Sports Illustrated is doing their annual “32 Teams in 32 Days” section which is exactly what it sounds like it is. Today, it’s time to take a look at the Cincinnati Bengals, who never seem to disappoint with story lines heading into any given NFL season.
Can the Bengals rebound from mediocrity and actually make the playoffs this year?
One former head coach who requested anonymity (Bruce Coslet? David Shula?) actually thinks highly of the Bengals’ chances in 2025.
“I believe Joe can get Cincinnati over the hump regardless of what’s going on on the defensive side,” the coach told SI’s John Pluym. “I got a lot of confidence in him. I would not count the Bengals out. If they pick up where they left off, look out.”
His optimism is admired, but unless they figure something out on defense, it will take a Herculean effort from quarterback Joe Burrow (again) to keep the Bengals relevant. Burrow had what many considered an MVP season last year with 4,918 yards, 43 touchdowns and just nine interceptions. That’s insane.
They secured wide receiver studs Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins this offseason, but it might not be enough.
Can Burrow and the offense overcome the defensive problems?
The Bengals’ defense ranked 25th in the NFL overall in 2024 and that’s pretty awful. Despite Burrow’s heroics, it just wasn’t good enough last year.
“The Bengals deserve credit for ensuring Burrow’s top two weapons will be around for the foreseeable future,” Pluym writes. “The offense should rank near the top of most major statistical categories with Burrow, Chase and Higgins leading the charge.
“But scoring at least 30 points for 17 games might not be enough for the Bengals to return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2022 season. Last year, Burrow had a career season and Chase won the receiver’s triple crown (receptions, yards, touchdowns), but the offense was held back by one of the worst defenses in the league, a unit that allowed 25.5 points per game.”
The Bengals scored 25 or more points 11 (!) times last year, but lost six of those games and finished the season 9-8 and out of the playoffs. That’s almost difficult to pull off.
It doesn’t look like defensive help is immediately on the way
As bad as the defense has been, it’s not looking like it will get better. Trey Hendrickson – as we all know – is coming off back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons, with the latter leading the NFL. He’s 30-years old, has one-year remaining on his deal for about $16 million and is holding out for a new contract. Surprise, surprise the Bengals want to play hardball with him.
Ditto Shemar Stewart, the team’s first-round pick out of Texas A&M. He’s beefing with the team over some contract language and he even walked out of mandatory minicamp while firing some shots at the team’s brass. The guy isn’t even signed to his first contract yet and he already knows the front office is mental.
“With the focus on the offense this offseason, Cincinnati did very little to improve the defense outside of drafting Stewart in the first round and hiring [defensive coordinator Al] Golden, who will need to maximize this defense by building a system that puts players in ideal situations,” Pluym writes. “Even if it’s just a bend-but-don’t-break approach, being average defensively could be enough for Burrow to get the Bengals in the postseason.”
Pluym is correct, the Bengals just need ‘average’ out of their defense to let Burrow do his thing and secure them a playoff birth. But, it’s tough to see how they will be better if they can’t keep Hendrickson and Stewart falls behind due to a silly contract dispute.
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