CINCINNATI – Joe Burrow should have been happy.

It was his first appearance on the Athens High varsity team. As a sophomore, he threw four touchdowns as the team fielded a new offense. But it was still a loss – 52-34 to Gallia Academy. And he didn’t like the result.

“I knew right away that Joe was out to win,” said Nathan White, then-offensive coordinator and current head coach of Athens. “I’ll never forget that.”

“I remember telling him, ‘Man, you played great. This is your first game and you threw a lot of yards and touchdowns.’ And he didn’t want to hear it.”

Burrow hasn’t lost much in his career. In Athens, he never lost a regular season game. At LSU, he went from being an unknown transfer to a Heisman Trophy winner and national champion.

That makes this current stretch the most unprecedented of his career. The Bengals have not won a single game in his last four starts, including Week 10 of last season when he suffered a season-ending wrist injury in the first half. That’s the longest such stretch of his career at any level.

A win on Monday night against the 1-1 Washington Commanders (8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN+) would not only end another slow start for the Bengals, but would also give Burrow a winning feeling that has eluded him for nearly a year.

“It’s been a tough six to eight months and a few frustrating, emotional weeks,” Burrow said Thursday.

The 2020 No. 1 pick said Week 1 was an emotional game because he was so excited to be back on the field after suffering a ligament injury in November that required surgery. The Bengals struggled despite being clear favorites, losing 16-10 to the New England Patriots. Last week, Cincinnati lost 26-25 to Kansas City in a game that ended on a last-second field goal.

Afterward, Burrow found it difficult to put his feelings about the loss into words. But on Thursday, he was able to express why the loss was so frustrating.

“When you lose a game like this, you fixate on opportunities you missed,” Burrow said.

In some ways, it was similar to his first start on the varsity team in Athens.

In that 2012 season opener, the high school quarterback, still known as Joey, immediately thrived in White’s offense, which spread the ball around and used an interior zone running system. He completed 20 of 30 passes for 227 yards, three touchdowns and one rushing score, according to a report in the Athens Messenger..

And Burrow remembers it well. But instead of pointing to one of the touchdowns, the first thing that comes to mind is a fumble snap.

“We weren’t very good that day,” Burrow told ESPN on Thursday. “But then we didn’t lose the rest of the (regular season).”

Wade Jarrell, the opposing quarterback in that game, didn’t know much about Burrow before that night, but watched from the sidelines as Burrow helped Athens to a 28-21 lead that was erased in the second half. Jarrell told ESPN the play allowed him to joke that it launched Burrow’s career.

The next season, Jarrell made it a point to out-rebound Burrow every week. One week, Jarrell scored six touchdowns. He thought that would be enough to win his own battle. Unfortunately for him, Burrow threw eight touchdowns that same weekend, according to the Ironton Tribune..

As a professional, Burrow never placed much emphasis on individual duels with opposing quarterbacks, even against someone like Patrick Mahomes, who led Kansas City to three Super Bowls and twice faced Burrow and the Bengals in the AFC Championship Game.

On Sunday, Burrow posted a total QBR of 65.5 compared to Mahomes’ 30.8, the fourth-lowest of his career, according to ESPN Research. But Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said that still wasn’t enough to quell Burrow’s bad mood.

“You grieve, especially in a game like this,” Pitcher said. “You get angry about what could have been. And then it’s over. And then you move on. I think that’s what he does.”

Pitcher, who was promoted from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator in the offseason, added that Burrow was a very consistent player who had a good week. He also pointed out that players, including quarterbacks, need to be evaluated regardless of the outcome.

But results are still results, and for the fourth time in Burrows’ five seasons, Cincinnati is facing an 0-2 start to the season.

From the time he started playing football to the present day, teams that have Burrow on the field have been known for winning. Against Kansas City, Burrow’s demeanor was reminiscent of one of Arrowhead’s playoff games in recent years – flexing his muscles and gesticulating after key plays, accepting physical contact and wanting to win against the best.

Mike Gesicki, a veteran tight end in his first year with the Bengals, has quickly learned that Burrow is always like that. It’s an endearing approach for teammates who want to help Burrow end the longest losing streak of his life.

“He’s a competitor in every way,” Gesicki said. “It’s cool to be around him. I think it makes everyone else better. Because when you’re surrounded by that kind of talent and you’re that kind of leader, you want to be great for him.”