The Cincinnati Bengals were one of the most unlikely franchises to miss the NFL postseason last year.
With Joe Burrow healthy and commanding the huddle, the Bengals have every reason to believe it belongs in the postseason mix. Burrow remains one of the league’s sharpest decision-makers, with elite timing, accuracy, and poise under pressure.
“The Bengals have missed the playoffs in back-to-back years despite winning nine-plus games in four consecutive seasons,” ESPN’s Mike Clay wrote Sunday. “It’s hard to imagine a team that has quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (both in the top 10 of our top 100 players) missing the postseason again, but giant questions loom along the offensive line and defense.”
But Burrow has been asked to do too much at times, especially with lingering problems up front. The offense has lived and died with his ability to withstand pressure and deliver under fire. That isn’t sustainable if the Bengals want to turn nine-win seasons into playoff runs.
Ja’Marr Chase Remains a Superstar
If there’s one constant in Cincinnati, it’s Ja’Marr Chase. The dynamic receiver continues to be a matchup nightmare for defenses, ranking among the league’s top playmakers year after year. His chemistry with Burrow dates back to their LSU days and still feels unbreakable. Chase can win anywhere on the field — vertically, across the middle, or on quick-hitting routes where his yards-after-catch ability takes over.
As talented as the Bengals are on offense, the offensive line continues to cast a shadow over their ceiling. Burrow has been hit far too often in recent years, and the lack of consistent protection limits both the passing game and the ground attack. Fixing this has been a multi-year project for the front office, but entering 2025, it’s still fair to question whether enough progress has been made.
The Bengals’ defense has slipped from the days when it was among the more underrated units in football. The secondary remains a particular concern, with inconsistencies in coverage showing up at the worst possible times. Against high-powered AFC offenses, any weakness on the back end becomes glaring.
A Season That Could Go Either Way
At No. 12 in Clay’s preseason power rankings, the Bengals represent a team with undeniable star power but also glaring questions that prevent them from being in the elite tier.
With Burrow and Chase, there’s always the possibility of a playoff run — they’re too talented to be counted out. But the margins are thin in the AFC, and if the offensive line falters or the defense can’t keep pace, Cincinnati could find itself on the outside looking in once again.
The Bengals are a team in transition, balancing their superstars against holes that have yet to be filled. Burrow and Chase can carry them only so far, and unless the trenches and defense hold up, another nine-win, non-playoff campaign is possible.
Still, the upside is obvious. If the offensive line takes a step forward and the defense stabilizes, Cincinnati has the top-end talent to crash the playoff party again. For now, though, they enter the season with as many questions as answers, which is why they sit just outside the top 10.
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