​Joe Burrow believes the Cincinnati Bengals have built something special, but Bleacher Report wants to see proof. Entering training camp, Cincinnati stood at No. 15 in Bleacher Report’s NFL power rankings, a placement that places the Bengals in the middle of the league despite a live-and-kicking offense anchored by Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins. The ranking positioned Cincinnati 15th overall, behind the Baltimore Ravens and several other contenders in the AFC, yet ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns.
Is this a championship-caliber team, though? Burrow drew a comparison between the 2026 Bengals and the undefeated LSU squad he guided to a 2019 national title, telling reporters that both teams carried lofty expectations and “so much greatness” to achieve. Bleacher Report, however, issued a more cautious message. The Bengals have the talent to reach the postseason, but their recent track record makes that outcome far from guaranteed.
In three straight seasons, Cincinnati has missed the playoffs. That stretch has altered the way the franchise is evaluated, with Burrow’s presence once making the Bengals automatic AFC contenders; now there’s a growing sentiment that their offensive talent does not automatically translate into wins, given deficits elsewhere on the roster.
Last season, the Bengals went 6-11 while surrendering 492 points, the second-highest total in the NFL. Their 28.9 points allowed per game ranked 30th. Cincinnati managed 414 points, 12th in the league, even as Burrow missed time. The offense remained capable of keeping the club competitive, but the defense left little margin for error. Bleacher Report noted that Cincinnati has fielded a defense ranked in the NFL’s top half only once since 2018.
That combination—an elite quarterback and one of football’s most dynamic receiving corps—hasn’t been enough to vault the Bengals into the top 10. The team also faces an uncomfortable point with head coach Zac Taylor. Bleacher Report argues that Cincinnati needs to win at least one playoff game to prevent Burrow’s frustration from fueling pressure for bigger changes next offseason. Taylor has guided Cincinnati to a Super Bowl appearance and another AFC Championship Game earlier in Burrow’s career, but those feats feel increasingly distant after three years without a playoff appearance.
A No. 15 ranking reflects a team that sits between its ceiling and its recent results. The Bengals did not approach the offseason as if last year’s defense was acceptable. Cincinnati traded the No. 10 overall pick to the New York Giants for Dexter Lawrence, a three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle with 30.5 career sacks. They also added Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe, Bryan Cook, and Kyle Dugger, reshaping multiple levels of the defense. The Bengals’ official free-agency tracker lists seven new additions, signaling a clear effort to bolster the squad.