Cincinnati Bengals entered the 2019 NFL season hoping they could bounce back after three consecutive losing years. But just two games into the new season, this might seem like a failed mission. Bengals suffered two losses in their two opening games and haven’t exactly looked like a playoff-caliber team.
While there might be several reasons for Bengals’ poor start in 2019, including having a new head coach and injuries of several key players, their running back Joe Mixon decided to shoulder most of the blame.
While talking with reporters on Wednesday, Mixon said that he took the two losses personally as he didn’t perform at the level that was expected from him.
“I take it personally on me,” – said Mixon. “These two performances I’ve been displaying have been terrible. You call me the peon right now. I’ve got to go home and do some re-evaluating, some looking at the man in the mirror, which is me, and got to step up, making something happen.”
While it is debatable whether the losses should be put on Mixon, the fact is that he was well below his usual production in Weeks 1 and 2. In the season opener against Seattle Seahawks, he had six carries for 10 yards. Then, he followed that up with 11 carries for just 17 yards against San Francisco 49ers.
For comparison, Mixon rushed for 1,168 and eight touchdowns in 2018 while adding 43 receptions for 296 yards in just 14 games.
“It’s not the team, it’s me, honestly,” – he added. “I’m not being accountable to my teammates and making the plays I need to make. … I ain’t done nothing that I’m supposed to be doing. I’m not putting my team in a good position to win. I’ve got to step it up.”
Mixon will get the chance to bounce back this weekend when Bengals face Buffalo Bills.
