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CINCINNATI — In Joe Burrow‘s thoughts, the margin for error forward of Sunday’s sport towards the Baltimore Ravens may as nicely be nonexistent.
Because the Cincinnati Bengals put together for his or her first AFC North showdown of the season, the crew’s star quarterback set the bar as excessive as doable for him and his teammates.
“I am gonna must play rattling close to excellent,” Burrow stated. “That is how I am getting ready. So it is an thrilling alternative.”
Cincinnati’s fifth-year quarterback was particularly intense all through his midweek information convention. When requested why, he pointed to the importance of this week’s matchup.
Baltimore (2-2) ended Cincinnati’s two-year run because the division champion and reached the AFC Championship Recreation final season, the identical around the Bengals skilled within the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
However Cincinnati hasn’t displayed championship type within the first 4 weeks of the season. The Bengals misplaced their first three video games, marking the crew’s worst begin since 2019. The protection ranks close to the underside of the league in factors per drive (twenty seventh) and success fee (tied for twenty ninth).
Whereas Baltimore additionally sputtered early, the Ravens have now received two straight video games, together with a convincing 35-10 victory over the beforehand undefeated Buffalo Bills.
“It is a massive sport,” Burrow stated. “We all know what our report is, we all know the alternatives now we have going ahead, nevertheless it’s our first divisional opponent.”
Life within the AFC North was not nice for the Bengals final season. Cincinnati went 1-5 in divisional play, the lone win coming in Week 18 towards Cleveland. By then, the Bengals had been already eradicated from postseason rivalry and the Browns had been resting key gamers for the playoffs.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor, now in his sixth season with the membership, acknowledged that the totality of a grueling divisional schedule dawned on him as he gained extra on-the-job expertise and in addition heard from others across the league about their experiences towards AFC North foes.
“You’ve got seen up to now different divisions come play this division, see that after which stroll away from it, and that is one thing they really feel,” Taylor stated. “Our gamers are battle-tested and have been via this earlier than, so that they understand how bodily and intense these video games will likely be.”
That was felt on Wednesday in the best way Burrow not solely answered questions from reporters but additionally repeatedly referenced perfection. And in defining what that appears like for him, the previous Professional Bowler stated that it is not at all times about having a excessive completion share or throwing 5 touchdowns.
“It is placing your self and your crew in the most effective place play-in and play-out to have the absolute best consequence on that play,” Burrow stated. “Generally that is a 0-yard achieve, and generally that is a sack.”
To ensure that this crew to be championship contenders as soon as once more, Burrow stated that mindset is one the locker room should share.
Earlier within the day, Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher stated that regardless of Cincinnati’s tough begin to the season, there may be nonetheless confidence that if the Bengals play in addition to they’ll, they’ll beat Baltimore, a present 2.5-point favourite, in keeping with ESPN Wager.
When requested about that confidence, Burrow pointed to an offense that’s at present third within the NFL in factors per drive and sixth in offensive EPA per play, per ESPN Analysis.
“We’re gonna proceed to chase perfection, attempt to rating on each drive,” Burrow stated. “It is a massive alternative. We thrive in these moments.”
