Joe Burrow didn’t sugarcoat Week 1, and neither did anyone inside that locker room. Cincinnati beat Cleveland 17-16, their first opening day win since 2021. But you wouldn’t know it from Burrow’s face on Monday. He was 14 of 23 for 113 yards, one touchdown, no picks. Clean stat line, but the offense scored just three points after halftime. The defense and a missed Browns field goal saved the day. Burrow knows that is not a formula you can ride for 17 weeks.

Bengals veteran Sam Hubbard has seen this version of Burrow before, and he is not worried; he is warning the rest of the league. “You can’t really encapsulate the level of determination and how focused he is,” Hubbard told FOX’s Jeremy Rauch on September 12. “I can guarantee you he was not happy on Monday, even after getting the win last week. If you’re wondering about his level of determination or commitment, you should be focused on something else, because that’s one thing you never have to question.”

And history says he is right. In 2024, Burrow led the league with 4,918 passing yards, 43 touchdowns, and just 9 interceptions, completing over 70% of his passes. Cincinnati averaged 27.8 points per game, 6th in the league, and consistently outgunned opponents down the stretch. This was not just a good offense; it was one of the NFL’s most efficient scoring machines.

That is why a shaky opener feels so glaring. This team is built to light up scoreboards. They extended Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, kept the Burrow-Chase-Higgins core intact, and even kept the quarterback depth intact with Jake Browning to protect their window. There is no patience for sluggish starts, no time to wait for rhythm.

This is the calm before the storm. If 2024 taught us anything, it is that Burrow gets dangerous when he is ticked off, and Week 1 just gave him fuel.

Joe Burrow adopts a new mindset for the week 2 game

The Bengals QB isn’t hiding from anyone, and with the Jaguars coming to Paycor Stadium, his message is loud and clear. He threw for just 113 yards and one score in the season opener against Cleveland, not the kind of start a QB with title aspirations can settle for. Burrow knows it too.

“I think I’m going to be a little more aggressive to maybe get out of pocket and make some plays,” Burrow told Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. “Just like every game, you want to get out and see how things are going. How’s the defense playing you? How’s their front playing? What coverages are we getting?”

The Jaguars, meanwhile, are coming off a much stronger start. They rolled past the Panthers in Week 1, piling up 378 total net yards. It includes 200 rushing yards on 32 attempts at 6.3 yards per carry, and 178 passing yards on 19 completions from 31 attempts, for a QB rating over 74. They converted in the red zone 2 out of 5 times, showing both efficiency and balance.

That gives Burrow plenty to think about, but also plenty to exploit. With a clean pocket and the home crowd behind him, he has the chance to stretch the field more than he could against Cleveland’s aggressive front. Expect him to push off-script, test coverages, and trust his receivers to win one-on-ones. This is about more than just a win. It’s about sending a statement.

The home opener could be the moment he flips the switch, showing why he’s one of the league’s most dangerous quarterbacks when he’s ready to take over a game.