Bengals News (9/15): Encouraged

Bengals Notebook: Notes on Joe Burrow, Randy Bullock, Billy Price and Jessie Bates III
In practices chaired by assistant wide receivers coach Troy Walters, the man head coach Zac Taylor has put in charge of situations, the Bengals mirrored pretty much what Burrow had Sunday in the 16-13 Opening Day loss to the Chargers at Paul Brown Stadium. They went through many other scenarios with Walters calling out the situations while his image was displayed on the scoreboard.

Burrow's Final Drive Can't Save The Script
He had just watched a highly debatable offensive pass interference penalty on wide receiver A.J. Green with seven seconds left wipe out a victory. Then he saw kicker Randy Bullock, who a few moments before become the Bengals most accurate kicker of all time, unbelievably get hurt while attempting a chip-shot 31-yard field goal to send it into overtime that sailed right while his left calf grabbed.

Projected 2021 NFL draft order - Who has the No. 1 pick?
Each week during the season, FPI projects the draft order by simulating the remainder of the season 10,000 times. Game probabilities are based largely on the model's ratings for individual teams in addition to game locations. The order is based on the record the model believes the teams will have after 16 games, and the order is based on each team's average draft position in the simulations.

Quick turnaround: Bengals focus shifts to Cleveland
On the other end of the spectrum, Cincinnati’s defense played well on Sunday against the Chargers. They kept Los Angeles in check, but they didn’t force any turnovers. The ability to create turnovers could be the difference on Thursday night.

Bengals' A.J. Green is back, and that's good news for Joe Burrow
On Sunday, Green showed why the Bengals need him on the field and how instrumental he can be to rookie quarterback Joe Burrow's development. Green had five catches on nine targets for 51 yards in a 16-13 loss and led the team in all three of those receiving categories.

Tyler Boyd encouraged by Joe Burrow's Week 1 performance
"It just wasn’t all talk. I don’t think it's hype," Boyd said of Burrow. "I honestly believe he’s a very special player. He handles poise very well and we delivered when we needed to. For him to do that, so early, first game, no preseason games, I salute the guy because he took a beating the whole game, actually. For him to just stay there and stay poised and deliver for us and help us and lead us to scoring potential, there’s not much more you can ask of him."

Bengals, Hamilton County look into possible upgrades at Paul Brown Stadium
Hamilton County and the Cincinnati Bengals hired an architecture and design firm to look at possible upgrades to Paul Brown Stadium.

NFL DFS for Browns vs. Bengals: Top DraftKings, FanDuel daily Fantasy football picks, lineups
Two of the last three No. 1 picks in the NFL Draft will be on display as Browns vs. Bengals kicks off the Week 2 NFL schedule on Thursday Night Football at 8:20 p.m. ET. The Bengals took first Joe Burrow in April, while Baker Mayfield was the top pick in 2018. Daily Fantasy football players will need to figure out how those young signal callers factor into their NFL DFS strategy for Thursday Night Football.

Browns RT Jack Conklin listed as ‘did not practice’ for Bengals with ankle & finger injuries; Jedrick Wills limited with shin
The game took a physical toll, with several key players leaving the game with injuries, and one starter making a surprise appearance on the estimated injury report Monday for Thursday night’s game against the Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium. It’s estimated because the Browns didn’t actually practice today during this short week.

Around the league

What we learned from Steelers, Titans wins on Monday night
In the aftermath of a lost 2019 season, Ben Roethlisberger made his return to the Pittsburgh Steelers' helm on Monday night. But it was the steel seven first-round picks on the Pittsburgh defense that were the highlight in Monday night's opener and led the Steelers to a season-opening 26-16 win over the New York Giants. Thereafter it was the miscues of Stephen Gostkowski that told the tale for most of the night until the former Patriots standout booted the Tennessee Titans to a 16-14 win over the Denver Broncos to end the evening.

Broncos coach Vic Fangio on lack of timeout usage: 'I didn't want to extend the drive'
The responsible kicker, Stephen Gostkowski, had missed all three of his field goal attempts in the game prior to this one, a 25-yard try to take a two-point lead with 0:17 to play. The veteran didn't miss, giving the Titans the lead and leaving the Broncos with time for three plays at the most to cover the majority of the field.

Titans K Gostkowski hits game-winner after missing career-high four kicks
Making his debut for the Titans, Gostkowski made a 25-yard, game-winning field goal with 17 seconds left in the team's 16-14 road win over the Denver Broncos on Monday night, but it was the four missed kicks prior to his game-winner that tempered his celebration.

Giants RB Saquon Barkley stifled by Steelers D in 'MNF' loss
Pittsburgh's offense was responsible for the 26 points scored in the team's first win of the season but it was the job done by the defense against Giants running back Saquon Barkley that stood out most. Barkley was held to just six yards on 15 carries for the game.