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Dec 28, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) leaves the field after a game against the Arizona Cardinals at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images | Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
The Cincinnati Bengals had a very transformative offseason by all accounts. We can talk about them missing on adding a veteran linebacker all we want, but they still added some really talented players all over the defense.
That was the side of the ball that needed the work. It wasn’t hard to see that the defense giving up so many points was a serious issue. It didn’t help that last season, the defense could rarely even pressure the quarterback at all.
Now, with trading for Dexter Lawrence, signing Boye Made, and Bryan Cook, that side of the ball looks ready to be a bit more stable.
So much so that a common critic has changed his opinion on the team entirely (even if he still can’t help but add a jab at the end).
Dan Orlovsky notes the Bengals as his pick to win the AFC North, and it is easy to see why. Every other team has a new head coach coming in, and neither the Baltimore Ravens or Pittsburgh Steelers made drastic improvements.
At this point, the season seems to be going with Joe Burrow’s health. If he can stay upright and healthy, this team could have shades of the 2021 and 2022 teams. A lot left to see, though, still, obviously.
But it has been a few seasons since it felt like the front office really put in this kind of work to fill out the roster to correct the issue, rather than banking on coaching or growth from disappointing young players
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