While fans collective attention was mostly on Joe Burrow’s performance last Monday. He wasn’t the only Cincinnati Bengals playmaker that showcased major improvements. In Cincinnati’s 19-16 win against the Los Angeles Rams.

The scrutiny over Burrow overshadowed other issues surrounding the Bengals. Cincinnati’s defense had flat performances in their first two games. Cincinnati’s defense went into Monday’s game ranking near the bottom league-wise. The Bengals had just three team sacks heading into Monday’s game. A lackluster number for one of the NFL’s top defenses in recent years.

Cincinnati will go into this Sunday’s game with nine team sacks this season. Bumping themselves up to the middle of the league in that category. Cincinnati also had key offensive playmakers that struggled in their first two games. Ja’Marr Chase, Joe Mixon and Tyler Boyd played well on Monday. They had relatively quiet starts while Tee Higgins delivered. Higgins had two of the Bengals’ first three touchdowns of the season. Cincinnati didn’t even score a touchdown in week one.

Mixon had the Bengals’ only touchdown on Monday. Chase caught 12 of the 15 passes directed to him. While Boyd caught five of the nine passes directed to him. Boyd, Chase and Mixon didn’t play in the preseason. While Burrow was hurt and Mixon was dealing with a now resolved off-season legal issue. Chase and Boyd were healthy during the summer. The Bengals didn’t help themselves by resting healthy starters during the preseason.

Cincinnati overlooked a chance to help backup quarterback Jake Browning in the process. By having Browning play with the Bengals key playmakers during the preseason. Even if Boyd and Chase were out there for one series. For one or two instead of all three preseason games. That could’ve made the Bengals comfortable with resting Burrow in Week 1. Giving him more time to recover from his preseason calf injury. While giving fans some confidence in Browning.

Backup quarterbacks rarely inspire a lot of confidence among fans. When compared to the first string “franchise quarterback.” Yet backup QB’s can inspire confidence, just ask San Francisco 49ers fans about Brock Purdy. Who went from being a backup QB last year. To a starter that helped the 49ers go deep in the playoffs. It’s not too far-fetched to expect Browning to do well. If tasked with leading an offense full of superstars for a game or two.

The Bengals put themselves in a rough spot early on. Cincinnati put pressure on themselves to have Burrow play in their first three games. First by taking a laxed approach to the preseason again. Showcasing for the second year in a row. That teams do themselves a disservice by overlooking the preseason’s importance. Then the Bengals gave Burrow a record-setting contract on the eve of the season. While Burrow’s deal make sense for the Bengals, they could’ve waited to make that deal.

Imagine the scrutiny the Bengals would’ve faced. If they announced Burrow’s contract extension and subsequently benched him. That deal added to the pressure to have Burrow play in week one. The New York Jets are finding out the hard way. That having a team pin enormous hopes on one quarterback carries risks. After building up enormous hype through adding quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Jets hopes for this season fizzled quickly; after Rodgers suffered a season-ending injury in their opening game.

Now the Jets are hoping QB Zach Wilson can help salvage their season. Along with former Bengals backup QB Trevor Siemian. He was signed by the Jets earlier this week. Meanwhile, the Bengals are getting back on track. After spending the first two weeks knocking the rust off.

Now, the Bengals turn their attention to getting to .500. Taking on the similarly 1-2 Tennessee Titans this Sunday in Nashville. The Bengals will head into that game playing catchup in the standings. Just as the Bengals went into Week 4 last year.