Joe Burrow, Bengals Applauded by NFL Fans After Much-Needed Win vs. Jones, Giants
Oct 14, 2024
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 13: Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals calls a play at the line of scrimmage during the first half of an NFL game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on October 13, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals grabbed their second win of the season over the New York Giants on Sunday in a 17-7 victory at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
After holding the Giants scoreless in the first half, New York responded out of halftime, finding the end zone to even it out 7-7.
In a defensive battle between the teams, Bengal's running back Chase Brown ran it in for 30 yards to put the game on ice.
Burrow finished the night completing 19 of 28 passes for 208 yards with zero passing touchdowns, adding a 47 rushing touchdown. Daniel Jones totaled 205 passing yards and 56 rushing yards, although he ended with zero scores and an interception.
The Bengals narrowly avoided a 1-5 start to its season, which would have been the franchises first time since 1999, and improved to 2-4 on the season.
Joe Burrow is such a great quarterback but doesn’t have an offensive line to protect him or a defensive line to stop his opponents. Get the guy some help.
Cincinnati currently sits at third in the AFC North Division as they look ahead to next Sunday where they will face the Cleveland Browns on the road.
NFL Rumors: Joe Burrow, Bengals Had 'Players-Only' Meeting After 1-4 Start to Season
Oct 12, 2024
CINCINNATI, OHIO - OCTOBER 06: Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals jogs across the field in the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium on October 06, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals are aiming to fix their early-season struggles.
Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported that the Bengals held a "players-only" meeting prior to their Week 6 matchup against the New York Giants:
We told you last week that the Cleveland Browns had a players-only meeting, and we saw how that worked out against Washington. (There has to be a stat out there that tracks the record of teams after these players-only meetings; I'm going to guess it's 0-387.)The Cincinnati Bengals had their own "players-only" gathering to find ways to crawl out of a 1-4 hole. One Bengals player told me: "It wasn't a big deal at all. We got a good group." If there is any offense that can surge, it's Joe Burrow and company. This group was humming against the Ravens, with Burrow breaking out of his usual September slog.
The Bengals are 1-4 on the season and sit in last place in the AFC North. This comes despite high expectations entering the season and overall solid play from the offense.
Burrow has thrown for 1,370 yards with 12 touchdowns and just two interceptions while Ja'Marr Chase has 493 receiving yards and five touchdowns. The offense has scored 140 points through five games.
Cincinnati's four losses have all been by a one-score margin. The Bengals nearly knocked off the defending Super Bowl champion in the Kansas City Chiefs and the 2023 AFC No. 1 seed Baltimore Ravens. Still, just 6.6 percent of teams who started 1-4 have reached the postseason and none have gone on to win the Super Bowl.
The Bengals will hope to beat those slim odds and that a "players-only meeting" serves its purpose.
Bengals' Joe Burrow Says Surgery on Wrist Injury Still Impacting How He Throws Ball
Oct 10, 2024
CINCINNATI, OH - OCTOBER 06: Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) passes the ball during the game against the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals on October 6, 2024, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, OH. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is having a sensational season, but the five-year veteran told reporters after Wednesday's practice that he isn't throwing the ball how he would like following successful surgery on a torn ligament in his right wrist last November.
"I would say I'm still not quite throwing it the way that I would like," Burrow said, per Bengals senior writer Geoff Hobson.
"I'm making good decisions, I'm putting the ball where I want to. I still think there's another level of improvement I can get to coming back from injury on ball rotation and spin rate and all that. So, that's going to continue to get better as I get healthier, so there's always another level to find."
Burrow has completed 72.3 percent of his passes for 1,370 yards and an NFL-high 12 touchdowns through five weeks. Cincinnati is fourth in the NFL in scoring with 28.0 points per game. His 113.6 quarterback rating ranks first among passers who have started at least three games.
Although Burrow said he isn't throwing the ball how he would like to just yet, it's hard to imagine him being much better. Simply put, he's arguably been the NFL's best quarterback through five games. And that includes a rough showing for the offense in Week 1 en route to a 16-10 loss to the New England Patriots.
Since then, he's averaged 301 passing yards per game, including 392 alongside five touchdowns last Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. He's been electric thus far and is only getting better as the season goes on.
Despite Burrow's success, the Bengals enter Week 6 with a 1-4 record, largely due to a defense that's allowed the second-most points in the NFL.
The Bengals were on the wrong end of shootouts against the Washington Commanders (38-33) and Ravens (41-38) and were one fourth-down stop away from beating the Kansas City Chiefs before falling 26-25.
Now Burrow and the Bengals have a critical game on Sunday evening on the road against the 2-3 New York Giants, whose 22 sacks lead the league. Kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m. ET.
