What happened: Joe Burrow said he is tired of pushing the championship goal to “next year” and is trying to manifest it this season. He declared, “This is it,” entering the final stretch of the preseason.
Why it matters: The seventh-year quarterback is placing a title-orientated standard on a team seeking its first postseason berth in four years. That public expectation raises the stakes for Cincinnati throughout the upcoming regular season.
By the numbers: Cincinnati has missed the playoffs in each of the past three seasons.
What to watch: Burrow's remaining preseason work will offer the next look at the offense before the 2026 opener.