Postseason expectations are slipping away with each loss for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Heading into Sunday with a 3-5 record, Joe Burrow knows his squad can't afford anymore losses.
Thus, be it only Week 9 or not, Burrow has deemed the Bengals' matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders the must-win variety.
"This is a must-win game," Burrow told reporters Wednesday. "We're 3-5. You go to 3-6, then you gotta basically win out to get in. Urgency's very high every week from here on out."
Having stumbled out to a 0-3 start to the season, the Bengals briefly found their stride with three victories in four games -- all against losing teams. However, Cincinnati's first four losses were all by six points or less. Now, the Bengals must rebound from a 37-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
A team predicted by many to claim the AFC North and some to make the Super Bowl, the Bengals are entrenched in the reality of their status. And there's no time to think about woulda, coulda, shoulda at this point.
"This is the situation that we find ourselves in," Burrow said. "We know what we have to do going forward, and we're going to attack that challenge to the best of our ability. And try to give ourselves the best chance to win with my play and try to continue to be as consistent as I can and try to find a win."
Despite the team's struggles, Burrow has played marvelously for the most part, completing 70.3% of his passes for 1,993 yards, 15 touchdowns and just three interceptions.
It's the team that must get rolling to save the season, though.
"I think momentum is a real thing," Burrow said.
While the AFC's big three at this point -- the Baltimore Ravens (Diontae Johnson), Buffalo Bills (Amari Cooper) and Kansas City Chiefs (DeAndre Hopkins) -- have all added to their arsenals for playoff pushes, the Bengals have traditionally been silent when it comes to making moves.
Asked Wednesday if he'd like to see some movement before the Nov. 5 trade deadline, Burrow was short with his answer.
"That's not my job," he said.
Does he wish they'd bring in some more talent?
"That's not my job," he repeated.
He does view it as his job to get his team to the playoffs after missing out in 2023.
Three teams that had losing records last year (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams) through eight games made it to the dance. However, since 1990, only eight of 161 teams (5%) to start the year 3-6 have made the playoffs, per Research.
Though Burrow didn't have a handy-dandy Research packet at the ready, he speaks the truth regarding the Bengals' urgency.
Burrow's 2-0 in his career against the Raiders, including his first playoff victory during the 2020 season. This time around, Burrow believes he and the Bengals must beat the Raiders on Sunday to have a chance to get back the postseason.
