Latest power rankings from PFF aren't kind to the Cincinnati Bengals
It's time for Cincinnati Bengals fans to accept the facts — the national media doesn't believe in Cincy's ability to get back to the Super Bowl. I'm not sure why this is the case. Cincinnati has possibly the best quarterback/wide receiver duo in the NFL in Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase. Their other two starting […]
It's time for Cincinnati Bengals fans to accept the facts — the national media doesn't believe in Cincy's ability to get back to the Super Bowl.
I'm not sure why this is the case. Cincinnati has possibly the best quarterback/wide receiver duo in the NFL in Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase. Their other two starting wide receivers — Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd — are two of the most underrated players in the league.
The Bengals also improved their biggest area of concern — the offensive line — via free agency. This is a team that was good last year and should be even better in 2022.
It really feels like this is the beginning of something special in Cincinnati.
The national media, however, is transfixed by the Buffalo Bills. That's the new "it team" in the NFL, despite the fact that they failed to advance to the AFC Championship game last season. Along with the Bills, the national media is also propping up the Los Angeles Chargers and the Denver Broncos, among others.
Pro Football Focus' latest power rankings have the Bengals at No. 8, behind the aforementioned Broncos and Chargers (two franchises that missed the playoffs last season).
I don't see how anyone can sleep on the Bengals after what we saw last season. This team has the "it factor" that we only see in championship-caliber teams. That's mostly because of Burrow and the culture he's helped create in Cincinnati. It's also because the Bengals now have one of the best most complete rosters in the NFL.
There's absolutely no reason the national media should be down on the Bengals after last season. In fact, I think they should be the favorites in the AFC. They're the team to beat until someone beats them.
I'm sure Burrow and company are keeping tabs on what's said. I know athletes love to say they're "blocking the outside noise", but it's impossible to escape what's said/written on a daily basis. Burrow and the Bengals know what folks are saying. And they're going to be eager to prove those folks wrong in 2022.
Featured image via Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
