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 up to now six years.
On the opposite — as quarterback Joe Burrow identified Thursday — is that the familiarity that comes with the sluggish begin means Cincinnati is aware of what it’s going to take to snap the skid and beat the Washington Commanders on Monday night time.
“We’re in a advantageous 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 had been a defensive cease away from beating their AFC rivals. Nonetheless, a defensive go interference penalty on fourth-and-16 arrange the profitable subject aim in Kansas Metropolis’s 26-25 victory.
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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 varied accidents at first of the 12 months — a ruptured appendix (2022), a calf damage (2023) and restoration from wrist surgical procedure (2024).
And whereas there may be calm in how the workforce is approaching Monday’s recreation, Burrow mentioned there’s a sense of urgency for Cincinnati to search out its first win shortly.
“We have handled each apply prefer it’s the identical,” he mentioned. “We satisfaction ourselves on us not having the ability to inform if we win or lose. At apply, 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 does not really feel as if the workforce is urgent unnecessarily because it prepares to face Washington (1-1) or is carrying any undue stress. Taylor mentioned he has by no means felt that from the gamers, which is why the workforce has dealt with these conditions properly earlier than.
“I really feel this can be a very comfy workforce that understands how one can work,” Taylor mentioned. “Easy methods to have that preparedness about them that may result in confidence and might result in being relaxed.”
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 workforce will see how Higgins continues to progress all through the week. If he can play, Burrow and the remainder of the workforce are properly conscious of the impression the fifth-year receiver could make on Cincinnati’s offense.
“Hopefully we’ve got him on Sunday,” Burrow mentioned. “If we do not, we nonetheless really feel assured within the guys that we’ve got. We’re clearly extra dynamic and a a lot better workforce with Tee on the market.”