The Cincinnati Bengals just took a nasty 22-17 hit from the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, dropping them to a 2-2 record that is already making fans sweat. But the score on the board was not even the worst news out of that game. Star wideout Ja’Marr Chase got rocked with a concussion, and Tee Higgins picked up an adductor injury. Just brutal. You’d think the sky was falling in Cincy, right?
Burrow’s Calm In The Eye Of The Storm
Nope. Not if you ask Joe Burrow. The man is trying to stay ice-cold after a loss that definitely stings, especially with those two huge offensive weapons potentially sidelined. “We had our opportunities in the last two weeks, but this isn’t Armageddon or anything,” Burrow told reporters, trying to pump some much-needed confidence into the situation. He sounds like he genuinely believes they are “still in a great spot” and feels “really good about our team.”
It is easy to hear that and roll your eyes when you are sitting at 2-2 and your top two receivers are hurt. But the three-time Pro Bowler doubled down, saying the Bengals are “very confident” and reminded everyone that “it’s still early into the season.” He is not wrong, of course. “We’re 2-2, but nobody wins a championship after Week 4,” he said. And to be fair, the Burrow era in Cincy has always been about overcoming those rough starts. They kicked off 2021 at 3-2 and ended up in the Super Bowl. The very next season, they went from 2-3 to the AFC title game. So, he has got the history to back up the bravado, even if it feels like a tough pill to swallow right now for Bengals faithful.
Offensive Stalls And Defensive Woes Raise Flags
Still, you cannot ignore the cold, hard facts from the Jaguars game. The offense was totally out of whack. Chase Brown, the running back, managed a measly 10 yards on nine carries. Nine carries! Meanwhile, Burrow had to chuck the ball 54 times. That is not balance, that is desperation. And the defense was not exactly shutting things down either, giving up six yards per play to the Jags offense. Those are some serious red flags waving for a team hoping to make some noise. It is those kinds of numbers that make you wonder if “Armageddon” is not so far off, even if Burrow wants to stay positive.
Despite those struggles, there is still enough juice in this Bengals squad to make you think they can finally break that three-year playoff drought. And who else is going to lead the charge if not Burrow? He is the guy who sets the tone in that locker room. His rock-solid outward confidence has to be infectious, right? It just has to. The good news for them? They face the 0-4 Miami Dolphins next. That is a game they absolutely have to win to get back on track. Plus, their Week 6 bye could not be better timed with Chase and Higgins on the mend. Here is hoping that calm confidence from Burrow is not just talk, because they are going to need it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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