Ron Rivera: Joe Burrow Was Our Pick If Bengals Took Chase Young

Washington coach Ron Rivera is smart enough to know that you don't provide an opponent with extra motivation.

Washington faces the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday in a battle of the first two draft picks of 2020 -- Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and Washington defensive end Chase Young, respectively.

Rivera was diplomatic in saying that if Washington hadn't drafted Young, it would have gone with Burrow.

"We feel like championships are won by playing good defense. We felt pretty strongly about (Young)," Rivera said. "The only other option we felt was a viable one for us was Burrow and obviously he was taken by Cincinnati.

Rivera continued with his praise.

"We think Joe is the full package," he said. "We really do. We think Chase is the full package. Depending on what Cincinnati did, that’s what we were going to do. The opposite. We didn’t think we would lose out either way. We really didn’t. We think both players are going to be great players and have great careers, and we’re fired up that we have Chase.”

While it is Rivera's right to dream, both Washington and Cincinnati have a ways to go before anyone should start talking championship. Washington is 2-7, Cincinnati is 2-6-1.

Then again, at 2-7, Washington is only a game-and-a-half out of first place in the laughable NFC East. So dream on, coach.