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Cincinnati Bengals fans feel reasonable hype about their team in 2026.
No wonder. The front office left its comfort zone and decided to go all-in through the Dexter Lawrence trade, big cash spending in free agency and even in smaller things, such as how they structured contracts and managed the salary cap.
But as fans surely understand, local hype doesn't mean national hype.
So much so, it seems, that The Athletic’s Mike Jones just wrote that the Bengals are one of the most underrated teams in the entire NFL.
“Thanks to those moves, plus others along the defense, the Bengals just might have better depth than they did when they reached the Super Bowl during the 2021 season,” Jones wrote. “The Baltimore Ravens draw much attention in the AFC North, and rightfully so, and Mike McCarthy’s reunion with Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh has the Steelers in the spotlight, but the Bengals seem primed for a bounce-back season and could cause trouble for divisional foes.”
Much still needs to go right for the Bengals on defense in 2026. Lawrence’s arrival needs to open up room for linebackers Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight to actually develop. Ditto for pass-rushers like Shemar Stewart. At safety, it’s hard to get any worse than they were last year, but Bryan Cook still needs to excel after coming over in free agency.
Obviously, everything hinges on the health of Joe Burrow. It tends to go overlooked, though, that after last year’s debacle, they will play an easier schedule than normal. Plus, the rest of the AFC North is resetting with new head coaches.
Exceeding expectations, then, should be on the table. For now, calling the Bengals underrated, then, seems fair enough.
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Are Bengals one of NFL's most underrated teams right now?
Continue reading...
No wonder. The front office left its comfort zone and decided to go all-in through the Dexter Lawrence trade, big cash spending in free agency and even in smaller things, such as how they structured contracts and managed the salary cap.
But as fans surely understand, local hype doesn't mean national hype.
So much so, it seems, that The Athletic’s Mike Jones just wrote that the Bengals are one of the most underrated teams in the entire NFL.
“Thanks to those moves, plus others along the defense, the Bengals just might have better depth than they did when they reached the Super Bowl during the 2021 season,” Jones wrote. “The Baltimore Ravens draw much attention in the AFC North, and rightfully so, and Mike McCarthy’s reunion with Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh has the Steelers in the spotlight, but the Bengals seem primed for a bounce-back season and could cause trouble for divisional foes.”
Much still needs to go right for the Bengals on defense in 2026. Lawrence’s arrival needs to open up room for linebackers Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight to actually develop. Ditto for pass-rushers like Shemar Stewart. At safety, it’s hard to get any worse than they were last year, but Bryan Cook still needs to excel after coming over in free agency.
Obviously, everything hinges on the health of Joe Burrow. It tends to go overlooked, though, that after last year’s debacle, they will play an easier schedule than normal. Plus, the rest of the AFC North is resetting with new head coaches.
Exceeding expectations, then, should be on the table. For now, calling the Bengals underrated, then, seems fair enough.
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Are Bengals one of NFL's most underrated teams right now?
Continue reading...
