Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow goes for the first win of his career in Cleveland against Deshaun Watson, leaving the Browns reeling | News, sports, jobs

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) fights with the ball while Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean (17) defends during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

CLEVELAND (AP) — Joe Burrow seemingly has it all, including a long list of accomplishments during his football career: a Heisman Trophy, victories over Patrick Mahomes, a Super Bowl trip, a huge contract.

However, the Cincinnati quarterback missed one thing.

A win in Cleveland.

Burrow is 0-3 on the road against the Browns, and the Bengals haven’t beaten their division and in-state rivals in Cleveland since 2017, when their star quarterback was a sophomore at Ohio State waiting for his chance to play.

As he prepared for another try with the Browns (1-5) this week, Burrow said his winless ways on the shores of Lake Erie were a sore point for him and his teammates.

“Yeah, of course,” said Burrow, who is just 1-5 against Cleveland. “We haven’t had any success against this divisional opponent, so that’s always frustrating and something we strive for. We have to get this one.”

Burrow is not alone in his misery against the Browns. Coach Zac Taylor is 0-5 in Cleveland, and the Bengals don’t have a player on their roster who has tasted victory at what is now Huntington Bank Field.

“It’s terrible,” defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo said. “I pointed out to everyone in our defensive meeting room this morning that we weren’t happy getting on the bus yet. They are aware of what this building offers, what this team represents to us and the challenges that need to be overcome. We have to step up and do better.”

The Bengals (2-4) are trying to recover from another slow start that has been a pattern over the last three years.

Cincinnati opened 2023 1-3 but finished 9-8 and missed the playoffs. In 2022, the Bengals opened 2-3 before turning things around and winning the AFC title for the second straight year.

Burrow wasn’t the problem. He completed a career-best 71.6% of his passes with 12 TDs and just two interceptions. His QB rating of 110.3 leads the league.

But the Bengals had problems with the offensive line, they lost two plays on the last play of the game and it took a minute for everything to solidify on both sides.

“Ideally we would be 6-0,” Burrow said. “But we’re not there yet, and that’s how this year has turned out. There is a lot of urgency in the building to win games. I think the boys are handling it properly.”

Brown’s below

Cleveland has its own problems, starting with an offense that has yet to score 20 points or put together a 300-yard game.

Quarterback Deshaun Watson’s erratic play is a major factor, but the Browns’ problems cannot be attributed to a single player but are widespread.

So far, coach Kevin Stefanski has refused to use backup Jameis Winston because he believes Watson gives the Browns the best chance to win. However, with each loss it becomes more difficult to justify this decision.

Watson hasn’t thrown for 200 yards yet, and it doesn’t help that he’s been sacked 31 times, the most in the league. Cleveland ranks 30th in scoring (15.8 points), 32nd in yards (240.2), first downs (15) and third down conversions (19.2%).

Penalties have been a problem all season. As the Browns pushed for a potential game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter in Philadelphia last week, they made several false starts and had to settle for a field goal.

Watson believes a turnaround is possible.

“Every week we receive encouragement,” Watson said. “We have lightning and things like that. It just depends on the self-inflicted things we talk about every week. “We have to continue to find ways to not shoot ourselves in the foot.”

Flying the Coop

Cleveland’s season took an interesting turn this week when the team decided to trade No. 1 wide receiver Amari Cooper to Buffalo.

Cooper hadn’t lived up to his standards, and the only player to rush for 1,000 yards a season in a row in club history wasn’t happy when the team denied him a contract extension this summer.

A fire sale does not appear to be imminent. But if the Browns don’t start winning, general manager Andrew Berry could make more deals in the coming weeks.

“It’s part of the business,” Watson said. “So for me that’s not bad news. I’ve been in this league for eight years and have seen how it develops over time. So it comes down to what the front office and the organization feel is best.”

Inspiring return

Nick Chubb has done it again.

Cleveland’s star running back will make his season debut on Sunday after being sidelined since Week 2 of last season with a devastating left knee injury. It’s the second time Chubb will have to endure a major reconstruction, having injured the same knee at Georgia in 2015.

Chubb’s return has re-energized his teammates, who were impressed by his determination through another grueling rehab.

“I really respect him as a person and player and what it means to play football,” said left-back Joel Bitoni. “You do it for the guys around you, you do it for your teammates and he puts it on the line.

“So I’m happy to have him back there. It’s always fun when you have Nick Chubb to block.”