go, Joe Burrow's day was done.

Joe Flacco came in to play quarterback the rest of the afternoon for the Cincinnati Bengals against the Miami Dolphins in Week 16.

The Bengals were up 45-14 when Flacco came in.

MORE: How Joe Burrow was nearly traded from Bengals to Dolphins

Why is Joe Flacco playing QB for Bengals, not Joe Burrow?

This is just the Bengals playing it safe.

With a 31-point lead and less than a quarter to go, Cincinnati felt like Flacco could see this one out against the Dolphins and their rookie QB, Quinn Ewers.

Burrow had done more than enough already.

On the afternoon, Burrow was 25-for-32 for 309 yards and four touchdowns.

Two of the scores went to RB Chase Brown, and one apiece to WR Tee Higgins and TE Mike Gesicki.

Flacco completed his first pass for four yards, for good measure.

The Bengals will be careful with Burrow the rest of the way since they won't be making it to the playoffs. They'll obviously want him healthy for the start of next season.

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