2 weeks Ago By Paul Kasabian
Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals aren't panicking despite an 0-2 start. "We're in a fine spot," Burrow said during his weekly news conference Thursday, per ESPN's Ben Baby . "We've been here before.
We're not panicking. We're focused on getting a win and getting better every day." Burrow added that the team is even-keeled between games, win or lose.
"We've treated every practice like it's the same," Burrow said, per Baby. "We pride ourselves on us not being able to tell if we win or lose. At practice, we're going to go out and have fun and get our work in and get better.
" Cincinnati has started 0-2 each of the past three seasons. In 2022, Burrow echoed a similar theme after the rough start. "We're not panicking, two games in, we've got 15 games left," Burrow told reporters .
"It's all just take a deep breath and relax. We're going to be fine. We're not worried about it.
" The Bengals rebounded to win 12 games, take the AFC North crown and earn a trip to the AFC Championship Game. Cincinnati started 0-2 last year but still finished with a winning record (9-8). Burrow only played 10 games last season after a wrist injury suffered last November ended his 2023 campaign.
This year has seen the Bengals lose 16-10 to the New England Patriots before falling 26-25 to the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. The season would certainly strike a different tune had the Bengals stopped the Chiefs, who faced a 4th-and-16 from their own 35-yard line with 48 seconds left. But Cincinnati was called for defensive pass interference, and Harrison Butker eventually ended the game with a 51-yard field goal.
The silver lining here is the eventual return of wide receiver Tee Higgins, who has missed the first two games with a hamstring injury. Higgins, who notched 1,000-yard seasons in 2021 and 2022, practiced in a limited capacity Thursday. His return would obviously be a huge boost to the offense.
The Bengals also have a favorable schedule up ahead, starting with a home game against the Washington Commanders on Monday. Cincinnati is the favorite in that one, and the Bengals also have games against three winless teams (Carolina Panthers, Baltimore Ravens, New York Giants) afterward. Like the Bengals, the defending AFC North champion Ravens are likely to rebound from a tough start, although the Panthers and Giants may arguably be the two worst teams in football.
Ultimately, there's nothing for the Bengals to panic about just yet after an 0-2 start, but they need to get going. Up next is that aforementioned date with the visiting Commanders, who will play in Cincinnati on Monday evening..
