CINCINNATI — There are two methods to view the Cincinnati Bengals’ first two weeks of the season.
On one aspect, gamers and coaches have expressed the frustration that comes with beginning 0-2 for the third straight season and the fifth time prior to now six years.
On the opposite — as quarterback Joe Burrow identified Thursday — is that the familiarity that comes with the gradual begin means Cincinnati is aware of what it should take to snap the skid and beat the Washington Commanders on Monday evening.
“We’re in a wonderful spot,” Burrow mentioned in his weekly information convention. “We have been right here earlier than. We’re not panicking. We’re targeted on getting a win and getting higher day by day.”
Burrow mentioned he isn’t sharing the identical feeling of frustration that he had following Sunday’s loss to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. The Bengals led within the fourth quarter and have been a defensive cease away from beating their AFC rivals. Nonetheless, a defensive cross interference penalty on fourth-and-16 arrange the successful area aim in Kansas Metropolis’s 26-25 victory.
In 4 of Burrow’s 5 NFL seasons, Cincinnati has misplaced its first two video games of the season. The exception was in 2021, when the Bengals beat the Minnesota Vikings in time beyond regulation of Week 1. Since then, the star quarterback has battled numerous accidents at the beginning of the 12 months — a ruptured appendix (2022), a calf damage (2023) and restoration from wrist surgical procedure (2024).
And whereas there’s calm in how the crew is approaching Monday’s sport, Burrow mentioned there’s a sense of urgency for Cincinnati to search out its first win rapidly.
“We have handled each observe prefer it’s the identical,” he mentioned. “We pleasure ourselves on us not with the ability to inform if we win or lose. At observe, we will exit and have enjoyable and get our work in and get higher.”
Bengals coach Zac Taylor mentioned regardless of the tough begin to the 12 months, which included a Week 1 loss to the New England Patriots though Cincinnati was favored by greater than a landing, it would not really feel as if the crew is urgent unnecessarily because it prepares to face Washington (1-1) or is carrying any undue rigidity. Taylor mentioned he has by no means felt that from the gamers, which is why the crew has dealt with these conditions nicely earlier than.
“I really feel it is a very snug crew that understands the right way to work,” Taylor mentioned. “Find out how to have that preparedness about them that may result in confidence and might result in being comfortable.”
Cincinnati did get a lift Thursday, as broad receiver Tee Higgins practiced for the primary time since he suffered a hamstring damage Sept. 5. Higgins, who sat out the primary two video games, was a restricted participant.
Taylor mentioned the crew will see how Higgins continues to progress all through the week. If he can play, Burrow and the remainder of the crew are nicely conscious of the affect the fifth-year receiver could make on Cincinnati’s offense.
“Hopefully we have now him on Sunday,” Burrow mentioned. “If we do not, we nonetheless really feel assured within the guys that we have now. We’re clearly extra dynamic and a significantly better crew with Tee on the market.”
