CHARLOTTE—For the first time since 2019, the Cincinnati Bengals have started 0-3 on the season. Ironically the last time it happened, the Bengals went on the next year to draft Joe Burrow, saying goodbye to long time quarterback Andy Dalton. It will be the first time since Nov. 28, 2021 the Panthers (1-2) enter a game with a better record than their opponent.
As the week progresses, we will visit the Dalton of it all in relation to the upcoming game, but first, get to know the current Bengals team.
Joe Cool and all his toys
Sunday will mark the first time Joe Burrow has made the trip to our fair Queen City, and only the second time Burrow has faced the Panthers. His introduction to the matchup though lit up the stat sheet. During that 2022 game in Cincinnati, Burrow went 22-28 for 206 yards and a touchdown, while adding another touchdown on the ground.
It's a stat line that serves as a good reminder of what the former No. 1 overall pick can do to a defense. His arm allows him to float balls into a basket with a soft touch when needed, or laser a pass on a rope so tight, you can hear it zip. And while Burrow isn't a running QB per se, he never hesitates to use his legs to move the pocket around, even drifting out on naked boots, knowing he can wait till the last millisecond to make a throw.
The biggest danger Burrow presents though is in his weapons. The Bengals have surrounded their passer with receivers like Ja'Marr Chase, his sturdy deep threat, and Tee Higgins. The latter was unable to play the first two weeks, making his debut on Monday Night Football this week. In his place, Burrow has begun to rely heavily on second year receiver Andrei Iosivas.
Through the first three games, Burrow targeted the duo on 34 percent of his passes, for 300 yards and five touchdowns. Burrow particularly likes to find Chase in man coverage, when he is ISO'd. Heading in to Week 3, Burrow had a 100 percent completion rate when targeting Chase in man.
The Bengals were searching for a running back to carry the load after Joe Mixon was traded to the Houston Texans this offseason and have found two to bring a balanced attack. Zach Moss has received the bulk of the touches, grinding out yards in the trenches, while Chase Brown has provided a little more burst, averaging 6.8 yards per carry.
A balanced defense
Lou Anarumo's group doesn't put more emphasis on their passing defense versus their rushing defense. The unit was able to hold opponents the first two weeks under 300 yards each game. Washington was able to gain 356 yards in Week 3 Monday Night Football, however.
The previous two seasons, the Bengals defense under Anarumo has ranked in the top 12 in total takeaways (and top 6 as a team in turnover differential). Thus far this season, the defense has three takeaways.
Linebackers Logan Wilson and Germaine Pratt have been game wreckers sideline-to-sideline, and each have 33 total tackles thus far this season. That number ties them for fourth overall in the NFL.
The Bengals are moving pieces around on their defensive line however. Defensive tackles Sheldon Rankins and B.J. Hill both left the Week 2 loss to the Chiefs with hamstring injuries. Neither played Week 3 against Washington. It's a blow to a unit that already placed third round rookie DT McKinnley Jackson on IR before the season began.
Mr. Evan McPherson
Heading into Monday night's game against the Commanders, Evan McPherson had made his previous 29 field goals. His streak was ruined when he missed a 48-yard field goal in the second quarter versus Washington. That one miss though is outweighed by McPherson's success over the past three years (and three weeks) in the NFL. The first two weeks of the 2024 season, McPherson went 5-5 on field goals, including two from 50-plus yards. His leg from distance has steadily been reliable, going 23-30 since 2021 from 50 or more yards out. He has never had a field goal blocked in his career.
McPherson also handles kickoff duties for the Bengals. Through the first two weeks, McPherson had the seventh best hang time in the league, averaging 4.29 seconds on kickoffs, with an average distance of 69.8 yards per kickoff.
Including Monday night's loss to Washington, McPherson has had 13 kickoffs go for touchbacks. Only three have been returned, for an average of 38 yards, a number somewhat skewed by a 62-yard return by Washington. The other two returns averaged 26 yards.
The Panthers are 3-2-1 all-time against the Bengals. Carolina is 3-1 at home and 0-1-1 on the road at Cincinnati. The Bengals are the only team that the Panthers have ever tied in franchise history.
