CLEVELAND (AP) — Joe Burrow’s childhood was just about the identical as each different boy raised in football-obsessed Ohio, the NFL’s birthplace.

He discovered his ABCs and multiplication tables at school. Exterior, Burrow acquired classes on Paul Brown, Jim Brown, Boomer Esiason, Bernie Kosar, The Ickey Shuffle and Dawg Pound.

On Thursday evening, Burrow connects to these roots.

This 12 months’s No. 1 general draft decide, reigning Heisman Trophy winner and simply possibly the quarterback to vary Cincinnati’s fortunes, makes his first street begin because the Bengals go to the Cleveland Browns to resume a rivalry Burrow discovered about as a teen.

”I do know the historical past behind it,” he mentioned. ”Excited for my first one.”

The 23-year-old’s entry into the ”Battle of Ohio” additionally comes on a big date because it marks the 100th anniversary of the league’s begin in Canton, the place an organizational assembly on Sept. 17, 1920 kicked issues off.

Burrow’s debut final week in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers went about as anticipated. He made errors, confirmed the identical resilience that took him from a third-stringer at Ohio State to nationwide champion at LSU, and had the Bengals poised for a potential win. They missed a last-second discipline purpose to power time beyond regulation and misplaced 16-13.

Burrow scored his first TD on a 23-yard run. He completed 23 of 36 for 193 yards, however was sharp down the stretch, going eight of 11 for 70 yards on his drive.

”In my eyes I performed horrible by way of three half of quarters after which performed as much as my requirements within the final drive and nearly gained the sport,” Burrow mentioned. ”I do know I will be prepared for it and I simply need to hold that very same mindset within the 2-minute drill and convey that alongside for the remainder of the season.”

The Browns have been looking for any positives after getting blown out 38-6 at Baltimore, a rout that soured any pleasure concerning the crew’s potential below first-year coach Kevin Stefanski.

Cleveland was undone by turnovers, penalties and missed kicks. Sound acquainted?

It was only one sport, but it surely was a very dangerous one, and it is put early strain on Stefanski to get issues fastened shortly.

There’s additionally extra scrutiny on quarterback Baker Mayfield. He set the tone final week with an interception on Cleveland’s first possession, and one other uneven efficiency has raised extra questions as as to if he is the long-term reply for the Browns.

Mayfield is aware of he is acquired to be higher.

”There’s a sense of urgency,” he mentioned. ”We damage ourselves very early on in that sport. The main target is on eliminating these errors and enjoying our sport.”

SELECT GROUP

It would definitely be the smallest crowd in Bengals-Browns historical past as solely 6,000 can be allowed inside FirstEnergy Stadium as a result of COVID-19 restrictions.

”It higher be a rowdy 6,000 in these stands,” Mayfield quipped.

Stefanski mentioned cardboard cutouts and ambient crowd noise created a ”unusual” setting final week in Baltimore, however he did take pleasure in listening to among the banter from gamers and coaches.

”It does take you again to love a JV highschool sport,” he mentioned. ”But it surely was is form of cool additionally simply to listen to among the sounds coming from the sphere, from our sideline and their sideline.”

BURROW DEEP

One of many Cincy quarterback’s largest points within the opener was lacking open receivers downfield. John Ross and A.J. Inexperienced acquired behind the protection, however Burrow overthrew them and missed all 5 deep throws in opposition to the Chargers.

”I simply need to hit them, that is all there may be to it,” Burrow mentioned.

”Definitely missed alternatives,” Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan mentioned. ”I definitely did not count on that to be the case.”

CHEMISTRY EXAM

Mayfield and receiver Odell Beckham Jr. nonetheless have not discovered their rhythm.

They appeared on totally different pages final season, and began 2020 equally disjointed. Beckham had three catches for 22 yards – his second-lowest profession sport – in opposition to the Ravens regardless of Mayfield focusing on him 10 instances.

Beckham mentioned he will not demand extra touches as that solely reinforces the narrative that he is egocentric.

”It is a robust place to be in with the way in which that I really feel like I have been misrepresented to the world,” he mentioned. ”It makes it simply appear as if I simply need the ball, when actually I simply need to assist. I simply need to have the ability to assist this crew in any manner I can.”

RUN OVER

The Bengals considerably overhauled the NFL’s worst run protection of final season – 149 yards allowed per sport — and had a tricky begin in opposition to the Chargers, who ran for 155. Now it faces a Cleveland offense with Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb.

Story continues

”I might say they will each get 100 yards, both of them,” linebacker Germaine Pratt mentioned.

Hunt and Chubb mixed for 132 final week in opposition to Baltimore’s robust entrance.

KICKING AND SCREAMING

The Browns gave Austin Seibert two possibilities. His subsequent one might be for the Bengals.

Cleveland waived Seibert after he missed a discipline purpose and extra-point strive final week. The second-year kicker was claimed by Cincinnati as insurance coverage for Randy Bullock, whose calf cramped on his miss from 31 yards with 2 seconds left final week.

Bengals coach Zac Taylor expects Bullock, who practiced on Tuesday, to deal with kicking duties in opposition to the Browns.

HISTORY

Centennial Plaza in Canton can be devoted throughout halftime. Greater than 25,000 names adorn 11 ”Participant Pylons” positioned within the plaza. Everybody who performed a down in an NFL common or postseason sport has been etched into posterity on the pylons’ surfaces.

Centennial Plaza is a public area supposed to be open 365 days a 12 months.

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AP Sports activities Author Joe Kay contributed to this report.

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