Bengals' Mike Hilton Says Defense 'Playing Like S--t,' Held Players-Only Meeting
Oct 10, 2024
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 29: Mike Hilton #21 of the Cincinnati Bengals looks on during the game Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on September 29, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton didn't sugarcoat the way his team's defense has played amid a 1-4 start to the season.
"I know we've been playing like s--- for real, honestly," Hilton said, per ESPN's Ben Baby. "And we know we have to turn around for us to have a chance to make this run, but that's the thing about this game. You all have another opportunity to go out there and prove yourself."
According to Baby, the Bengals held a players-only defensive meeting for the first time since last season and Hilton spoke to the group for about five to 10 minutes.
The Bengals' defense has been one of the worst in the league so far this year, ranking 31st in defensive success rate, 30th in points allowed per drive and 31st in third-down defense, according to Baby.
In their last two losses to the Washington Commanders and Baltimore Ravens, they've given up 38 and 41 points, respectively.
The struggles haven't carried over to the offense, which has the sixth-most passing yards and fourth-most points per game after five games. Hilton knows he and the defense are the main reason for the rough start to the year.
"We have to hold up our end of the bargain," Hilton said. "[Our] offense is rolling, but we have to do our part. A play here, a play there. Our record be 4-1, but we're 1-4 and we got to climb out [of] this hole."
After this week's players-only meeting, the defense has a chance to prove it's ready to step up and start giving the Bengals' offense some relief. A matchup with the New York Giants on Sunday is a good opportunity to start turning things around as the Giants have a below-average offense so far this season.
If Cincinnati's defense doesn't improve, it could mean another year absent from the postseason for the Bengals.
Joe Burrow Says Bengals Aren't 'Championship-Level Team Right Now' After Ravens Loss
Oct 7, 2024
CINCINNATI, OH - OCTOBER 06 - Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) in a game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium on Sunday, October 6, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Moreland/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was blunt when giving an assessment of his team following a 41-38 overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
"We are not a championship-level team right now," Burrow said after the game, per Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic.
With the loss, the Bengals dropped to 1-4 on the season and are now 0-3 against AFC opponents.
Burrow nearly led Cincinnati to a victory, finishing 30-of-39 for 392 yards and a career-high five touchdown passes. He was also picked off in the fourth quarter.
The Bengals led 38-28 with roughly six minutes remaining in regulation. Their defense wouldn't be able to hold up down the stretch of the game, though.
Baltimore sent the contest to overtime due to an incredible touchdown pass from Lamar Jackson as well as a 56-yard field goal from Justin Tucker following Burrow's interception.
Cincinnati had another chance to win due to a fumble by Jackson at the start of overtime, giving the team the ball at the Ravens' 38-yard line. However, Bengals kicker Evan McPherson missed a 53-yard field goal after a mishandled snap following three consecutive run plays.
Tucker nailed a 26-yard field goal on Baltimore's ensuing possession, cementing the victory.
The Bengals entered the year with high expectations. While they missed the playoffs in 2023 after Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury, they made it to the AFC Championship Game in each of the two prior seasons. This included a Super Bowl 56 appearance.
"We're the team to beat in the AFC," star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase said on Sept. 12, via Pro Football Network's Jay Morrison.
After five weeks, the Bengals don't appear to be among the teams in contention for a championship. They'll need to start a winning streak just to compete for a playoff spot, which will be difficult given their poor record against AFC opponents.
Cincinnati will attempt to bounce back in a Week 6 matchup with the New York Giants.
Bengals' Zac Taylor Explains Playcalling Before Missed FG in OT Loss to Ravens
Oct 6, 2024
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 29: Head coach Zac Taylor of the Cincinnati Bengals looks on before the game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on September 29, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
The Cincinnati Bengals fell just short of beating the Baltimore Ravens in overtime on Sunday.
The Bengals had a chance to seal the victory with a 53-yard field goal from Evan McPherson, but his kick was wide left after a bad snap/hold, allowing the Ravens to march down the field and win it on a field goal of their own.
After the loss, head coach Zac Taylor explained the playcalling decision—which included three straight runs after a Lamar Jackson fumble—that led to a fourth down and the missed field goal.
"We've thrown the ball in that situation before," Taylor told reporters. "...We called a pass. Joe (Burrow) actually did a great job getting us out of it back into a run because the look was not there to throw it."
Ryan Rehkow, who mishandled the snap on the field goal, also took accountability for the mishap.
"I've got to be better. Plain and simple," he said, per The Enquirer'sCharlie Goldsmith.
The Bengals put together one of their best games of the season on Sunday. Quarterback Joe Burrow posted 392 passing yards and five touchdowns on 30-of-39 passing, showing flashes of an MVP-caliber player.
