Joe Burrow and the rest of the Cincinnati Bengals certainly expected better. For a second straight year, the Bengals will have to come out of an 0-2 deficit after losing their first two games of the year against division foes Cleveland and Baltimore.
Adding to the frustration of a 0-2 start is Burrow’s persistent calf problem. The Pro Bowl quarterback said he twisted his calf near the end of Sunday’s 27-24 loss to the Ravens. The injury put Burrow Status for Cincinnati’s next game Monday night against the imperiled Rams.
Despite the injury and the Bengals’ 0-2 start, Burrow is confident he and his teammates will be able to turn things around.
“We’ve already done it.” he said while also hinting at last year’s recovery after an 0-2 start. “Obviously you don’t want to start 0-2. That’s not what we planned. We’re going to bounce back. That’s what we do. That’s all there is to it.”
Burrow and Co. aren’t the only team doing this trying to dig out of an 0-2 hole. The Los Angeles Chargers, led by Burrow’s classmate and fellow Pro Bowl quarterback Justin Herbert, are also 0-2 after losing their first two games. by a total of five points. Defense has been a major problem for Brandon Staley’s team, as the Chargers gave up 36 points to the Dolphins in Week 1 and 27 points to the Titans last Sunday. Los Angeles is also dealing with the loss of running back Austin Ekeler, who missed Sunday’s game with an ankle injury.
It’s not a well-trodden path, but teams that started 0-2 have indeed made it to the Super Bowl. Four teams overcame 0-2 starts to advance to the big game. Three of those teams walked away from the Super Bowl by hosting the Vince Lombardi Trophy, proving that it’s not always how you start, but how you finish, that makes all the difference.
Here’s a look at the four teams the Bengals and Chargers will try to join in the history books once all is said and done.
- Finished 12-4, 1st in NFC East
- Defeated the Bills 30-13 in Super Bowl XXVIII
Main reason for slowness to start: Emmitt Smith, the league’s leading rusher during the previous season, missed the first two games due to a contract dispute. Without Smith, the defending champion Cowboys were eliminated by Washington in Week 1. A three-point loss in a Super Bowl rematch with Buffalo was enough to convince Jerry Jones to bring Smith to the negotiating table and return to the field.
Main reason for fast finishing: With Smith’s return, the Cowboys won six straight games, with Smith rumbling for a career-high 237 yards against the Eagles. Smith capped his MVP season with an all-time performance in the Cowboys’ regular season finale against the Giants. Despite a separated shoulder, Smith ran for 168 yards and caught 10 passes for 61 yards and a score as Dallas won in overtime.
In the playoffs, Smith threw for 418 yards and four touchdowns. He earned MVP honors after rushing for 132 yards and two touchdowns in the Cowboys’ second straight Super Bowl victory over Buffalo.
- Finished 11-5, 1st in the AFC East
- Lost to the Packers 35-21 in Super Bowl XXXI
Main reason for slow startup: Turnovers have plagued the Patriots in their first two games. They coughed up the ball four times – including one leading to the game’s first touchdown – in a Week 1 loss to Miami. They took an early lead in Buffalo the following week before a special teams fumble gave the Bills the go-ahead lead. New England then tied the score before Jim Kelly threw the game-winning touchdown in the final minutes.
Main reason for fast finishing: They never completely solved their turnover problem, but for the most part, the Patriots were able to overcome their mistakes for the remainder of the season. New England’s defense, heavily influenced by assistant head coach Bill Belichick, forced a series of turnovers that often made up for the offense’s mistakes. The Patriots offense committed 21 turnovers in the final 14 games of the season. New England’s defense, led by Pro Bowler Willie McGinest, linebackers Chris Slade and Ted Johnson, and defensive backs Ty Law, Lawyer Milloy and Willie Clay, forced 36 turnovers (including the playoffs) after a start 0-2.
Besides the defense, the Patriots received strong individual efforts from quarterback Drew Bledsoe, running back Curtis Martin and rookie receiver Terry Glenn. Each player was named to the Pro Bowl while leading an offense that finished second in the league in scoring.
The turnovers, however, reared their ugly heads in Super Bowl XXXI. The Patriots briefly led the favored Packers, but were ultimately eliminated by four giveaways. In the loss, New England’s defense did not allow reigning league MVP Brett Favre and the Packers offense to record a single point in the second half.
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2001 Patriots
- Finished 11-5, 1st in the AFC East
- Defeated the Rams 20-17 in Super Bowl XXXVI
Main reason for slow startup: New England’s offense has scored just 20 points in its first two games. The Pats scored just three points against the Jets in Week 2 before Bledsoe was knocked out of bounds by Jets linebacker Mo Lewis late in the game. The injury was serious, as Bledsoe was hospitalized to treat a sheared blood vessel in his chest.
Main reason for fast finishing: While Bledsoe was on the mend, Tom Brady entered the lineup for the Patriots’ third game of the year against Peyton Manning and the Colts. New England dominated the game in all three facets and would improve its record to 5-4 heading into a Sunday night showdown with the Rams and their “Greatest Show on Turf” offense. The Patriots lost a closely fought game, but it was enough for Belichick to declare Brady the starter for the rest of the season.
The 2001 Patriots never lost again, winning their final six games of the regular season to clinch a playoff spot. They benefited from the legendary “Tuck Rule” in the divisional round before upsetting the Steelers in the AFC title game. They took a 17-3 lead against the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI before winning the game on Adam Vinatieri’s last-second field goal.
Giants 2007
- Finished 10-6, 2nd in NFC East
- Defeated the Patriots 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII
Main reason for slow startup: The Giants defense allowed 80 points in the first two games of the season. Tony Romo torched New York for 345 yards and four scores in Week 1. Brett Favre threw for 286 yards and three touchdowns in Week 2, as the Giants’ season appeared to be over heading into Week 3.
Main reason for fast finishing: Led by a defensive line consisting of Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck, the Giants defense played much better after a rough start. The Giants allowed fewer than 20 points in five of their next six games to improve to 6-2 at the halfway point.
At 10-5, the Giants had already clinched a playoff spot when the 15-0 Patriots came to town in Week 17. Despite having nothing to play for, the Giants played their starters and almost ended the Patriots’ perfect season. They didn’t win that night, but five weeks later, on pro football’s biggest stage, the Giants beat the Patriots in the second-biggest upset in Super Bowl history. Eli Manning’s late game exploits will live on in Super Bowl history.
