ESPN makes extremely bold prediction for Bengals in regular season
The Cincinnati Bengals enter the 2023 season as one of a few teams that are expected to legitimately compete for a Super Bowl trophy. Cincinnati has become a perennial championship contender thanks to key players like Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins. Because of the added hype surrounding the Bengals, the team will be […]
The Cincinnati Bengals enter the 2023 season as one of a few teams that are expected to legitimately compete for a Super Bowl trophy.
Cincinnati has become a perennial championship contender thanks to key players like Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins.
Because of the added hype surrounding the Bengals, the team will be featured in four primetime games in 2023.
The NFL schedule was officially released on Thursday night and it was revealed that Cincinnati will play the Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, and Jacksonville Jaguars in prime time (the matchups against the Rams and Bills are at home).
Cincinnati's matchup against the Rams is a game the Bengals should easily win. The other three primetime matchups won't be nearly as easy. Buffalo, Baltimore, and Jacksonville were all playoff teams last season. And they're expected to be playoff teams again in 2023.
ESPN, however, isn't that concerned about the Bengals playing well in their four primetime games this fall. They think Cincinnati will sweep all four matchups.
From ESPN: The Bengals go undefeated in prime-time games in 2023. That's a tall order considering the Bengals have a road game at Baltimore and a home game against Buffalo on the calendar. But Cincinnati has had strong performances on the national stage since 2020 and has been a team that embraces the spotlight.
There's no doubt that this Bengals squad embraces the spotlight. They haven't been perfect — Cincy's trophy case is still missing a Lombardi Trophy — but in general, Joe Burrow and his teammates get up for big games.
Wins against the Bills, Ravens, and Jaguars will be key in Cincinnati's quest to earn home-field advantage for the playoffs. If they win those three games (plus the one against the Rams), it should set the Bengals on an "easier" path in the playoffs.
