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Ben Baby, Editor at ESPN
CINCINNATI – Joe Burrow, quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals, had given up on a spot in the postseason after the unexpected 38-33 loss to the Washington Commanders on Monday night.
Burrow reiterated that the Bengals still have “a long way to go” after suffering their third consecutive loss to start the season, the team’s worst start since 2019 – the year before Burrow’s arrival.
“We’re far from out of the race, but I’m not thinking about the playoffs and winning the division at all,” Burrow said.
Cincinnati’s star quarterback expressed a similar sentiment after a Week 2 loss to Kansas City in a matchup between the two AFC Championship Game finalists in the 2021 and 2022 seasons. But the latest loss was not against an opponent of equal caliber. Washington (2-1) failed to score a touchdown in a win over the New York Giants last week and was led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, who was drafted with the second pick after the Commanders’ four-win season a year ago.
Daniels and the Commanders had no trouble finding the end zone on Monday. Washington scored touchdowns on five of its six drives, including a 27-yard pass from Daniels to Terry McLaurin with 2:10 left that clinched the win. Daniels scored as many touchdowns (two) as he scored incomplete passes.
Normally, Burrow goes straight to Cincinnati’s locker room when he leaves the field after games. On Monday, however, he and coach Zac Taylor went through a separate entrance that leads to the coach’s office. Burrow said it was a mutual decision to talk to Taylor after the game.
“It was a very positive conversation,” said Burrow, who declined to go into further detail. “We are not happy with our situation, but the season is far from over. We are 0-3, with 14 games left to play.”
To add to the frustration, the Bengals suffered two of their losses to some of the league’s worst teams in 2023. Washington and New England, Cincinnati’s opponents in Week 1, each won just four games last year. Those two teams, along with Arizona, had the second-lowest winning percentage in the NFL. All of Cincinnati’s losses earlier this season were by seven points or less.
Taylor said the Bengals need to create their own chances and better control the pace of the game.
“There wasn’t one unit that really dominated to take the pressure off the other unit, so that reflects on everyone,” Taylor said. “It’s frustrating. It’s a punch in the gut when you’ve put in so much work in the offseason, in training camp, and you feel really good about the team and you start off 0-3.”
Taylor pointed out that for the second week in a row, Washington scored on every single offense; against the Giants in Week 2, Washington finished every offense with a field goal. The Commanders’ success against Cincinnati on Monday came after cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt called the group led by offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury a “nice college offense.”
Taylor said there was no need to take shots at an opponent and the two had a conversation. Taylor-Britt had no qualms about making his comments even after the loss.
“I don’t regret it,” Taylor-Britt said at his locker on Monday night. “I didn’t mean any harm by the comment. It was exaggerated. Yes, I can definitely take back what I said. We suffered a (defeat) today.”
Cincinnati will look to rebound next week against the Carolina Panthers, who had the league’s worst record last season. Carolina is led by quarterback Andy Dalton, who played for the Bengals from 2011 to 2019 before being replaced by Burrow, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft.
Burrow, a former Pro Bowler who completed 29 of 38 passes for 324 yards and three touchdowns against Washington, said he may have to make some changes in how he handles the team as the Bengals try to find their way.
“That’s going to require some critical thinking that I’m going to have to do,” Burrow said. “Seeing what kind of leader I want to be in the future, what I think the team needs from me in the future.”