While Cincinnati's defense struggled to contain Baltimore, its offense made up for it and kept the Bengals in the game. Even after it had arguably its most complete game this year, errors in overtime meant Cincinnati dropped to 1-4 as its hopes of reaching the playoffs took another hit.
The Bengals' only win so far this season came against the Carolina Panthers and it has dropped games to the New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Commanders and now Ravens.
History is not on Cincinnati's side as just 15 teams have reached the playoffs after a 1-4 start, the most recent one being the Commanders in 2020. The Bengals have a chance to right the ship over the next few weeks though, as they'll get a pair of manageable games against the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns.
After another loss on Sunday, it's fair to say those games are now must-win.
Bengals' Joe Burrow: I Have to Play 'Damn Near Perfect' vs. Lamar Jackson, Ravens
Oct 2, 2024
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 29: Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals warms up before the game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on September 29, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow said he has to play "damn near perfect" in his team's home game Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, noting the need to be aggressive early in order to avoid falling behind given how their AFC North rival plays on offense.
How important is it to get off to a fast start vs Baltimore?
Burrow: “Paramount….Have to be aggressive out of the gate, possessions will be limited. Have to be damn near perfect.” #Bengals | @WLWTpic.twitter.com/60miVeilIL
"I'm going to have to play damn-near perfect. That's what it's going to take." Joe Burrow, who has his game-face on already on Wednesday. "You can't get behind these guys because of the way they play on offense."
The Ravens' last two games back up Burrow's words.
Last Sunday, the Ravens put the Buffalo Bills in an early hole that they never escaped from. Derrick Henry ran for two first-half touchdowns en route to 209 total yards as a 21-3 halftime lead made way for a 35-10 win.
The week before, Henry ran for another two scores against the Dallas Cowboys, with his early third-quarter touchdown helping put the Ravens up 28-6. Dallas mounted a comeback but eventually fell 28-25 as Henry galloped for 174 total yards.
And then, of course, there's Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who's run for 141 yards and two scores during that time in addition to completing 75.7 percent of his passes. The Ravens' offense is efficient through the air and near-unstoppable on the ground, and that makes for a difficult combination to bear.
If the Ravens are rolling and running downhill early, that'll be hard for any team to come back from. As Burrow said, he would probably have to play "damn near perfect."
But an aggressive start that puts the Ravens in an early hole would certainly help matters. Cincinnati will look to do just that Sunday at home for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff in Paycor Stadium.
Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase Happy to Be Past 'All This BS That Was Going on' Before Season
Sep 26, 2024
CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 23: Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) carries the ball during the game against the Washington Commanders and the Cincinnati Bengals on September 23, 2024, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, OH. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase brought plenty of headlines and an additional spotlight to the AFC North team when he chose to skip training camp practices in the hope of landing a new contract even though he is signed through the 2025 campaign.
Well, now he's happy to be past all that "BS" that just so happened to be following the team around this offseason.
"All this BS that was going on this offseason and prior to the season, I'm just happy that it's over with," Chase said Thursday, per ESPN's Ben Baby. "I'm finally playing ball and having fun with the guys. That's what matters most for me."
Chase worked his way back into the lineup during the first two games, which were losses to the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs. He tallied a combined 10 catches for 97 yards and zero touchdowns in those contests.
But the Chase that Bengals fans are accustomed to returned to the field during a Week 3 loss to the Washington Commanders.
He posted six catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns and was largely unstoppable as the offense started to look like one of the league's best with the return of Tee Higgins (hamstring) as well.
However, Cincinnati's defense was nowhere to be found and didn't force a single turnover or punt while making rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels look like prime Tom Brady for stretches.
It's getting late early for the 0-3 Bengals, who still have two games against each of the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers in addition to matchups with the Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Chargers and Dallas Cowboys, among others.
Chase and the Bengals could use a win during Sunday's game against the 1-2 Carolina Panthers, so it's a good thing for the team that the wide receiver is over the offseason drama even though he never landed a contract.
NFL Rumors: Trent Brown Out for Season After Knee Injury in Bengals' Week 3 Loss
Sep 24, 2024
CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 23 - Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Trent Brown (77) is carted off the field in a game between the Washington Commanders and the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium on Monday, September 23, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Moreland/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Cincinnati Bengals' 2024 campaign is already off to a disastrous start after they fell to 0-3 on Monday night against the Washington Commanders, and they sustained another major blow on Tuesday.
Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Bengals offensive tackle Trent Brown, who was carted off the field in Monday night's game with a knee injury, will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon. Rapoport added that Brown "is expected to make a full recovery."
Brown suffered the injury in the second quarter of the matchup against the Commanders. After losing their starting right tackle, the Bengals went on to fall 38-33 against a Washington team that is led by a rookie quarterback in Jayden Daniels.
