CINCINNATI — The first image of Bengals football that was engrained in my brain was that of Carson Palmer being carted off the field in the playoffs in January of 2006. And what’s followed has been 15 years of, more often that not, devastating losses, injuries and anything synonymous with the agony of being a Bengals fan.
But before all the agony I’ve experienced the last 15 years with being a Bengals fan, there was hope. Genuine hope. Even when Palmer’s left knee was shredded and the Bengals fell to their hated nemesis in the Pittsburgh Steelers in that playoff game in January 2006, there was a genuine hope and belief that this franchise had finally risen from the dark days of the 1990s to being true contenders.
Now fast forward 15 years later and we are on the precipice of a season beginning, a season filled with the hope and anticipation that is reminiscent of 2006. Largely contributing to the reminiscing of 2006 is that the Bengals have a quarterback who has captured the hearts of the fanbase while preparing to make a triumphant return from a knee injury suffered the previous season. Joe Burrow was enjoying one of the best rookie seasons by a quarterback in NFL history before suffering a torn ACL in the Bengals tenth game of the season at Washington. Despite the doubts he would be ready come week one of this upcoming season, much like Palmer in 2006, Burrow crushed his rehab and was on the field for the Bengals first training camp practice. Much like 2006, there is hope going into this season. A season filled with anticipation, a sense of new, unknown and, quite possibly, expectation.
Burning storylines
1. Joe Burrow – Everything with this franchise starts with Joe Burrow. Every roster decision, every offensive game plan, every talking point, it all starts with the Bengals franchise quarterback. While the burning question might be can the Bengals protect Joe Burrow, my burning question is more about the franchise quarterback himself than those tasked with blocking for him. Eventually he is going to have to win this team some games. The honeymoon of his rookie season is over. What he did last year has created these expectations, whether they are unfair or not in terms of how massive they are.
2. Ja’Marr Chase – Much has been made about Chase’s drop issues during the preseason, but I’m not concerned. I wonder if people remember he hasn’t played football in two years. And by playing football, I mean being up to speed with the game while on the field, catching a live pass in a live game. He hasn’t done that in over a year. And, I think we can all agree that these drops are occurring in a preseason game as opposed to occurring during the middle of the regular season.
3. Offensive line – How much better is it really? I will say this, the five that will be starting in Sunday’s season-opener assures there are no glaring weak links, i.e., Michael Jordan. Riley Reiff is an instant upgrade at right guard, and he’ll provide leadership to a very young offensive line room. Trey Hopkins is the rock of this line, and Quinton Spain is solid. But Jonah Williams and Xavier Su’a-Filo are wild cards. How they perform will play a large role into the success or lack thereof of this group.
4. Defensive Line – Same deal with the offensive line. Can this group actually generate a pass rush and get the defense off the field? What we saw in the preseason would suggest, yes. Hopefully this group experiences good health this year as well, as injuries hampered many key players last season.
5. Zac Taylor – Remember when Mike Brown said two days after the season-finale in January how the Bengals organization remains “bullish” on the foundation Zac is building and that the organization looks forward to giving us fans the winning results we want? Well, here’s the deal; this year Zac Taylor needs to start coaching this team to victories. No more one-score losses or blown fourth-quarter leads or, in general terms, moral victories. Win games, or else Taylor will need to go after the season, if not before then.
Game-by-game breakdown and predictions
Week 1 vs. Minnesota Vikings – This is an evenly-matched game, in terms of offensive talent. Where this game will be decided is the Bengals offensive line keeping Minnesota’s defensive front away from Joe Burrow and paving the way for Joe Mixon. It’s a great first test for the new-look Bengals offensive line, but let’s not forget Minnesota has offensive line issues as well. The team that wins the battle in the trenches will win this game.
Game pick: Bengals 27 Vikings 21 (1-0)
Week 2 @ Chicago Bears – Very similar to the Vikings matchup. Win the battle in the trenches, and the Bengals will win this game… if Andy Dalton is starting at quarterback. Until he’s not, I’ll make this pick under the notion he is.
Game pick: Bengals 27 Bears 20 (2-0)
Week 3 @ Pittsburgh Steelers – The games against Minnesota and Chicago will hopefully prepare the Bengals for their first matchup against the Steelers. The Steelers defense is the strength of their team, especially up front with T.J. Watt. But anchoring the defense in the backend is Minkah Fitzpatrick, perhaps the best player at his safety position. The Bengals beat the Steelers last year, so that leads me to think this game will be close.
Game pick: Steelers 24 Bengals 21 (2-1)
Week 4 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (TNF) – A matchup featuring the last two No. 1 overall picks in Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence is enticing. Also enticing is this game being the Bengals Ring of Honor game, as Anthony Munoz, Paul Brown, Ken Anderson and Ken Riley will become the first four members to be inducted into the newly-formed Bengals Ring of Honor.
Game pick: Bengals 34 Jaguars 20 (3-1)
Week 5 vs. Green Bay Packers – I can’t wait for this game. Anytime the Bengals play the Packers I get excited. Especially because the Bengals have had the Packers number of late, at least in most of time being a Bengals fan. This is a winnable game again this year, but the defense will have to do more than just show up.
