The Cincinnati Bengals have had slow starts the past few years, but this is the first season they have started 0-3 in the Joe Burrow era.
On Monday night, the Bengals fell to the Washington Commanders 38-33 and were sent home with many questions.
However, the biggest one is: Can Cincinnati still make the playoffs?
While Burrow says he is not thinking about the postseason three games into the season, he is still confident it is within reach.
“It’s an exciting opportunity, just like every season is,” Burrow said via the team’s website. “There’s going to be some big games down the stretch that we’re going to have to step up for. We haven’t played any division opponents yet. The Steelers are 3-0, other teams are 1-2, we’re 0-3. We play all six of those games coming up. We’re by no means out of it. Playoffs and winning the division is the furthest thing from my mind. We have got to get better this week.”
The Bengals will need that type of confidence if they hope to turn their season around and make the playoffs, but that doesn’t make the challenge of doing so any less daunting.
Since 1990, of the 162 teams that started 0-3, four have made the postseason (2.5%), one won its division (1.2%) and none have won the Super Bowl, according to Kevin Patra of NFL.com.
It’s safe to say it’s not where head coach Zac Taylor imagined his team would be three weeks into the season.
“We didn’t envision ourselves in this spot but here we are,” Taylor said, per the Associated Press. “It’s a kick in the gut when you feel really good about the team and you start off 0-3. But again, that is where we are right now. We need to find a way to win next Sunday and get this thing moving in the right direction.”
Cincinnati goes on the road to face the Carolina Panthers (1-2) in Week 4.
It will likely be favored, but this isn’t the same Panthers team of the season’s first two weeks. After benching quarterback Bryce Young, Carolina put up 36 points in its first win of the year.
Burrow acknowledges it will take a team effort to turn the Bengals season around, and it starts with him.
“We’re not happy with where we’re at, but by no means is the season over,” Burrow continued. “There will be some critical thinking that I will have to do, to see what kind of leader I want to be going forward, whatever I feel the team needs from me.”
