CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Joe Burrow is not one for pregame speeches.
However the state of affairs required one Sunday. With the Bengals off to an 0-3 begin, the workforce’s star quarterback opted to ship a couple of phrases within the locker room within the remaining moments earlier than Cincinnati’s recreation in opposition to the Carolina Panthers.
Burrow did not disclose what was mentioned to his teammates. However the phrases resonated in a 34-24 highway victory to offer the Bengals their first win of the season.
It wasn’t one thing Burrow mulled over on the workforce resort the evening earlier than, or on the bus trip to the stadium. However the second felt proper for a uncommon handle.
“[I] simply felt like I had one thing to say,” Burrow mentioned. “I am not going to exit of my approach to be any person I am not. However when I’ve one thing to say, I am going to undoubtedly step up and say it.”
Burrow was 22-of-31 passing for 232 yards and two touchdowns. Each of these scoring throws got here within the first half and helped Cincinnati take a 21-14 halftime lead.
Requested if it was the primary time he had delivered a pregame handle, Burrow mentioned it isn’t one thing he usually does; usually, he tries to get in the proper mindset and keep as calm as doable earlier than kickoff.
Within the Tremendous Bowl period (since 1966), 164 groups have began a season with 4 straight losses, in keeping with ESPN Analysis. Just one — the 1992 San Diego Chargers — recovered to make the postseason. Burrow mentioned the Bengals knew they wanted a victory, particularly with the Baltimore Ravens coming to city subsequent weekend for an enormous AFC North showdown.
“There was actually no different choice apart from to determine a approach to win this recreation,” Burrow mentioned. “We received it accomplished. Nonetheless a number of room to enhance.”
Bengals broad receiver Ja’Marr Chase was oblivious to Burrow’s pregame speech. Chase mentioned he had a towel draped over his head whereas Kodak Black’s “My Cousin” was enjoying via his headphones.
Chase, who performed with Burrow at LSU and helped the Tigers win a nationwide championship, mentioned he thought Burrow had accomplished that solely as soon as beforehand of their time collectively.
“He all the time had that fireside in him, simply letting us know he is nonetheless a pacesetter and [to] decide it up typically,” Chase mentioned.
Chase had one of many largest moments of Sunday’s recreation, turning an intermediate move within the second quarter right into a 63-yard landing that gave the Bengals a 14-7 lead. Chase broke three tackles and scampered down the sector for the workforce’s longest landing of the season.
Cincinnati’s offense leaned on broad receiver Tee Higgins early on. He completed with six catches on 10 targets for 60 yards. Higgins mentioned the response within the locker room after Burrow’s handle was to get locked in and prepared for the sport.
“He was being a pacesetter immediately and it confirmed,” Higgins mentioned.
The Panthers (1-3) stayed inside hanging distance within the second half. It wasn’t till Bengals kicker Evan McPherson’s 46-yard subject aim with 1:14 remaining that Cincinnati was capable of evade the specter of extending the workforce’s worst begin to a season since 2019.
“I believe we had alternatives to knock it open and that is what we missed,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor mentioned. “That is on all of us, fairly frankly. There’s issues I can do higher there to assist us try this.”
The win might need come at one other price to an already beleaguered protection. Defensive finish Trey Hendrickson was dominated out with what Taylor mentioned was a neck stinger.
Hendrickson, one of many league’s finest move rushers who pressured an interception in opposition to Carolina, left the locker room along with his proper arm in a sling.
Taylor mentioned the workforce will get extra data Monday about Hendrickson’s long-term standing.
