The Cincinnati Bengals started the 2024 season with a healthy Joe Burrow and high hopes.
After a disappointing 38-33 loss to the Washington Commanders on Monday night, the Bengals are now 0-3, and their chances of making the playoffs are uncertain.
“We didn’t envision ourselves in this spot but here we are,” said Bengals head coach Zac Taylor. “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.”
Slow starts have been common under Taylor, often linked to Burrow’s health. The Bengals have started 0-2 for three straight seasons. They were winless through three games to begin the 2020 season, but that included a tie.
This is their worst start since the 2019 season when they began 0-11, the year before they drafted Burrow first overall.
On Monday night, Burrow was outperformed by fellow LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, who completed 21 of 23 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns, along with rushing for 39 yards and another touchdown.
The Commanders were expected to do well running against a Bengals defense that struggles to stop the run. Cincinnati was also missing two key defensive linemen, B.J. Hill and Sheldon Rankins, who were out with hamstring injuries. Washington rushed for 108 yards and three touchdowns on Monday.
Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt didn’t help the situation this week when he said Daniels and the Commanders ran a “nice little college offense.”
“That’s not what we do,” Taylor said. “We praise our own team. Praise the other team. We don’t take shots. That team hasn’t punted in two weeks. They’ve scored on every single possession the past two weeks. I have a tremendous amount of respect for what they’re doing over there.”
