The Cincinnati Bengals came into the 2023 season with very high expectations, as many pegged them as the favorites to potentially win the AFC. They were looking to bounce back from a Week 1 loss on Sunday when they took on the Baltimore Ravens, but it was another subpar performance from the Bengals offense.
Star quarterback Joe Burrow had perhaps the worst performance of his career in Week 1, only throwing for 82 passing yards in a loss to the Cleveland Browns. And early on, the Bengals offense and Burrow struggled yet again against the Ravens on Sunday.
Burrow finished the first half on Sunday with just 35 passing yards, completing 8 of his 11 pass attempts in the half.
Bengals’ QB Joe Burrow finished the first half vs. the Ravnes with 35 yards on 8 completions.
Last week vs. the Browns, he had 82 yards.
Bengals fans were booing the team during the first half.
The highest paid player in NFL history is off to a tough start after missing most…
— NFL Talk (@NFL_Talk_Sports) September 17, 2023
He was able to pick up his individual performance slightly in the second half, but the offense was still clearly missing something. The Bengals were not able to keep up with Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, ultimately losing 27-24 to fall to 0-2 on the year.
Fans offered their opinion on the Bengals 0-2 start on social media, criticizing them considering the expectations coming into the year.
Joe Burrow and the Bengals fall to 0-2. pic.twitter.com/8s8aHCdp5i
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 17, 2023
The Bengals start another season 0-2 as Joe Burrow limps off the field.
Not ideal. pic.twitter.com/Mc9OBfVO9G
— Cincinnati 💔 (@CincyProblems) September 17, 2023
BIG win for the Ravens
Bengals are 0-2 pic.twitter.com/MDoIFWbyYQ
— JM Football (@JomboyMediaFB) September 17, 2023
The Bengals drop to 0-2 😬
Can they bounce back in Week 3? 👀 pic.twitter.com/iIuAAVDmTf
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) September 17, 2023
Bengals are 0-2 for the 4th time in 5 years
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) September 17, 2023
It’s obviously concerning that the Bengals are struggling so much to start the season. But if anyone can turn around their season in a hurry, it may be the Bengals.
Since the NFL shifted to their current postseason structure, only one team has started the season at 0-2 and made the postseason. That team was the 2022 Bengals, who ended up finishing the season with a 12-4 record.
Since the NFL went to seven playoff teams in each conference in 2020, only one of the 23 teams to start the season 0-2 wound up reaching the playoffs: the 2022 Bengals.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 17, 2023
They will look to turn their season around in Week 3 when they face off against the Los Angeles Rams.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.