Latest power rankings have Bengals staying among NFL's elite
Rebuilding is no longer in the Cincinnati Bengals' lexicon. Like a powerhouse college football program, it's reloading from here on out with Joe Burrow and Co. playing in stripes. With 27 combined regular season and postseason wins since the start of 2021, the Bengals have officially entrenched themselves within the NFL's elite. That's an incredible […]
Rebuilding is no longer in the Cincinnati Bengals' lexicon. Like a powerhouse college football program, it's reloading from here on out with Joe Burrow and Co. playing in stripes.
With 27 combined regular season and postseason wins since the start of 2021, the Bengals have officially entrenched themselves within the NFL's elite. That's an incredible statement to be made just two years after the franchise was drafting in the top five in back-to-back years.
Now with the 2023 NFL Draft well in the books, and minicamps starting up around the league, the power rankings you see across NFL media will largely look the same up up until the games have begun in September,
As expected, the Bengals maintained their spot amongst the top five in some of the more notable rankings. Both Peter King of NBC Sports and Pro Football Focus listed the Bengals right with the true contenders for Super Bowl 58. King grouped Cincinnati in the category of "They've got Super Bowl vibes" thanks in part to defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo staying on staff.
"Since New Year’s Day 2022, Cincinnati has beaten Kansas City by 3, 3 and 3, and lost by 3—after being tied at 20 with 30 seconds left and punting to Patrick Mahomes. (Guess what happened.) Lucky for the Bengals, defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo didn’t get the Arizona job—he’s been as good as a schemer can be against Mahomes." – King on Cincinnati being his third-ranked team
PFF slotted the Bengals in the No. 4 spot behind the Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, and San Francisco 49ers. The Chiefs and Eagles were also both ahead of the Bengals in King's rankings.
Being the recent Super Bowl loser, Philadelphia is in the same spot as the Bengals were last year. The completeness of Philly's roster gives people confidence they can replicate similar success from last year, but losing both of their coordinators will be an obstacle to overcome.
Kansas City is all too familiar with Cincinnati's game, as they've played four times since the end of the 2021 season. The Bengals are 3-1 in those games, and they'll play the defending champions sometime this season, along with San Francisco for the first time since head coach Zac Taylor's first year on the job in 2019.
Getting to the top is one thing, staying at the top is another thing entirely. The Bengals are building sustainably in order to staying near the top for the long haul. All it takes is one run to reach higher than any other team.
