1 day Ago By Clark Dalton, Yardbarker
Although the Cincinnati Bengals are off to a 0-2 start for the fourth time in five years, quarterback Joe Burrow insists they're not hitting the panic button. "We're not panicking by any means," Burrow said Wednesday on the "Rich Eisen Show." "There's a lot of football to be played but lots of room to improve at the same time, just like any game every year.
We're just looking to improve every day. We'll go out on Monday and have our best game yet." @JoeyB #RuleTheJungle is a few plays from being 2-0 but alas, they stand 0-2 but very much encouraged heading into MNF — talked with their QB about another slow September start: #NFL #WASvsCIN pic.
twitter.com/jU0eFBWTA8 The Bengals have a penchant for overcoming slow starts. Over the past four seasons, they've made two AFC Championship game appearances and a Super Bowl trip.
Burrow — who's coming off a season-ending wrist injury in 2023 — seemed to regain some mojo when the Bengals nearly upset the Kansas City Chiefs (2-0) in Week 2. Against K.C.
, Burrow completed 23-of-36 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns, posting a stellar 66.2 QBR. However, Bengals safety Daijahn Anthony drew a pass interference penalty on a fourth-and-16 with 0:48 left in the fourth quarter.
Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker then drilled a 51-yard field-goal attempt as time expired, sealing a 26-25 victory. "I feel great with where we're I'm at. I feel good with where we're at, too," Burrow said.
"We played well on Sunday, just not well enough to win the game. We didn't make plays down the stretch to close it out. I feel good, feeling better every week.
" Cincinnati's home game vs. the Washington Commanders (1-1) on Monday still seems like a must-win. Since 2000, just one team has made the playoffs after starting 0-3 — the 2018 Houston Texans — per The Baltimore Sun's Bennett Conlin.
Making the postseason is critical for the Bengals, especially with the club possibly facing an inflection point. Star WR Ja'Marr Chase has two years remaining on his rookie deal and isn't planning on signing a new contract this season, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Fellow WR Tee Higgins is entering the final year of his deal.
While the Bengals' future seems uncertain, they're still in a position to make a run. According to ESPN's Football Power Index, they have the best chance (43.2%) to make the playoffs out of the nine 0-2 teams.
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