Leave it to the wily nine-year veteran to explain why the Bengals shouldn't be discouraged by the fact they're winless after two games.
"We have to move forward," said quarterback Andy Dalton. "It's all we can do. We have to realize that this is not the standard of play. We are a lot better team than what we showed (against the 49ers). So, there's going to be an extra focus this week. We have to have attention paid to all of the little details as we go into next week for this game plan. We have to be ready to go."
Consider that over the previous 10 seasons (2009-18), teams who start 0-2 have gone on to make the playoffs 10.3 percent of the time. That rate jumps to 24.8 percent for teams who start 1-2, but falls to a mere 2.3 percent for teams who start 0-3.
There is still plenty of time for the Bengals to turn their season around. It all starts on Sunday as the Bengals face the Bills.
Here are the three things to watch:
1. Sugar Rush –Throughout the offseason, a lot of the talk about head coach Zac Taylor's offense focused on how the team would utilize its two dynamic running backs in Joe Mixon and Giovani Bernard. So it is a surprise when looking at the stats and seeing that Cincinnati ranks last in the NFL with 59 total rushing yards through two games.
Taylor mentioned it's a combination of factors that have contributed to the running games' slow start.
"When you watch the 13 'good' runs we (called) on proper down and distances, it was usually just one player," Taylor said. "It was a different player every time. It's not like you can point the finger at the same guy. It's mistargeting and guys getting beat in one-on-one matchups. Those are things we need to clean up. As we get our rhythm in the run game, which will get going, we'll feel a lot better about it."
Getting a balanced attack on offense will be a priority. Buffalo gave up 129 rushing yards last week to the New York Giants, but it's too early in the season to gauge how strong the Bills' defense will be committed at stopping the run.
Take a walk down memory lane to some of the best images of the Bengals versus Bills series.
Bengals WR Chris Henry catches a 27-yard touchdown pass from Carson Palmer in the third quarter of a 2005 game against the Buffalo Bills.
RB Ickey Woods runs forward for a first down in the 1989 Playoffs against the Buffalo Bills.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) runs the ball against Buffalo Bills strong safety Micah Hyde (23) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)
Cincinnati Bengals receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh (84) pushes Buffalo Bills defender Terrence McGee (24) after catching a pass from Carson Palmer in first half NFL action, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2005, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Brian Behrman)
Cincinnati Bengals fans throw confetti onto the field during the 1988 AFC Championship NFL Game against the Buffalo Bills in Cincinnati, Ohio, on January 8, 1989. The Bengals defeated the Bills 21-10. (AP Photo/Vernon Biever)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly (12) gets sacked by Cincinnati Bengals defensive end John Copeland, left, and linebacker Ricardo McDonald, rear, Sunday, Nov. 17, 1996, at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Bill Sikes)
Buffalo Bills running back Joe Cribbs (20) leaps for a gain after being tripped up by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Jim LeClair Sunday, Jane. 3, 1981, in the first half of the AFC playoff game in Cincinatti, OH.