Carolina Panthers running back DeShaun Foster (26) is tackled by Cincinnati Bengals defenders Madieu Williams (40) and Tory James (20) after a short gain in their NFL football game in Cincinnati, Ohio Sunday, Oct. 22, 2006. Cincinnati won 17-14. (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman)
Carolina Panthers strong safety Roman Harper (41) intercepts a pass against the Cincinnati Bengals in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Carolina Panthers tight end Kris Mangum (86) lunges for a touchdown over Cincinnati Bengals defenders Madieu Williams (40) and Landon Johnson (59) in the first quarter of their NFL football game in Cincinnati, Ohio, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2006. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin (13) catches a pass in the end zone as Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam Jones (24) defends in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014, in Cincinnati. The touchdown was nullified on a offensive pass interference call against Banjamin. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton runs against the Cincinnati Bengals in overtime of an NFL football game in Cincinnati Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014. Charlotte tied Cincinnati 37-37. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Carolina Panthers' Steve Smith (89) runs past his team's bench as he carries a punt return 61 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter at Ericsson Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Dec. 8, 2002. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) runs against the Cincinnati Bengals in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) celebrates his 12-yard touchdown run in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Cincinnati Bengals outside linebacker Vontaze Burfict (55) helps Carolina Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly (59) up in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Carolina Panthers running back Fozzy Whittaker scores on a four yard run in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) passes under pressure from Carolina Panthers defenders during a NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Cincinnati Bengals' Jermaine Gresham (84), center, catches a pass among Carolina Panthers' players Marcus Hudson (25), Sherrod Martin (23), and Captain Munnerlyn (41) in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) throws against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin (13) is hit by Cincinnati Bengals strong safety George Iloka (43) after catching a touchdown pass in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Carolina Panthers running back Fozzy Whittaker scores on a four yard run in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Cincinnati Bengals safety Kevin Kaesviharn (34) intercepts a pass in front of Carolina Panthers receiver Keyshawn Johnson (19) in the end zone to seal the Bengals 17-14 win in the fourth quarter of their NFL football game in Cincinnati, Ohio, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2006. (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme (17) celebrates with running back Nick Goings (37) after they combined on a touchdown pass in the second quarter of their NFL football game in Cincinnati, Ohio, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2006. (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman)
Carolina Panthers' Charles Godfrey (30) returns an interception against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Cincinnati Bengals' Carson Palmer (9) throws a pass in the second half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)
Carolina Panthers' Jimmy Clausen (2) throws a pass in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)
Cincinnati Bengals' Cedric Benson (32) runs against the Carolina Panthers in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Carolina Panthers' Mike Goodson (33) runs against the Cincinnati Bengals in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Carolina Panthers' Jonathan Stewart (28) runs against the Cincinnati Bengals in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Cincinnati Bengals' Leon Hall (29) intercepts a pass intended for Carolina Panthers' Steve Smith (89) in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Rodney Peete (9) prepares to throw a pass in the second quarter of the Panthers' 52-31 win over the Cincinnati Bengals at Ericsson Stadium, in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday Dec. 8, 2002. Peete went 21-for-29 for a season high 319 yards, four yards short of his career high, and three touchdowns. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme (17) passes against Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Justin Smith (90) in the first half of their NFL football game in Cincinnati, Ohio, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2006. (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman)
Cincinnati Bengals running back Rudi Johnson (32) is tackled by Carolina Panthers defenders Chris Gamble, left, and Kindal Moorehead, right, during their NFL football game in Cincinnati, Ohio, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2006. Johnson ran for 101 yards in the Bengals 17-14 win. (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer is hit by Carolina Panthers defensive end Michael Rucker in the first quarter of their NFL football game in Cincinnati, Ohio, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2006. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
Carolina Panthers' Al Wallace (96) celebrates with teammate Terry Cousin after Wallace recovered a Cincinnati Bengals' fumble in the end zone for a touchdown during the first quarter at Ericsson Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Dec. 8, 2002. (AP Photo/Rusty Burroughs)
