EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — — There’s no panic in Cincinnati.
At least in the Bengals locker room.
As social media buzzes about Bengal’s 0-2 start, Joe Burrow has blocked it all.
Literal.
The Bengals quarterback removed Twitter and Instagram from his phone to avoid distraction.
“I haven’t seen any of it,” Burrow said. “I’m sure it’s not a very good reaction, but I think it will be a different reaction as we move forward here.”
Cincinnati is looking to avoid its first 0-3 start since 2019, when it opened 0-11 in Zac Taylor’s first year as coach before beating New York in Week 13. And there is some sense of optimism: The Bengals were behind with at least two touchdowns in both losses this season before making big comeback attempts. Dallas won last week’s game 20-17 on a 50-yard field goal as time went on.
“Everyone is frustrated, but we’re not panicking,” Burrow said. “Two games played, we still have 15 games to go. Let’s all take a deep breath and relax.
“We’ll be fine. We’re not worried about it.”
Meanwhile, the Jets narrowly avoided opening the 0-2 themselves with a stunning 31-30 comeback win in Cleveland last Sunday.
Joe Flacco and New York were 13 points behind with 1:55 to go, but roared back with two touchdowns – wedged around a successful onside kick – to rally.
“We’ve won a few games here since I’ve been here and they were hard to find and they felt good,” said Flacco in his third season with the Jets. “But obviously that one ranks pretty high there, just in terms of excitement, just because of the way we were feeling a few minutes before that.”
And given the situation they were in, it’s a feeling not many teams in similar locations have enjoyed.
The Jets became the first team to be at least 13 points behind in the final two minutes of regulation to win since Chicago overcame a 14-point deficit, also beating Cleveland in overtime in Week 8 of the 2001 season.
The challenge now is to keep up the momentum against a Bengals squad desperate for victory.
“They’ve been on the wrong side of luck,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said of the Bengals. “This team, they are still the AFC champions in my mind. They still look like the AFC champions, they still play at a very high level and we expect them to be exactly what we see on the tape, which is a very good football team.”
BENGAL’S BIG GUYS
Cincinnati spent a lot of money on free agents La’el Collins, Ted Karras and Alex Cappa to strengthen the attack line. A new starter was added in rookie Cordell Volson.
So far, the group has failed to merge. And it certainly didn’t keep Burrow out of harm’s way. Last year’s most fired quarterback in the NFL has been shot 13 times in the first two games.
Offensive Coordinator Brian Callahan finds communication and minor errors a problem.
“We’re still figuring out what that group will look like for us this year,” Callahan said. “It doesn’t take you forever to find out. It does take time.”
Said Collins: “This is our first time playing together, these first two weeks. I think we’ll be fine.”
BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE
Jets rookie wide receiver Garrett Wilson entered the league with some fanfare after being ranked No. 10 overall from Ohio state. He has largely lived up to it so far.
Wilson had eight catches for 102 yards and two touchdowns, including a 15-yarder with 22 seconds left to lift New York to victory. His 154 yards receiving in his first two games are second only to Atlanta’s Drake London, who has 160.
Wilson saw how Ja’Marr Chase of Cincinnati and Justin Jefferson of Minnesota made an immediate impression, and he aims to do the same for New York.
“When I saw them last year while in college, I knew this was what I wanted to do,” Wilson said. “That was my goal. I was going to do that. But I was just watching things play out, waiting my turn and waiting for the opportunity to take advantage of.”
LINE ‘EM UP’
The Bengals know they are in for a test against the Jets defensive front.
New York has only three sacks, but it has nine quarterback hits and 24 quarterback pressures in two games.
“They’re really good inside,” Burrow said. “Quinnen Williams is a force there. I played against him in college and I played against him last year. He can give us a hard time.”
HAUNTED HALLOWEEN
The last time the teams faced each other — October 31, 2021 — Jets backup quarterback Mike White made his first NFL start and provided quite a treat for New York.
White completed 37 of 45 passes for 405 yards and three TDs, and caught a 2-point conversion pass to lead the Jets to a stunning 34-31 win with a 17-point fourth quarter.
White’s jersey of the game was sent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame after his 37 completions set an NFL record for most players in a player’s first NFL start.
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AP Sports writer Mitch Stacy contributed.
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