Week 1 was a total disaster for the Cincinnati Bengals. They went on the road to face their AFC North rivals, the Cleveland Browns and nothing went right as they lost the game 24-3. It was especially ugly for quarterback Joe Burrow, as this was the worst game the team has had since he took over.
It was easily the least productive game of the young star’s career, as he threw for only 82 yards, a career-low. It was certainly not how he and the Bengals envisioned things going in his first game since signing a record-setting extension days before the season opener.
He completed only 14-of-31 pass attempts as he never looked comfortable on the field. The poor conditions that the game was played in, as it was rainy and windy, certainly played a part. Burrow was also only a little bit more than a week removed from returning to practice after missing six weeks because of a calf injury.
Things won’t be getting any easier for the Bengals in Week 2, as they are facing off against another AFC North rival, the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens are coming into the game 1-0 after defeating the Houston Texans 25-9 in their season opener.
But, an NFL scout who spoke to NFL Analysis Network believes that both teams will have 1-1 records after playing Sunday afternoon. The scout made a massive prediction for the Bengals in the game, expecting them to come out firing.
“The Bengals cannot wait to get back on the field this week. They’re angry, and it’s going to show. (Joe) Burrow will light up the Ravens for 325 yards and four touchdowns.”
The Ravens have a pretty strong defense, but the Bengals are certainly going to be motivated to put their Week 1 performance behind them. Especially Burrow, who wants to bounce back after the worst game in his young career.
Burrow and the Bengals have had some huge performances against the Ravens in his three seasons with the team. In the 2021 campaign, he threw for 941 yards and seven touchdowns in two games, torching their secondary.
That is the kind of performance that the scout believes is coming this weekend in their first matchup of the 2023 season. It would certainly be tough betting against the Bengals to not have a bounceback after how embarrassing they performed in the season opener.
