Playoffs 'furthest thing' from Bengals' minds after 0-3 start - ESPN

CINCINNATI — A postseason run was nowhere near Joe Burrow's mind after Monday night's 38-33 upset loss to the Washington Commanders.

Burrow repeated the Bengals have a «long way to go» after they sputtered to a third straight defeat to open the season, the team's worst start since 2019 — the year before Burrow arrived.

«We're by no means out of it, but playoffs and winning division is the furthest thing from my mind,» Burrow said.

Cincinnati's star quarterback issued a similar sentiment after a Week 2 loss to Kansas City in a matchup between the two finalists in the AFC Championship Game in the 2021 and 2022 seasons. But the most recent loss was not against the same caliber of competition. Washington (2-1) didn't score a touchdown last week in a win over the New York Giants and was led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, who was drafted with the second pick following the Commanders' four-win season a year ago.

Daniels and the Commanders had no problems finding the end zone on Monday. Washington scored touchdowns on five of its six true drives, including a 27-yard pass from Daniels to Terry McLaurin with 2:10 left that proved to be the winning margin. Daniels had as many touchdowns (two) as incompletions.

Typically after games, Burrow goes straight into Cincinnati's home locker room when leaving the field. However on Monday, he and coach Zac Taylor went into a separate entrance that leads to the coaches office. Burrow said it was a mutual decision to speak with Taylor after the game.

«It was a very positive conversation,» said Burrow, who declined to get into the specifics. «We're not happy with where we're at, but by no means is the season over. We're 0-3, it's 14 left to play.»

To compound the frustration, two of the