Latest NFL news lowers Bengals' chances of an AFC North three-peat
The Cincinnati Bengals are the odds-on favorite to win the AFC North next season. And as they've proven with back-to-back appearances in the AFC Championship Game, they deserve the respect. But winning the division will certainly be a challenging task. The Baltimore Ravens still have QB Lamar Jackson and a very well-built roster around him. […]
The Cincinnati Bengals are the odds-on favorite to win the AFC North next season. And as they've proven with back-to-back appearances in the AFC Championship Game, they deserve the respect.
But winning the division will certainly be a challenging task. The Baltimore Ravens still have QB Lamar Jackson and a very well-built roster around him. Although they've been bitten hard by injuries the last couple of seasons, they should be right back in 2023.
And the latest NFL news gives the Bengals' divisional foe quite the boost: The Ravens are hiring Todd Monken as offensive coordinator.
Monken, who has NFL experience, has dominated the college football world as of late. He's led the Georgia Bulldogs offense to back-to-back National Championship wins, both of which Monken's offense dominated from start to finish.
The Bulldog's most recent win against TCU in January was particularly impressive. The Bulldogs put up 65 points in that game as the team scored three walk-in touchdowns in which the Horned Frogs didn't have anyone even close to the ball carrier.
It was an Xs and Os masterclass.
And while many point toward the talent at his disposal, Monken's scheme is undeniably special.
So much so that he didn't need a blue-chip, 5-star recruit to run it efficiently. His background includes influences of Mike Gundy and Kirby Smart, two of the most emblematic coaches in college football today.
The Bengals still have the upper-hand
Monken's arrival at the AFC North means the Bengals defense will have to deal with a scheme that does a tremendous job scheming receivers open on a weekly basis.
If Lou Anarumo stays as the Bengals defensive coordinator, we should get ready for some epic chess battles between the two.
But even if the difficulty to win the division title has been raised, the Bengals belong in the AFC elite. With Joe Burrow at the wheel, it's difficult to doubt their chances of an AFC North three-peat.
That being said, expect the Ravens to put up a good fight with Monken calling the plays on offense.
Featured image via Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