When asked about Brown's status after the game, Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor said, "It doesn't look good," per ESPN's Ben Baby.
A 10-year veteran, Brown signed a one-year contract with the Bengals this past offseason after spending the previous three years with the New England Patriots. He was a part of New England's Super Bowl LIII-winning team and he earned his lone Pro Bowl selection in 2019 while playing for the Las Vegas Raiders.
After Brown exited Monday's game, the Bengals replaced him by inserting 2024 No. 18 pick Amarius Mims. It was the Georgia product's NFL debut after he missed the first two games of the season while nursing a pectoral injury suffered in Cincinnati's preseason opener. Baby noted that Mims was in line to be the team's starting right tackle before his injury.
The Bengals are hoping their recent run of bad luck comes to an end soon. Cincinnati entered the year with aspirations of representing the AFC in the Super Bowl, so the team will need to get back on track quickly to avoid another lost year.
The Bengals will try to earn their first win of the season when they visit the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
Bengals' Cam Taylor-Britt's Jayden Daniels Comments Ripped by HC Taylor After Loss
Sep 24, 2024
CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 23: Terry McLaurin #17 of the Washington Commanders catches a 55 yard pass against Cam Taylor-Britt #29 of the Cincinnati Bengals during the second quarter at Paycor Stadium on September 23, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt's comments about the Washington Commanders' offense and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels drew the ire of his head coach after Monday night's 38-33 home loss.
In anticipation of the game last week, Taylor-Britt told reporters the following, suggesting that Daniels' early success as a rookie was due in large part to an oversimplified offense:
"They don't make [Daniels] do a lot. They keep it really simple for him. Nice college offense, [Kliff] Kingsbury, the OC, so they love to move guys around here and there, but just keep it real simple for him. I heard his pass percentage is very high, but he's only throwing short routes, some intermediate stuff, quick throws."
Bengals CB Cam Taylor-Britt broke down Commanders rookie QB Jayden Daniels’ game: “They don’t make him do a lot. They keep it really simple for him. Nice college offense. (Kliff) Kingsbury’s the OC.” pic.twitter.com/CeJKATlzmF
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor made it clear after Monday's game that he had an issue with Taylor-Britt's comments, saying: "That's not what we do. We praise our own team, praise the other team. We don't need to take shots like that. That team hasn't punted in two weeks. They've scored on every single possession the last two weeks."
#Bengals HC Zac Taylor says Cam Taylor-Britt shouldn’t have made the comments he did last week.
As for Taylor-Britt, he didn't express any regret for his comments when speaking to reporters, and doubled down on his belief that Washington runs a college-style offense:
"No ma'am, I do not regret it. And I didn't mean anything malicious out of the comment, it was just made bigger than what it was. Yes, I can eat my words most definitely. We did take an L today. It was sort of a college offense. Very quick, quick throws. He's very athletic and extends plays. That's how the game went, they stuck to their plan."
Cam Taylor-Britt on his comments about the Commanders offense before the game and if he regrets it: pic.twitter.com/7NmcLAbhdG
Regardless of how the Commanders' offense should be categorized, it was highly effective Monday, as Washington racked up 356 total yards, converted five of its nine third-down attempts and went 3-for-3 on fourth downs.
Daniels also enjoyed the best statistical game of his young career, going 21-of-23 for 254 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, while also rushing for 39 yards and a score.
Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Daniels set a single-game NFL rookie record for efficiency Monday, as his 91.3 percent completion percentage was the best ever by a rookie who threw at least 20 passes in a game.
While Kingsbury scheming quick hitters and getting the ball out of Daniels' hands rapidly undoubtedly contributed to his accuracy, Daniels made some big-time throws as well.
On the Commanders final drive of the game—aside from some kneel-downs—Daniels completed a massive 4th-and-4 pass to tight end Zach Ertz to keep the chains moving.
Just four plays later, the Commanders got aggressive on a 3rd-and-7, as Daniels went up top to wide receiver Terry McLaurin and hit him for a 27-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 12 with 2:10 left and essentially put the game out of reach.
Perhaps most impressively, the Commanders took 7:32 off the clock on that drive, which left the Bengals with little time to score twice.
The Bengals did get in the end zone once against Washington's prevent defense, but the Commanders then recovered the onside kick, which put the game to bed.
Cincinnati squandered a great game from quarterback Joe Burrow, as he threw for 324 yards, three touchdowns and no picks in the game, while wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase went off for 118 yards and two touchdowns on six catches.
That type of offensive effort is normally more than enough to pick up a victory, but the Commanders offense was just a bit better, and it is fair to wonder if Taylor-Britt's comments gave Daniels, Kingsbury and Co. any extra motivation.
