CLEVELAND (AP) — Joe Burrow’s white uniform was streaked with grass stains. His proper arm was intact however understandably somewhat sore.

His second NFL begin was fairly a exercise – however not a win.

Burrow threw three landing passes and Cincinnati’s rookie quarterback confirmed unbelievable composure and poise in conserving the Bengals round till the tip of a 35-30 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night time.

The No. 1 general choose on this yr’s draft accomplished 37 of 61 passes for 316 yards, and made a number of dazzling performs that lit up social media and had lots of the 6,000 Browns followers inside FirstEngergy Stadium feeling nervous.

However Burrow, who led LSU to a nationwide championship final yr after transferring from Ohio State, wasn’t enthusiastic about any exterior reward.

”Shedding is not very enjoyable,” he stated. ”This could be the one time I’ve misplaced two video games in a row. It does not really feel superb. … Shedding is unacceptable to me.”

Burrow went toe to toe with Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield, a fellow Heisman Trophy winner and prime general choose, who was impressed by what he noticed from Cincinnati’s rookie.

”The hype is actual with Joe,” stated Mayfield, who threw two TD passes and helped the Browns bounce again from a dreadful opener. ”Clearly, that group loves him. They comply with him and he leads them.”

Burrow’s 61 makes an attempt have been the second-most in historical past for a rookie, bettered solely by the 63 passes Carolina’s Chris Weinke threw in 2001.

It wasn’t essentially the sport plan Bengals coach Zac Taylor had in thoughts, however Burrow saved making performs and Cincinnati rode the 23-year-old, who threw a 9-yard TD move to Tyler Boyd with 43 seconds left to tug the Bengals inside 5.

”We felt like we had a number of success within the passing sport,” Taylor stated. ”This is identical factor that sort of occurs to us, we get down and now we have to throw the ball and we’re having success doing it. Now we have a number of religion in Joe.”

As Burrow was making performs, NBA famous person and fellow Ohioan LeBron James praised the QB on Twitter by saying, ” ”Burrow is SPECIAL! He has the ”IT” for positive.”

Following the sport, Burrow stated he appreciated the phrases, however would have most well-liked a win.

”I imply it is good to have these guys have my again however we’re 0-2,” he stated. ”That is all that issues.”

Boyd, who led the Bengals with seven receptions for 72 yards, agreed with Burrow. The dropping is taking its toll on the Bengals, who’re 2-16 for the reason that begin of final season.

”We’re 0-2 proper now and we’re very sick of this sense,” he stated. ”It is devastating. We hate it. However on the finish of the day, ti’s not a straightforward job to do.”

Burrow took a number of exhausting hits, together with one from defensive sort out Sheldon Richardson, who dismissively threw the younger QB down within the first half.

There was one other embarrassing second when Burrow needed to scramble again and get better a snap that whizzed previous him as he was attempting to name a timeout.

However even that did not rattle Burrow, who saved coming again.

”Joe Burrow is known as a good soccer participant,” stated Browns coach Kevin Stefanski, who received his first NFL win however will face Burrow within the years forward. ”He’s a gamer. He’s at all times coming at you, making performs together with his ft and throwing the ball. I’m very impressed with that younger man.”

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