Bengals rank surprisingly high in latest NFL power rankings
Faith in the Cincinnati Bengals turning their season around is at a premium right now.Sitting at 1-3, most of the NFL world has hit the panic button on the back-to-back defending AFC North champions. A tough schedule ahead will also not make any of their struggles go away any easier. But not everyone has jumped […]
Faith in the Cincinnati Bengals turning their season around is at a premium right now.
Sitting at 1-3, most of the NFL world has hit the panic button on the back-to-back defending AFC North champions. A tough schedule ahead will also not make any of their struggles go away any easier.
But not everyone has jumped ship quite yet.
Sports Illustrated's Conor Orr has the Bengals in the top half of the league in his latest NFL Power Rankings. The Bengals are holding on to the No. 15 spot in Orr's rankings with the recognition that things could get much worse.
Joe Burrow suffering another setback with his calf injury would indeed worsen the situation. His health being the primary reason for the team's struggles as a whole is also the best reasoning for the Bengals being capable of more than their record states.
"I think we’re very close to the point of no return this season for the Bengals, but here’s why I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad team (apologies to all of you with those Super Bowl futures locked in). Having a break in competitiveness for the Bengals gives a really good team a rare chance to draft high in a quarterback-heavy draft, much like the 49ers were able to when they nabbed Nick Bosa. Quarterback injuries happen, but this coaching staff didn’t forget how to coach, nor did Burrow forget to play quarterback." – SI's Conor Orr
If Burrow weren't as limited as he currently is, he would undoubtedly be playing better football right now. This benefit of the doubt can only last so far as the Bengals will eventually have to produce on the field regardless of circumstance.
If any team has experience overcoming early-season struggles, it's the Bengals. They were 2-3 following an 0-2 start last year and eventually finished the regular season 12-4. Their issues on offense last year were very similar to what's plaguing them this year.
The biggest difference? Burrow's calf. It's not at a place where he can be himself, and it's having a negative impact on his ability to throw the ball downfield with accuracy on top of keeping him in the pocket like a statue.
If it doesn't get significantly better in the very near future, 15th is the absolute highest we'll see the Bengals in any power ranking from here on out.
Lack of faith in Bengals has an obvious origin
Cincinnati is now on fraud watch, and the reasoning is clear.
