Ahead of the top AFC matchup in Week 17 between the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spanguolo has spoken highly of Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. In doing so, he compared him to an NFL legend.

Cincinnati/Munich – Week 17 features a bona fide top-of-the-table matchup between two top teams. The third-seeded Cincinnati Bengals (9-6) take on the top-ranked Kansas City Chiefs (11-4).

While the Chiefs have won eight games in a row, the Bengals are coming off a convincing win against division rival Baltimore Ravens.

Quarterback Joe Burrow was particularly convincing. The 25-year-old virtually dismantled the Ravens single-handedly with four touchdowns and 525 passing yards, the third most in NFL history.

Spanguolo: “I see a young Tom Brady “

The fact that Burrow is having an outstanding season after a serious injury in his rookie year is not lost on defensive coordinator Steve Spanguolo of the upcoming Kansas City Chiefs. “I’m deeply impressed with him,” he said at a presser. “He doesn’t look like a quarterback who’s in his second year and missed his first year, too.”

The praise went further: “This may sound crazy now, but when I see him play, I see a young Tom Brady,” said the 62-year-old, who has faced Brady several times.

His boss, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, takes the same line: “He makes a lot of things look very easy. He’s smart, he’s accurate, he’s one of those young quarterbacks that we’re very fortunate to have in the league,” said the acknowledged quarterback whisperer.

Burrow’s counterpart, Patrick Mahomes, also commented, “He has that mentality, that swag that it takes. He says to himself ‘I’m going to win here no matter what’ and it takes a lot to do that.” Possibly why the former LSU Tiger reminds Spanguolo of a young Tom Brady, who won a Super Bowl in just his second season.

Reaction to euphoria-braking from Martindale?

The fact that Joe Burrow is being showered with praise from the opposing camp, while certainly sincere, probably has a different background. Before the Bengals’ last game, Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Don Martindale put the brakes on euphoria when asked about Burrow.

“He’s good,” Martindale said. “But we shouldn’t put the gold jacket on him right away (analogy for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, ed.).” After that statement, the Bengals defeated the Ravens 41-21.

Not only did Burrow put up history-making numbers (525 yards, four touchdowns), head coach Zac Taylor called aggressive passing plays late in the game. A thing that is actually not done in the NFL out of respect for the opponent when the game is decided.

After the game, the 25-year-old revealed that he was further motivated by the comments from Baltimore. “That was just unnecessary,” Burrow said.

Joe Burrow heard the comments made by Ravens DC Don “Wink” Martindale.

” I didn’t think it was necessary”

via @Bengals RuleTheJungle pic.twitter.com/J6dEmLk5os

– TWSN (@TWSN___) December 26, 2021

Whether the Chiefs can keep Burrow from another strong performance with their snuggle course is questionable, though.

The sophomore quarterback is making his first start against Kansas City – and he wants to win right away, that’s for sure.