CINCINNATI -- In the aftermath of a third straight loss to start the season, the Cincinnati Bengals were caught between feelings.
There was a sense of frustration and a confounding level of disappointment following the 38-33 loss to the Washington Commanders at home on Monday night. Quarterback Joe Burrow made it clear the team is far from being a playoff contender after its first 0-3 start since 2019, the year before the Bengals selected him with the No. 1 overall pick.
Amid that feeling, there was still optimism and hope that Cincinnati can turn things around in time to make the postseason, despite the news that veteran offensive tackle Trent Brown, who was slotted as a back-up before an injury to rookie Amarius Mims, will miss the rest of the season with a torn patellar tendon in his right knee.
"We're not happy with where we're at, but by no means is the season over," Burrow said after the game. "We're 0-3. There's 14 left to play."
But the margin for error is incredibly slim. According to ESPN Research, only six teams in the Super Bowl era have made the playoffs after starting a season 0-3. It last happened in 2018, three years before the NFL regular-season schedule expanded to 17 games.
ESPN Analytics gives Cincinnati a 36.4% chance to make the postseason, down from 66.1% before the season started. Here are three reasons why the Bengals should and shouldn't be panicking after another bad start to the season.
Reasons to remain calm
Easy strength of schedule
The only solace of finishing last in the AFC North last season and missing the postseason was the 2024 season's strength of schedule. Because of Cincinnati's fourth-place finish, they face three other teams that also finished at the bottom of their respective divisions. Unfortunately for the Bengals, they have already lost one of those contests this season (Week 1, vs. New England).
But the rest of the schedule is still relatively easy. According to ESPN Analytics, Cincinnati has the fourth-easiest strength of schedule in the league. ESPN's Football Power Index also favors the Bengals in 10 out of their final 14 games, including three of the upcoming six AFC North matchups.
Ja'Marr Chase is open
Because of his contract situation that dragged through the entire offseason and into the regular season, nobody in Cincinnati has garnered more headlines than Chase. But the receiver who believed "for a fact" that he was the best wide receiver in the league (and wants to be paid like it as well) didn't have any touchdowns through the first two games. Teams made it a point to double-team and force ways to take Chase out of the offense.
On Monday, Washington tried to play single coverage against Chase and the Bengals burned the Commanders twice. Chase scored on touchdowns of 41 yards and 31 yards and had his first 100-yard game since Week 13 of last season.
Burrow said he doubts teams will continue to flirt with the idea of only putting one defender on Chase moving forward. But the quarterback added that Cincinnati has to continue to target Chase despite the added attention.
"We have to find some plays to still get him the ball in those situations," Burrow said of a few red zone chances the Bengals couldn't capitalize on. "We can't just let a team take him away like that going forward."
Burrow is improving
There were (and still are) some valid questions about Burrow's long-term prognosis following a wrist injury that no quarterback has ever had. But 10 months after Burrow had the scapholunate ligament in his right wrist repaired, he seems to be making steady improvement.
After struggling in his first game since the season-ending injury in Week 11 of last season, Burrow has been more effective. He currently ranks eighth in Total QBR and has shown an increased willingness to push the ball downfield as he's become more comfortable in the pocket. Cincinnati has also improved how it protects Burrow. The Bengals rank ninth in pass block win rate (ESPN/NFL Next Gen Stats).
Reasons for concern
The defensive line
Coming into the season, the run defense was a major question mark after defensive tackle DJ Reader left in free agency and signed with the Detroit Lions. That issue was quickly compounded by injuries. Starters Sheldon Rankins (hamstring) and BJ Hill (hamstring) were out for Monday's loss against Washington. Edge rusher Myles Murphy (knee) is on injured reserve for at least another week, and veteran Sam Hubbard missed the bulk of training camp with a hyperextended knee.
The result? A unit that isn't playing well. The Bengals rank 18th in pass rush win rate and are 26th in run stop win rate (ESPN/NFL Next Gen Stats).
An inconsistent defense
It's unusual to consider a defense to be spotty when one of the performances held Patrick Mahomes, a two-time MVP winner and already one of the best quarterbacks in league history, to one of his worst performances. But despite how well the Bengals looked against Kansas City in Week 2, that was sandwiched by lackluster outings against New England and Washington.
In the season-opening loss to the Patriots, defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo counted 14 missed tackles, the most since the Bengals hired Zac Taylor to be their coach in 2019. Against Washington, quarterback Jayden Daniels had just two incompletions. Cincinnati has faced the fewest pass attempts in the league but is tied for the second worst opposing completion percentage (75%).
"We just have to put it together," said Bengals safety Geno Stone. "We got it. Every game we've lost is a one-score game. It's not like we're not there."
Touchdown woes
Given that the Bengals' three losses have been by a combined 12 points, each missed opportunity in a game has proved to be costly.
And scoring when within striking range of the opposing goal line has been an issue over the last two weeks. In the team's 26-25 loss to Kansas City in Week 2, four drives that went inside Kansas City's 35-yard line didn't result in a touchdown. A week later against Washington, the Bengals had three drives stall inside the Commanders' 30-yard line, including two red zone trips.
Cincinnati and Washington are tied for the fewest offensive drives (25) in the league, according to ESPN Research, which puts scoring touchdowns at a premium. The Bengals are tied for 15th in red zone efficiency (50%).
If the Bengals can't improve on that rate, Cincinnati could be facing a very long season.
"We had our opportunities and didn't cash in on them," Burrow said. "That's been the common denominator from the first three weeks."