In the Week 1 Battle of Ohio, the Cincinnati Bengals squared off against the Cleveland Browns under less-than-ideal weather conditions. Rainy skies and a slippery ball made their presence felt throughout the game, influencing the performance of both teams.
Cincinnati’s star quarterback, Joe Burrow, initially took the field without a glove on his throwing hand. However, as the game progressed into the second quarter, he opted to don a glove to gain better control of the football. CBS sideline reporter Evan Washburn highlighted the significance of this adjustment during the broadcast, emphasizing, “It’s been a storyline throughout this game. It’s the ability to handle the ball cleanly. Joe Burrow does not wear a glove. He does not like to wear a glove. That speaks to how bad it was in that first quarter.”
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Burrow’s struggle to grip the ball was evident as he managed to complete just five of his first 12 pass attempts, accumulating a mere 32 yards. In a turn of events coinciding with the rain subsiding, Burrow shed the glove for the final possession of the first half.
However, the unpredictable weather conditions had more in store for the teams. As the third quarter unfolded, the rain picked up once again, forcing Burrow to reconsider. Returning to the glove, he battled through the challenging circumstances.
By halftime, Burrow had compiled only 36 passing yards, marking his lowest first-half yardage in his NFL career. Meanwhile, on the other side of the field, Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson faced similar challenges, completing seven of his first 14 attempts for 56 yards.
