It all came crashing down on the Cincinnati Bengals last season. For years they were one of the most consistent teams in the NFL, winning at least nine games in each of the previous five seasons and reaching double figures in the last four. They won two division titles and qualified for the postseason each time. But now the head of Marvin Lewis is on the chopping block if Cincy doesn’t regain that form. If Lewis gets the Bengals back to the postseason, fans just might forget that he has yet to win a playoff game.
AFC North Opening Odds at BookMaker.eu
Pittsburgh Steelers -262
Cincinnati Bengals +340
Baltimore Ravens +592
Cleveland Browns +4000
Why the Cincinnati Bengals Will Win the AFC North
There is enough talent on the roster for the Bengals to rebound from a disappointing season that saw their win total sliced in half. Cincy went for offensive playmakers in the draft to help resurrect an offense that ranked 24th in scoring last season. It was the club’s lowest total since 2008.
Andy Dalton isn’t considered an elite quarterback in the league, but he was the driving force behind the teams that won at least 10 games in four straight years and he continues to put up solid numbers. He threw for 4,206 yards last year, the second-highest single-season total in his six year career, with 18 touchdowns passes completing 64.7 percent of his throws.
Those numbers alone are worthy of a more productive offense and the Bengals should have a better one in 2017. Looking for a complement to A.J. Green on the outside, Cincy grabbed John Ross in the draft. There is also hope for the red zone woes with the return of Tyler Eifert, who’s been hobbled with various injuries.
Joe Mixon was added to the group of running backs to make that position group stronger. He’ll team with Giovanni Bernard and Jeremy Hill to give offensive coordinator Ken Zampese options. Everything depends on the line, though. The group lost starters Andrew Whitworth and Kevin Zeitler to free agency and needs to plug those holes.
There is some unproven talent along the defensive front where the team needs some help. If guys like Jordan Willis and Carl Lawson can step up and help vets Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins, the group will be much stronger. They played better over the second half of last season and the momentum needs to carry over into 2017.
Why the Cincinnati Bengals Won't Win the AFC North
Cincy’s run may have come to an end and last year’s 6-win season was just the beginning. The Bengals have watched plenty of talented veterans leave the organization over the past few years and the recent draft picks haven’t worked out. If that trend continues, the Bengals are in for a long season.
The offense has playmakers but the line is a huge concern. Losing two quality starters is tough to take unless their replacements can do the job. And there is no sign that Cedric Ogbuehi and Andre Smith are ready to take the leap into a starting role. Ross was drafted with the hope that he slides into the role vacated by Marvin Jones, but injuries have slowed his development and we’re not sure when he will actually take the field.
The defense was torpedoed again by Vontaze Burfict, who faces a suspension for a hit in a preseason game. The group of linebackers was already thinned out by the departures of Rey Maualuga and Karlos Dansby. The front lacked a consistent push last season and failed to harass opposing quarterbacks enough. That just won’t get it done in a game that sees the forward pass as a big weapon.
The Bengals need some of their recent draft picks to take over starting roles as the veterans age out, and that just hasn’t happened. There is still time for the younger players to make a name for themselves, but it’s time Lewis doesn’t have.
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