From now until the start of the NFL season, I will be releasing a weekly article called State Of The League. It will cover each of the 32 NFL teams, including their 2023 season, offseason acquisitions, and what to expect from them in 2024 (think best/worst-case scenarios). Enjoy! Up next is the Cincinnati Bengals.
Cincinnati, Ohio. Between them and the Browns, the Cincinnati Bengals have been the superior team of the state for quite some time now. They drafted quarterback Joe Burrow back in 2020, and he’s been a solid franchise guy for quite some time now. The front office paired him with college teammate WR Ja’Maar Chase the very next year, and the Bengals have been competitive ever since.
The Bengals have existed for 57 years in the NFL. 2021 was when they recently made a Super Bowl, where they unfortunately fell to the Los Angeles Rams 23-20.
But, they look to get back to the promised land and hoist the Lombardi Trophy for the first time in franchise history in 2024.
2023 Season
- Head Coach: Zac Taylor
- Record: 9-8
- Offense: 21.5 PPG (16/32)
- Defense: 22.6 PPGA (21/32)
- Leading Passer: QB Joe Burrow (5-5 record as a starter, 2309 yards, 15 touchdowns, six interceptions)
- Leading Rusher: RB Joe Mixon (257 carries, 1,034 yards, nine touchdowns)
- Leading Receiver: WR Ja’Maar Chase (100 catches, 1,216 yards, seven touchdowns)
- Leading Tackler: LB Logan Wilson (135 tackles)
- Sacks: DE Trey Hendrickson (17.5)
- Interceptions: LB Logan Wilson and CB Cam Taylor-Britt (4)
After making the playoffs in back-to-back years, the Cincinnati Bengals looked to make it for the third straight season in 2023.
It was a heartbreaking start to the year. Cincinnati only scored three points and totaled just 142 yards of offense in the week one loss against the Cleveland Browns. Then, a three-point loss to the Baltimore Ravens the next week dropped them to 0-2 on the season.
But, they finally got things back on track, winning five of their next six games (including a 31-17 win over the San Francisco 49ers in week eight).
Unfortunately, the losses began. I’m not just talking about the record either. The Bengals fell to the Houston Texans in week ten 30-27, dropping their record to 5-4.
Not only did they lose the next week against the Ravens, but they also lost their quarterback Burrow to a wrist injury. We would never see him again.
Jake Browning would take over at quarterback for the rest of 2023, leading the Bengals to a 4-3 record as the starter. He was impressive, with three 300+ yard games during his seven-game stretch.
In the end, Cincinnati’s 9-8 record was not enough to get into the postseason. They finished last in the AFC North. That’s how good the division is (great choice for Hard Knocks, by the way).
Offseason Acquisitions and Departures
- Acquisitions: RB Zach Moss (two-year deal, $8 million), TE Mike Gesicki (one-year, $2.5M), S Geno Stone (two years, $15 million), DL Sheldon Rankins (two years, $24.5M), S Vonn Bell (one year, $6 million)
- Departures: S Nick Scott, RB Joe Mixon (trade with Texans)
- Re-signings: G Cody Ford (one year, $1.35M), WR Tee Higgins (franchise tag), TE Drew Sample (three years, $10.5M), TE Tanner Hudson (one year, $1.3M), WR Trenton Irwin (one year, $2.5M)
Favorite Acquisition: DL Sheldon Rankins. The 30-year-old had a career year in 2023, finishing with 37 tackles, six sacks, and a forced fumble and recovery for a score. PFF graded him with a pass-rushing grade of 76.7 last season, which was one of the best in the league. If he can get back to being solid in run defense (just a 38.2 grade in that category), expect him to make a big difference in the front. With B.J. Hill, Sam Hubbard, and Trey Hendrickson, those four are a unit to be feared if you’re the opposing offensive line.
Draft
- R1, P18: OT Amarius Mims, Georgia
- R2, P17: DT Kris Jenkins, Michigan
- R3, P16: WR Jermaine Burton, Alabama
- R3, P34: DT McKinnley Jackson, Texas A&M
- R4, P15: TE Erick All, Iowa
- R5, P14: CB Josh Newton, TCU
- R6, P18: TE Tanner McLachlan, Arizona
- R6, P38: EDGE Cedric Johnson, Ole Miss
- R7, P4: S Daijahn Anthony, Ole Miss
- R7, P17: C Matt Lee, Miami
Favorite Pick: WR Jermaine Burton. Honestly one of my favorite receivers from the draft, Burton simply has that “dog” in him. He’s not afraid to talk his talk and backs it up with his game. With his smooth acceleration and speed, he’s a dangerous vertical threat to have (led the SEC in yards after the catch). With work to be done as a route runner, the Cincinnati Bengals drafted him to settle in as a WR3 this season after losing Tyler Boyd to free agency. If Tee Higgins departs, Burton may have a bigger role sooner than many expected. But, he’s more than capable of being a starter either this season or especially in 2025.
