From 0-2 to Super Bowl? Bengals, Chargers look to join these teams that made the big game after rough starts

Joe Burrow and the rest of the Cincinnati Bengals certainly expected better. For a second straight year, the Bengals will have to dig themselves out of an 0-2 hole after dropping their first two games of the year against divisional foes Cleveland and Baltimore. 

Adding to the frustration of an 0-2 start is Burrow’s lingering calf issue. The Pro Bowl quarterback said he tweaked his calf near the end of Sunday’s 27-24 loss to the Ravens. The injury has put Burrow’s status for Cincinnati’s upcoming Monday night game against the Rams in jeopardy. 

Despite the injury and the Bengals’ 0-2 start, Burrow is confident he and his teammates will get things turned around. 

“We’ve done it before,” he said while alluding to last year’s recovery from an 0-2 start. “Obviously, you don’t want to start 0-2. It’s not what we were planning. 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 that is trying to dig themselves out of an 0-2 hole. The Los Angeles Chargers, who are led by Burrow’s draft classmate and fellow Pro Bowl quarterback Justin Herbert, are also 0-2 after losing their first two games by a combined five points. Defense has been a main issue for Brandon Staley’s team, as the Chargers surrendered 36 points to the Dolphins in Week 1 and 27 points to the Titans this past 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-traveled road, but teams that have started 0-2 have indeed reached the Super Bowl. Four teams have overcome 0-2 starts to reach the big game. Three of those teams left the Super Bowl hosting the Vince Lombardi Trophy, proving that it’s not always how you start, it’s 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 when it’s all…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/from-0-2-to-super-bowl-bengals-chargers-look-to-join-these-teams-that-made-the-big-game-after-rough-starts/

Author : Bryan DeArdo

Publish date : 2023-09-19 18:39:00

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