Joe Burrow tries to get Bengals offense back on track as division rival Ravens visit in Week 2

CINCINNATI (AP) — After signing a contract extension that made him the NFL’s highest-paid player, Joe Burrow went into rainy Cleveland and played a forgettable game.

Then he decided to get a haircut, the result of which was covered on social media early this week nearly as comprehensively as the star quarterback’s flat performance in the Bengals’ 24-3 loss to the Browns.

Burrow hopes the new look inspires touchdowns when another AFC North rival — the Baltimore Ravens — visits Cincinnati on Sunday.

The fact Burrow was off kilter last week wasn’t entirely surprising. He had missed most of training camp nursing a strained calf muscle that still gets tight. He couldn’t get a good grip on the ball in heavy rain and never looked comfortable in throwing for a career-low 82 yards. He was benched late in the game, also a first in his career.

“We know what we put on film on Sunday wasn’t us,” the 2022 Pro Bowl selection said. “We’ve proven that in the past. So, we’ve got to go out and prove it again.

Long season,” he said. “Everybody has bad games. That’s going to happen.”

The Ravens also showed some rust in last week’s 25-9 win over Houston, during which running back J.K. Dobbins was lost for the season with a torn Achilles tendon. Baltimore had some other key players banged up, too.