Buffalo Bills safety Mark Kelso (38) mixes it up with Cincinnati Bengals tackle Anthony Munoz (78) during the 1988 AFC Championship Game in Cincinnati, Ohio, on January 8, 1989. The Bengals defeated the Bills 21-10. (AP Photo/Vernon Biever)
Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas (34) is stopped by Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Jason Buck (99), linebacker Reggie Williams (57) and safety David Fulcher (33) during a 1988 AFC Championship NFL playoff game on January 8, 1989. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Reggie Williams (57) stops Buffalo Bills wide receiver Mike Mosley for a short gain during their NFL game at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati Dec. 17, 1984. The Bengals defeated the Bills 52-21. (AP Photo/David Kohl)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly (12) walks off the field as Cincinnati Bengals defenders Jason Buck (99), Lewis Billups (24) and David Grant (98) celebrate a 10-yard sack in the second quarter of the AFC Championship game, Sunday, Jan. 8, 1989 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)
Buffalo Bills defender Robb Riddick (40) leaps to block the field goal attempt by Cincinnati Bengals kicker Jim Breech (10) in the second quarter of in the AFC Playoff game, Sunday, Jan. 3, 1981, Cincinnati, Oh. The rest of the players are unidentified. (AP Photo)
Cincinnati Bengals running back Charles Alexander (40) pushes ahead to score on a 20-yard gain against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Jan. 4, 1982, Cincinnati, Oh. Alexander scored two touchdowns as the Bengals won the AFC semifinal round playoff game, 28-21. Bills defender Steve Freeman (22) moves in to help a teammate. (AP Photo)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd (83) catches a touchdown pass against Buffalo Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmore, left, in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) talks with Cincinnati Bengals running back Cedric Benson (32) prior to the start of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/David Kohl)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson (14) is caught by several Buffalo Bills defenders, including Sherman White (83) and Fred Smerlas (76), in the second half of AFC Playoff game, Sunday, Jan. 3, 1982, Cincinnati, Oh. (AP Photo)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) is tackled out of bounds on the run against Cincinnati Bengals strong safety Shawn Williams (36) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Cincinnati Bengals punter Kevin Huber (10) punts to the Buffalo Bills during the second half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Gary Wiepert)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) in action against the Buffalo Bills in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Tony Tribble)
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert (85) is tackled by Buffalo Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) during the second half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
Cincinnati Bengals kicker Mike Nugent (2) hits the game winning field goal from the hold by Kevin Huber as Buffalo Bills Aaron Williams (23) dives to try and block it in overtime of an NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013, in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Bengals won 27-24 in overtime. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Terrell Owens (81) struts after scoring on a four-yard touchdown reception in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010, in Cincinnati. Buffalo Bills corner back Drayton Florence (29) walks away at right. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)
Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovani Bernard (25) runs toward Buffalo Bills cornerback Leodis McKelvin (21) while he is blocked by Bengals' Jermaine Gresham (84) during the overtime session of an NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013, in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Bengals won 27-24 in overtime. (AP Photo/Gary Wiepert)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Akili Smith scrambles between Buffalo Bills' Phil Hansen (90) and Sam Rogers (59) during a preseason game at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., Friday, August 4, 2000. (AP PhotoDon Heupel)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe walks off the field after being sacked by Cincinnati Bengals' Duane Clemons (92) and Justin Smith (90) in the fourth quarter in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Oct. 5, 2003. (AP Photo/Don Heupel)
2. Limit The Mental Mistakes – Sunday is the Bills home opener. It's important to quiet the crowd, force turnovers and avoid mental mistakes.
The Bills are minus-one in turnover margin, while the Bengals are right behind at minus-two. If the Bengals can get the run game going and control the clock, they have a great opportunity to put Buffalo in some difficult game situations.
Both teams through the first two weeks have also taken too many penalties. The Bills were flagged nine times for 65 yards against the Giants after committing seven penalties for 55 yards in Week 1. Cincinnati has been flagged 14 times, but only two of those flags have come on defense. It's been the inopportune timing of the penalties that have grinded drives to a halt in the Bengals' first two games.
3. Revamp The Pass Rush – When the Bengals defense is on, it's the pass rush that leads the way. That was evidence in the defense's performance at Seattle with four sacks on Russell Wilson and eight and a half tackles for loss. However, last week the Bengals failed to record a sack and registered only two quarterback hits, both coming from Ryan Glasgow. The defense, specifically the line, knows it has to play better to help set the tone.
The good news is Buffalo's offensive line has not been as stout as years past. The Bills' offensive line has battled issues with penalties and pass protection. Starting left tackle Dion Dawkins has allowed a team-high three sacks and three pressures through the first two games.
GAME COVERAGE
Kickoff: 1 p.m. Eastern.
Television: The game will air on CBS-TV. In the Bengals' home region, it will be carried by WKRC-TV (Ch. 12) in Cincinnati, WHIO-TV (Ch. 7) in Dayton and on WKYT-TV (Ch. 27) in Lexington. Broadcasters are Tom McCarthy (play-by-play) and Jay Feely (analyst).
Radio: The game will air on the Bengals Radio Network, led by Cincinnati flagship stations WCKY-AM (ESPN 1530) and WEBN-FM (102.7). Broadcasters are Dan Hoard (play-by-play) and Dave Lapham (analyst).