Game pick: Packers 37 Bengals 34 (3-2)
Week 6 @ Detroit Lions – I hope this is the game that settles the debate of Chase or Sewell once and for all. Spoiler alert, it will be.
Game pick: Bengals 37 Lions 24 (4-2)
Week 7 @ Baltimore Ravens – To me, the Ravens are the measuring stick in the AFC North. Especially considering the last three time the Bengals have played them they have lost by a combined score 114-19. Yes, you read that correctly. This game will test the Bengals defense and whether or not they have a foundation, a base. If they do, they might have a chance to slow down Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense. If not, enjoy a continuation of the track and field from this Summer’s Olympics.
Game pick: Ravens 34 Bengals 17 (4-3)
Week 8 @ New York Jets – Zach Wilson actually might work out for the Jets. But the Bengals defense can’t let him look like Joe Namath in this game. The Bengals are the more talented team in this matchup, they just have to show it.
Game pick: Bengals 31 Jets 21 (5-3)
Week 9 vs. Cleveland Browns – The tide has officially turned in the Battle of Ohio. The Browns now have the upper-hand in the rivalry after sweeping the Bengals for the second time in three seasons in 2020. But something tells me the Bengals win this game against the Browns at home. I also could be refusing to let myself believe the Browns beat the Bengals in Cincinnati in back-to-back years.
Game pick: Bengals 34 Browns 31 (6-3)
Week 11 @ Las Vegas Raiders – Joe Burrow was supposed to walk the stage in Vegas on draft night in 2020. That didn’t happen. This November, he’ll now take the field inside Allegiant Stadium against the Raiders and their revamped defense. This game can go either way.
Game pick: Raiders 31 Bengals 28 (6-4)
Week 12 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers – Playing at home, I like the Bengals to beat their hated nemesis. That will mark the first time since 1989-1990 the Bengals beat the Steelers two straight years in Cincinnati.
Game pick: Bengals 24 Steelers 20 (7-4)
Week 13 vs. Los Angeles Chargers – It’s been made out to be that the Chargers are that much better than the Bengals. They’re really not. Like the Bengals, the Chargers need to improve when it comes to closing out games- their blown leads last year were way more egregious than the Bengals. We will know the Bengals offensive line’s identity by then, and that will give us a good indication of how they will fare against the Chargers defensive front that is strong.
Game pick: Bengals 31 Chargers 28 (8-4)
Week 14 vs. San Francisco 49ers – This is the second game of a brutal six-game stretch to end the regular-season. When healthy, the 49ers are one of the most talented teams in the league. And the last time the Bengals defense faced them, their offense danced circles around them all afternoon. Again, though, if there is a foundation, a base in place they can slow their offense down.
Game pick: 49ers 34 Bengals 21 (8-5)
Week 15 @ Denver Broncos – A trip to Denver in December is never easy. And the last two times the Bengals have played there in December, they lost both games on a dropped snap on a game-tying extra point in 2006 and a bad shotgun snap in 2015. The only reason to suggest this game will be different, to me, is Joe Burrow.
Game pick: Bengals 24 Broncos 17 (9-5)
Week 16 vs. Baltimore Ravens – The scheduling gods sure did the Bengals no favors with their last two homes games coming against the Ravens and the Chiefs.
Game pick: Ravens 41 Bengals 21 (9-6)
Week 17 vs. Kansas City Chiefs – Oh but wait, what if the Chiefs have the number one seed locked up when they come to Cincinnati? Could they rest their starters? I say yes, leading to a pivotal victory for the Bengals franchise.
Game pick: Bengals 31 Chiefs 28 (10-6)
Week 18 @ Cleveland Browns – Into the great unknown with an eighteenth week of the season and 17th game of the season. This game could go either way, but this game is being played in Cleveland.
Game pick: Browns 35 Bengals 27 (10-7)
AFC Playoff Predictions
1. Chiefs (15-2)
2. Titans (13-4)
3. Bills (13-4)
4. Ravens (12-5)
5. Patriots (12-5)
6. Browns (11-6)
7. Chargers (11-6)
Wild Card
4. Ravens over 5. Patriots
3. Bills over 6. Browns
2. Titans over 7. Chargers
Divisional Round
2. Titans over 3. Bills
1. Chiefs over 4. Ravens
AFC Championship
1. Chiefs over 2. Titans
NFC Playoff Predictions
1. Seahawks (16-1)
2. Packers (16-1)
3. Buccaneers (15-2)
4. Football Team (9-8)
5. 49ers (12-4)
6. Rams (13-4)
7. Saints (12-5)
Wild Card
5. 49ers over 4. Football Team
3. Buccaneers over 6. Rams
2. Packers over 7. Saints
Divisional Round
2. Packers over 3. Buccaneers
1. Seahawks over 5. 49ers
NFC Championship
1. Seahawks over 2. Packers
Super Bowl LVI
1. Chiefs over 1. Seahawks (Chiefs 34 Seahawks 27)
Let me be Frank and Cut to the Chase 