CINCINNATI — The Bengals are looking to run their six-year losing streak on Lake Erie into the ground.
Joe Burrow believes the Bengals are finally in a position to attack Myles Garrett and the Browns defense with a versatile run game that will diminish the pass rush and eventually pay off in big throws down the field, something there has been precious little of in the four years.
“The way we are playing this year stylistically fits the division a little more,” Burrow said of Zack Moss and Chase Brown. “I think we’ll be able to run the ball well on Sunday. I like the run game plan. We’ll see how it plays out. We’ll be ready to drop back 50 times if we need to just like always, but be nice to have a big-time game on the ground.”
One thing is for sure, the Bengals would love to play with the lead in the first half. Cincinnati hasn’t scored in the first half of a game in Cleveland since 2021, when Jake Browning was starting for the resting Joe Burrow. The Bengals haven’t scored in the first quarter of a game in Cleveland since Burrow’s rookie season of 2020, and that was a Randy Bullock field goal.
Cincinnati’s last touchdown in the first quarter of road game against the Browns came in 2016. That’s a long, long time and their last first quarter lead was back in 2017, their last win in Cleveland.
“We know what they like to do offensively. We know what they like to do defensively. They like to run the ball and rush the passer,” Burrow said. “If we can get out on them early it makes them play the game a different way then they have against us the last several years. We’ll play the game however it ends up playing out and we’ll be ready for it. Just like every week you want to get off to a fast start.”
If the Bengals are able to give Burrow time, you could see a repeat of 2020 when Burrow threw for 316 yards and put 30 points on the board in Cleveland in a 35-30 Week 2 loss on Thursday night. That night Burrow threw a franchise-record 61 times, completing 37.
Tee Higgins had three catches for 35 yards in that game. Burrow had 406 yards passing and four touchdowns five weeks later in a 37-34 loss to Cleveland in Cincinnati. Higgins had 71 yards on five catches and a touchdown. Higgins had the only touchdown in Cincinnati’s 32-13 loss on Halloween of 2022.
This year, the Bengals are getting a grittier Higgins, breaking tackles and fighting for extra yards after the catch.
“I think he’s gotten better at that year to year,” Burrow said. “You really saw him flying for extra yards on Sunday. He did a great job of doing that, and really the last couple years. Rookie Tee, his pop-up game wasn’t quite as good, but now he gets hit and pops right back up. You don’t have to hold your breath every time. His pop-up game has improved a lot. So that’s been good to see.”
In 2020, Tee Higgins was a rookie out of Clemson who was still finding his way. He’s been through hamstring injuries over the course of his five seasons in Cincinnati, including a hammy this season that forced him to sit out the first two weeks. .
But with Higgins in the lineup, the Bengals passing attack has been transformed into what was expected with Burrow at the helm. And Ja’Marr Chase has been a big beneficiary, rolling up big game after big game, including five touchdowns.
This year, Higgins has 259 yards on 25 catches and two touchdowns, both coming in the overtime loss to Baltimore. Higgins didn’t get the extension he was looking for last summer and has just decided to let his numbers and productivity do the negotiating for him.
“I think he’s playing with a chip on his shoulder this year,” Burrow said. “I think his level of urgency since he came back has been high. He’s been excited about his ability to go out and make plays this year, and he’s continuing to show that he can. He’s going to continue to get a lot of opportunities. When he gets the ball in his hands, he’s been lowering his shoulder and getting those extra 4-5 yards, which the way teams play us has been big. Big-time player, makes big time plays in big time spots and he’s going to continue to do that.”
Death, taxes and the Bengals fighting out of an early-season hole. Those appear to be three unavoidable certainties of life as a Bengal player, coach or fan. The theme has been beaten into the ground – because it’s true. But a win Sunday in Cleveland will bring them to within one game of .500 and breakeven in the AFC North at 1-1.
“Ideally we’d be 6-0 but that’s not where we’re at and that’s just the way this year has played out,” Burrow said. “There’s a lot of urgency in the building to go and win games. I think guys are handling it the right way. You know, we had had a good day at work today. It’s really just about practicing and trying to get better every day. It sounds cliche, but that’s what it comes down to.”
