Joe Burrow’s first primetime game ended up being a loss to the Cleveland Browns on “Thursday Night Football” in Week 2.
Burrow’s first Battle of Ohio was an odd affair for Bengals onlookers, mostly because it was encouraging to see his promising play under center, but also see some of the same old problems from 2019 still pop up.
Cincinnati looked lost defensively, didn’t want to tackle and Burrow’s line left him endangered often. These are the top bits of instant analysis after the team slipped to 0-2.
Quick Hits
— Cincinnati’s first drive resulted in three points. Along the way, everything seemed to go right, as Burrow diced up the defense, converted a fourth down and Joe Mixon even spun out of a tackle in the backfield for a big gain.
— The same positivity didn’t extend to the defense’s first drive, though. Cleveland did pretty much whatever it wanted, making it obvious running back Nick Chubb was the focus.
— Strong, reassuring steps forward for Burrow turned into concern as the first half wore on though, highlighted by a brutal sack that should’ve been a throwaway and a snap that sailed past his head for a 22-yard loss.
— By half’s end, though, Burrow had thrown his first NFL touchdown and several other dimes that made it easy to forget he’s a rookie.
— Fred Johnson stuck out as a sour point for the line in spot duty, at one point even falling on his rear and taking a defender with him, drawing a flag.
— Ditto for Bobby Hart on the right side again this week, especially on a late mistake in the second half that led to a Burrow turnover.
— Much like Burrow, the good and the bad was a highlight for the defense. While tackling and angles were major issues, the unit also came up strong near the goal line and later William Jackson took advantage of a bad decision by Mayfield for an interception.
— In one of the worst defensive drives in recent memory, the Bengals — with the game winnable — coughed up 60-plus yards on three runs. No fight and it cost them the game.
Key Stat
6.2: Cleveland’s rushing average on the way to 215 yards. The Browns did whatever they wanted on the ground, with Nick Chubb rushing for 124. Missed tackles and bad angles had it looking like 2019 all over again.
Game Ball
Joe Burrow: The rookie is doing the best he can with what he’s got. He’s got a bad line in front of him and he’s backed with a shaky defense that let up big drives. Add in the typical rookie issues and the night was both encouraging and understandable.
What to Fix
The offensive line: Something has to give. Fred Johnson was a disaster as a spot starter so maybe that means plugging in Billy Price at right guard. Bobby Hart continues to be an unchallenged liability. The last thing the Bengals need is an injury to a quarterback during this developmental season.
Top Takeaway
Encouraging, but change needed: Burrow’s something special. He’s got uncanny poise for a rookie who didn’t even have a preseason. He’s a playmaker and accurate. Cliches on cliches come to life when he plays.
But he needs more support. The coaching staff has to mix something up with the offensive line (and maybe stop calling runs to the right side). The defense needs to get some guys in there who want to tackle. Hiccups are understandable and an 0-2 start wasn’t impossible to see coming, but after a roster turnover this offseason, it’s time to see what different lineups might look like.
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