Joe Burrow didn’t need a flashy Sunday to get the Bengals to 2-0. He needed control, toughness and a couple of big throws when it mattered most, and that was enough in Cincinnati’s 20-6 win over Houston.
Burrow said after the game that his back issue isn’t something he expects to linger.
"I'm good to go. It's a little sore after the game but no problems.
There are a lot of people across this league playing with tight backs. No big deal," Burrow said via CLNS Media's Mike Petraglia.
The Bengals leaned on a familiar formula to finish the job. Burrow connected with Ja'Marr Chase for both Cincinnati touchdowns, and both scores came on throws Burrow had to rip through while dealing with early-season soreness. Even with Houston’s pass rush applying pressure, Cincinnati kept the game under control.
Houston did its part to make life uncomfortable, especially when its top edge rushers found matchups with Orlando Brown Jr. But the Bengals held up, and Amarius Mims was a major reason the protection stayed together on the opposite side.
"Feels like early on in 2021 when we got a really good defense and try to stay in front of the sticks, not turn the ball over, kick field goals, put points on the board. We're going to win with our defense," Burrow said.
Mims didn’t blink against the pressure. According to PFF’s initial charting, he allowed no pressures, a strong answer against a front that Cincinnati knew would test every snap.
"They have two guys who make a lot of money, and I see why they make a lot of money," Mims said at his locker. "They're good players, and they also have great linebackers, great cornerbacks, and great safeties, great everything.
But we came into a hostile environment, won 20-6. So I'm thankful for that."
The defense made the win look even cleaner. Cincinnati held Houston to just six points, with Dexter Lawrence turning in another strong showing.
He blew up a key fourth-down play and spent the afternoon bothering CJ Stroud. As a unit, the Bengals gave up 3.3 yards per carry and only 6.4 yards per pass.
Through two games, Cincinnati is allowing just 3.9 yards per rush.
"No touchdowns. That's a pretty good statement.
And winning the game, that's another great statement," Lawrence said to FOX19's Joe Danneman at his locker along with more media members. "So I think for us, we just got to keep building on this momentum and understand how we're doing it and understand why we're doing it, and just keep playing for each other."
Now the Bengals get a chance to build on it again next week against Pittsburgh.
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