Bengals legend Willie Anderson is racing to Joe Burrow‘s protection … telling TMZ Sports anybody who’s blaming Cincinnati’s early season woes on the quarterback is flat-out mistaken.

The former offensive lineman snapped on the JB haters throughout an interview with us on Tuesday — some 24 hours after the Bengals fell to 0-3 with a “Monday Night Football” loss to the Commanders.

“That’s ridiculous, bro,” Anderson informed us of the Burrow criticism. “Like, they’re in these games because of him. It’s just totally ridiculous.”

Of course, there have been many on-line who disagreed … as followers jetted to social media after the 38-33 L to say the 27-year-old signal-caller wasn’t doing sufficient to safe victories. Even former Super Bowl champion Chris Canty said on ESPN Radio that Burrow merely wanted to do extra.

But Anderson clearly does not suppose the ex-LSU star is the issue in any respect … explaining accidents on the crew’s protection — in addition to a scarcity of go rush — are the true points.

“To watch the game [Monday] night,” he stated, “and to say that any blame should be put on Joe Burrow [Monday] night when you score 30-something points — it’s just plain ridiculous.”

The Bengals will get a shot to show it round in just some days — they play the Panthers on Sunday morning — and, in response to Anderson, Burrow’s one of many greatest causes followers needs to be optimistic a swap shall be flipped quickly.

“As long as he’s healthy and upright,” the previous All-Pro proper sort out stated, “he’s going to give you a chance to get this thing back on track.”