2024 Schedule (O/U 10.5)
Shiesty szn loading. pic.twitter.com/QvXJr9QTUZ
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) June 10, 2024
- Week 1: vs. Patriots
- Week 2: @ Chiefs
- Week 3: vs. Commanders (MNF)
- Week 4: @ Panthers
- Week 5: vs. Ravens
- Week 6: @ Giants (SNF)
- Week 7: @ Browns
- Week 8: vs. Eagles
- Week 9: vs. Raiders
- Week 10: @ Ravens (TNF)
- Week 11: @ Chargers
- Week 12: BYE WEEK
- Week 13: vs. Steelers
- Week 14: @ Cowboys (MNF)
- Week 15: @ Titans
- Week 16: @ Browns (TNF)
- Week 17: vs. Broncos
- Week 18: @ Steelers
Favorite Game: Week 2 @ Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes vs. Joe Burrow. The only issue is that it isn’t a primetime night game. But, we’ll settle for the national late afternoon time of 1:25. When they last faced off against each other, it was in the 2022 conference championship. Burrow wasn’t healthy for last year’s matchup in week 17 (a 25-17 loss), and he’ll look to avenge his loss to Kansas City early in the schedule. With L’Jarius Sneed no longer in KC, will Burrow and the offense feast in the passing game?
Best Case Scenario For The Cincinnati Bengals
Giving y’all some @BJHill5 & @GermainePratt7 media day BTS pic.twitter.com/cgFi7vYTEr
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) June 10, 2024
Cincinnati’s first four games are so winnable, it’s not even funny. They understand that and start 4-0 out of the gate. Enacting revenge against the Chiefs in week two is the highlight of the month, and easy wins over the Patriots, Commanders, and Panthers set the stage for a week five matchup against the Ravens at home.
Joe Burrow looks healthy as ever, slinging the football left and right to Ja’Maar Chase, Tee Higgins, and Jermaine Burton. Mike Gesicki serves as the best tight end he’s ever gotten to play with and is an early candidate for MVP.
Speaking of Higgins, he shows why he deserves a big contract.
Defensively, Sheldon Rankins makes the Bengals pass rush even better and records a double-digit sack season for the first time in his career. It helps Trey Hendrickson (who continues to be dominant) draw most of the attention. LB Logan Wilson leads the team in tackling and finishes top five in the league.
CB Cam Taylor-Britt builds off his 2023 season with an outstanding 2024 that sees him making the Pro Bowl for the first time.
The Bengals win the division, taking it despite finishing with the same record as the Baltimore Ravens but have the advantage due to the tiebreaker. They make a surprise run to the Super Bowl and bring home the franchise’s first championship.
Worst Case Scenario
Burrow doesn’t look the same even with his wrist being “healed”, and the offense sputters entirely. It doesn’t help RB Zach Moss can’t replace Joe Mixon as the RB1, making the offense one-dimensional and heavily focused on the passing game.
Despite having a “prove-it” year, Tee Higgins struggles to put up solid numbers and gets traded before the deadline due to the team’s record at midseason.
The Bengals end up finishing below .500. More likely a 7-10 or 8-9 record if anything. Burrow is nothing more than a game manager because of his wrist, and Jake Browning may be called upon to replace him if things get out of hand fast.
My Final Offensive Thoughts On The Cincinnati Bengals
Having WR Tee Higgins back for one more season makes me comfortable saying the Bengals will contend again in the AFC. This team doesn’t quit, and that was clear after they finished 9-8 without their star quarterback. Now, with Burrow back and ready to go, I have no problem saying they’ll be back in the AFC Conference Championship this year.
If RB Zach Moss can repeat his 2023 career year (794 yards rushing and five touchdowns in 14 games), then it will help take the pressure off of the passing game and make fans forget they ever had Joe Mixon.
Ja’Maar Chase will lead the team in receiving once again, with triple-digit catches and double-digit touchdowns expected from the LSU product. Keep an eye on Jermaine Burton, who may turn heads earlier than expected.
The offensive line got better with the addition of T Trent Brown. He’ll play on the right side, forming a solid duo with LT Orlando Brown Jr. Now, can they truly protect Burrow (Bengals quarterbacks were sacked 50 times last year, good for eighth-most)? Also, I cannot wait to see Amarius Mims get on the field. He’s a freak prospect.
My Final Defensive Thoughts
DE Trey Hendrickson is just that guy. From his last year with the Saints in 2020 to his time with the Bengals, he’s been a sack machine (double-digit numbers in three of the past four years). The 3X Pro Bowler should flirt with 20 sacks this year. Who’s going to stop him?
Honestly, the front four is such an underrated unit. Outside of Hendrickson, Sam Hubbard (six sacks), Sheldon Rankins, and B.J. Hill are all capable of getting to the quarterback while providing solid run defense. Watch out for Kris Jenkins Jr (82.7 PFF grade in 2023 for Michigan), who had a pass rush win rate of 11.0% in his last year in college and could contribute in big ways in 2024.
LBs Logan Wilson and Germaine Pratt are a solid linebacker duo, with the latter improving with every passing season. Both will have over double-digit tackles.
CB Cam-Taylor Britt is a clear #1 at his position. But, can DJ Turner II (51.5 PFF grade) bounce back and be a solid CB2? If not, then that’s a concern worth monitoring. Rookie Josh Newton from TCU is one to watch (77.2 coverage grade in his last year at TCU).
Free agent addition Geno Stone will man the safety position along with Vonn Bell. The former was a seventh-round pick once upon a time. But, he’s been sensational in coverage (85.3 coverage grade, seventh-best in the NFL last year).
Expect the defense to be a top-15 unit and even better if Turner II holds his own.
Cincinnati Bengals Final Record Prediction: 11-6
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Featured Image: Bengals/X
