In a quarterback-driven league, it's always hard for a team to win without its QB1, especially when that QB1 has, time and time again, proven that he's capable of stepping up in big moments. For the Cincinnati Bengals, Joe Burrow is that guy. However, Burrow won't be able to suit up for the Bengals this season moving forward after he underwent a season-ending procedure to help him in his recovery from a wrist injury. But on Monday night, backup quarteback Jake Browning is doing his best Burrow impersonation with an epic performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Browning has looked like a million bucks, filling in for Burrow without the Bengals suffering any kind of drop-off; in fact, Browning is having a game most QB1s can only dream of. At the time of writing, the Bengals QB2 has completed 26 of his 31 passes (one touchdown) for 315 yards, which is worse than just three of Burrow's performances this season (and he still has time left in the game to add to that total). And to top it all off, Browning has a rushing touchdown to his name as well.

In the process of turning in the best performance of his life to this point, Jake Browning received lavish praise not just from Bengals fans, but from the entire NFL community, and deservedly so, as going toe-to-toe with Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars is no mean feat, especially for someone just starting the second game of his career.

“Why would you ever have anyone besides Jake Browning throw?!? Jake Browning is ELITE,” Barstool Big Cat wrote on Twitter (X).

One play in particular stood out; Browning looked composed at the helm of the Bengals offense, even connecting for an incredible 76-yard touchdown with Ja'Marr Chase.

Currently, the Bengals have a record below .500, although they remain within shouting distance of playoff spots. It'll be one heck of a story for Jake Browning if he, a career backup, manages to keep the Bengals afloat despite the crushing season-ending loss of Joe Burrow.

“No way Jake Browning keeps these dudes in playoff contention right?” one fan asked. Another wrote, “What a night for Jake Browning! #bengals alive in the AFC playoff hunt???👀👀👀 #NFLTwitter.”

The Bengals don't have the game won yet, but this performance alone from Jake Browning should count as a victory in and of itself.