Burrow and the Bengals were getting clowned for that 0-2 start. Let's not have revisionist history out here as people were poking fun at him and saying he was regressing.Lamar took them shyts. He didnt go into either season as the top MVP candidate. I wouldnt say awards are the end all be all in how media feels about a player. You gotta look at the coverage. Lamar got the MVPs but look at how his contract was discussed vs Burrow or even Herbert, despite him having the MVP. Look at how his 0-2 start this was discussed vs Burrow, despite him having 2 MVPs. And even now the convo went right to "Heat is on Lamar" while Burrow got either crickets or capes.
I believe the pressure is and should be on Lamar. I also believe white QBs have been given more room, understanding, pleas, and unearned credit/props. Its two different discussions but he no doubt gotta show up this year. No shame in losing to 90s Bulls but he does have to show up.
All of the talk was on how he always tended to struggling in the beginning of the season to only pick up the pace as the season went on.