The Cincinnati Bengals are no longer considered to be a bottom-feeding NFL franchise. After back-to-back AFC Championship Game appearances, expectations are now attached to the franchise. 

Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who came to the organization in 2019, the same year as head coach Zac Taylor, has seen the highs and the lows in Cincinnati. That brings a unique perspective when looking at the big picture. 

Cincinnati has been so close to a title recently they can taste it, and Anarumo feels the team is locked in on making that a reality. 

"We have a clear vision of what we are, who we are, and how we have to do it to get back to the Super Bowl," Anarumo said. "We're looking forward to getting this thing started."

Everyone knows that the Bengals can light up a scoreboard offensively with quarterback Joe Burrow at the helm and a wide receiver trio that is considered to be the league's best. However, the Bengals wouldn't have had the success they've experienced the last few seasons without Anarumo's unit.

Cincinnati finished fifth in points allowed defensively a year ago. That's thanks to a solid front seven that includes one of the best starting edge rusher duos in Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard plus an underrated linebacker room group led by Germaine Pratt and Logan Wilson.

The Bengals' secondary is led by veteran cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and Mike Hilton. But the upside of guys like Dax Hill, Cam Taylor-Britt, DJ Turner, and Jordan Battle, who have all been drafted over the last two offseasons, is what gives Cincinnati’s defense unlimited potential going forward. 

Cincinnati has done an amazing job turning its roster around the last four years, and it could very well take the ultimate step to championship glory in 2023.

National media tips its hat to Bengals’ Lou Anarumo

As they should.

Feature image via Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK