Does Week 1 flop spell trouble for Bengals?

Can the Cincinnati Bengals overcome another Week 1 dud?

On Sunday, the Bengals fell 16-10 in a disastrous home loss to the New England Patriots, the fifth-worst team in the NFL, according to ESPN's Football Power Index .

Slow starts have become a trend in Cincinnati. Per Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio , the Bengals are 1-8 in Week 1 and Week 2 since they drafted quarterback Joe Burrow with the No. 1 overall pick in 2020. They've still made two AFC Championship Games over the past four seasons.

However, the Bengals may have problems that could persist throughout the season.

"The Bengals have averaged fewer than 20 points per game on offense during September games with Joe Burrow in the lineup over the past three seasons," wrote The Athletic's Mike Sando . "Their scoring has spiked in subsequent months. It will spike again. But the inability to get a deal done with Ja'Marr Chase coupled with Tee Higgins' latest injury and existing concerns over a run defense without D.J. Reader raises questions that could linger."

Chase, who has two years remaining on his rookie contract, held out of training camp and preseason. In a postgame news conference , Burrow said the wide receiver's absence didn't impact the offense, but that's hard to believe.

Against New England, Cincinnati averaged 4.7 yards per play , lost two fumbles and went 4-of-11 on third-down attempts.

In 2023, Burrow dealt with a lingering calf issue and suffered a season-ending right wrist tear. The injuries could still be affecting him.

According to CBS Sports, he has averaged 6.3 yards per pass attempt (min. 350 passes) since the start of last season, the fourth-lowest mark in the NFL during that span.

The oddsmakers still consider the Bengals a championship contender. As of Monday, they were tied for 10th in Super Bowl LIX odds (+2000), via FanDuel Sportsbook .

However, Cincinnati (0-1) must get its act together soon. In Week 2, it faces the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs (1-0) at Arrowhead Stadium.