Bengals true colors are showing in latest NFL power rankings
Is it easier to start near the top of the mountain, or all the way down at base camp? The Cincinnati Bengals might believe the latter to be true. After falling down both the standings and rankings courtesy of a 1-3 start, the Bengals are almost back to where they started in early September with […]
Is it easier to start near the top of the mountain, or all the way down at base camp? The Cincinnati Bengals might believe the latter to be true.
After falling down both the standings and rankings courtesy of a 1-3 start, the Bengals are almost back to where they started in early September with a current record of 4-3.
No one in Cincinnati is satisfied yet, but the real Bengals are finally arriving. The latest power rankings reflect that.
Following their Week 8 victory over the San Francisco 49ers, the Bengals are checking in at No. 5 for Sports Illustrated, and No. 8 for both The Athletic and CBS Sports' most recent power rankings entering the midseason point.
Three straight wins, all over NFC West teams, have the Bengals trending back in the direction they want to go, and it all starts with the quarterback. Joe Burrow has played like the best at his position since regaining his movement abilities three weeks ago. It's directly led the instant success Cincinnati had in the month of October.
"Since shaking off a preseason calf injury, Burrow has led the Bengals to three consecutive wins, and he leads the league in passer rating (111.8) in that span. Chase is averaging 124 receiving yards in those games." – The Athletic's Josh Kendall
That the Bengals are nearly unanimously considering a top-10 team again despite being last in their division says not only a ton about the state of the AFC North, but of how big of a climb they made to reach this level in such short notice.
But the climb is far from over. The Buffalo Bills, who are a top-11 team in all the rankings listed above, are the next obstacle on the Bengals' second half gauntlet, and plenty more worthy adversaries will follow.
Bengals Week 8 PFF Recap: 3 stats to know
Joe Burrow’s true super power was unleashed vs. 49ers.
